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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, General Casualty offers slightly cheaper rates than Ohio Mutual
• General Casualty offers more affordable prices for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• Ohio Mutual offers more discounts than General Casualty

General Casualty vs. Ohio 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 huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

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

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, General Casualty is about $13 per month more affordable than Ohio Mutual.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean General Casualty will be the less expensive option for every driver. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both General Casualty and Ohio Mutual by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

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

General Casualty and Ohio Mutual only compete against each other in Ohio, where General Casualty offers the cheaper average prices. For Ohio residents, General Casualty offers insurance for $105 monthly on average. Ohio Mutual's average premiums come out to be over 40% more expensive, at $152 per month.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any other group of drivers. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have General Casualty for their insurance pay more than $25 less than those who use Ohio Mutual.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average prices for General Casualty policyholders drop over 55% and Ohio Mutual's rates decrease around 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest premiums you'll ever find.

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

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something several insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for those who are single, with rates only differing about $11 a month, on average. But for married couples, the advantage is clear - General Casualty offers the cheapest average premiums.

General Casualty vs. Ohio Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll usually end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Men typically pay nearly $15 per month more than women with General Casualty, and around $8 more with Ohio Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, General Casualty offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average rates $10 less for men and $16 cheaper for women.

General Casualty or Ohio 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

In this case, Ohio Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums for state minimum liability insurance, while General Casualty has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with Ohio Mutual Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $35 more affordable with General Casualty.

Is General Casualty or Ohio 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.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is General Casualty or Ohio Mutual less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

General Casualty policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $43 a month if they get a ticket, while Ohio Mutual generally raises premiums around $21 per month, on average.

But Ohio Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are 7% and 21% more affordable, respectively, compared to General Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

General Casualty policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by just under 40%, while those who have insurance through Ohio Mutual will see about a 35% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Ohio Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $125 compared to General Casualty's $146.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Ohio Mutual drivers usually see a 71% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while General Casualty will usually climb premiums by around 52%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, General Casualty tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $186 a month compared to $293 from Ohio Mutual.

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

Did you know that many insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for many drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at General Casualty and Ohio Mutual, which company has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Ohio Mutual for an "excellent" credit score. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 5% compared to General Casualty, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from General Casualty -- about $6 or 5% less expensive than Ohio Mutual each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower premiums than Ohio Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $14 a month less with General Casualty compared to Ohio Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $37 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly rates. Generally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

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

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, General Casualty generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, General Casualty offers rates around $151 per month compared to Ohio Mutual's $155. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $134 a month for General Casualty and $153 for Ohio Mutual. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest prices from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $131 and $147 for General Casualty and Ohio Mutual respectively.

General Casualty vs. Ohio Mutual Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both General Casualty and Ohio Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Ohio Mutual has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. General Casualty offers a grand total of 12 discounts, while Ohio Mutual has 17.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but Ohio Mutual also offers ABS discounts, attentive driver discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that General Casualty does not.

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

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best fit for you?

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

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Ohio Mutual might be best for you if...

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare General Casualty and Ohio Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just General Casualty and Ohio Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. Ohio Mutual FAQs

Is General Casualty or Ohio Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, General Casualty is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $139 per month compared to $152 for Ohio Mutual. Even so, General Casualty won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, General Casualty or Ohio Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, General Casualty offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Ohio Mutual is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

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

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables such as gender, age, your driving record, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both General Casualty and Ohio Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be General Casualty or Ohio 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.