General Casualty vs. National Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, General Casualty offers significantly more affordable prices than National Mutual
• General Casualty has cheaper premiums for residents of urban areas
• National Mutual offers more discounts than General Casualty

General Casualty vs. National Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to General Casualty or National Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, National Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than General Casualty, with rates averaging $201 per month compared to just $139 with General Casualty.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean General Casualty will be the less expensive option for every driver. Insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both General Casualty and National Mutual by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

General Casualty or National Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

General Casualty and National Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with General Casualty offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty premiums are over 70% less expensive than auto insurance prices at National Mutual.

But there's more to calculating car insurance premiums than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have General Casualty for their auto insurance pay more than $200 less than those who use National Mutual.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. National Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, General Casualty still has the cheapest rates at $114 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices out there.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? General Casualty gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $10 more affordable than the national average for National Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married drivers. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $79 a month less expensive than National Mutual, on average. The advantage for married couples with General Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save over 25% per month.

General Casualty vs. National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for insurance than men? This is because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

On average, men see rates nearly 10% a month higher with General Casualty, while with National Mutual, the difference is closer to 10% per month.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, General Casualty comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average rates 31% less for men and 31% cheaper for women.

General Casualty or National Mutual: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, General Casualty normally offers cheaper premiums of $82 compared to National Mutual's $94. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month more affordable than National Mutual, on average.

Is General Casualty or National Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

General Casualty policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $43 per month if they get a ticket, while National Mutual usually raises rates about $11 a month, on average.

Even so, General Casualty is generally the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are 31% and 6% more affordable, respectively, compared to National Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

General Casualty drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by just under 40%, while those who have insurance through National Mutual will see around a 35% increase.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from General Casualty, with monthly prices averaging $146 compared to National Mutual Insurance's $207.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, National Mutual increases average rates by just under $200 per month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, General Casualty tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $186 monthly compared to $325 from National Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact General Casualty and National Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at General Casualty and National Mutual, which one has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with General Casualty. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 20% compared to National Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $43 or 27% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower premiums than National Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $82 a month less with General Casualty compared to National Mutual, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $102 a month.

Is General Casualty or National Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly rates. Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither General Casualty or National Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, General Casualty comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $139 per month for both.

General Casualty vs. National Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance bill. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

General Casualty boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but General Casualty comes out on top with average premiums around $131 per month. General Casualty also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $63 and $67 a month respective difference when compared to National Mutual policyholders in similar areas.

General Casualty vs. National Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts General Casualty and National Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

National Mutual knocks General Casualty out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than General Casualty.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but National Mutual also offers claim free discounts, continuous insurance discounts, driver training discounts, and more that General Casualty does not.

On the flip side, General Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- distant student discounts, employee discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is General Casualty or National Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

General Casualty might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your insurance after a collision.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

National Mutual might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (National Mutual offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between General Casualty and National Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just General Casualty and National Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is General Casualty or National Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, General Casualty is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $139 per month compared to $201 for National Mutual. But General Casualty won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, General Casualty or National Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do General Casualty and National Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like gender, age, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both General Casualty and National Mutual calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if General Casualty or National Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be General Casualty or National Mutual at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.