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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, General Casualty offers cheaper premiums than Rockford Mutual
• General Casualty has less expensive rates for residents of urban areas
• Rockford Mutual offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to General Casualty or Rockford Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which one will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, General Casualty has average rates that are about 18% per month more affordable than those from Rockford Mutual.

However, that doesn't mean General Casualty will necessarily be cheaper than Rockford Mutual for every single driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of General Casualty or Rockford Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

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

General Casualty and Rockford Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with General Casualty offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty premiums are over 20% more affordable than insurance rates at Rockford Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use General Casualty save more than $150 a month compared to those who use Rockford Mutual.

Even so, both carriers will drop rates by the time drivers turn 25. Rockford Mutual offers the steepest decrease, 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 most affordable prices at $114 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest insurance rates you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

When looking at General Casualty and Rockford Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Rockford Mutual gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $118 monthly compared to General Casualty's $124. But that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, such as your driving record is or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something many auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, General Casualty is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $44 per month more affordable than Rockford Mutual, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use General Casualty save over $10 a month.

General Casualty vs. Rockford Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is usually more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, women see prices nearly $15 per month cheaper with General Casualty, while with Rockford Mutual, the difference is closer to $16 a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, General Casualty offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates $31 less for men and $29 cheaper for women.

General Casualty or Rockford 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard 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 if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, General Casualty typically offers slightly less expensive prices of $82 compared to Rockford Mutual's $88. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, General Casualty again has the edge, with policies around $55 per month cheaper than Rockford Mutual, on average.

Is General Casualty or Rockford 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.

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- General Casualty or Rockford Mutual -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

General Casualty policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $43 a month if they get a ticket, while Rockford Mutual normally raises prices about $50 per month, on average.

That being said, General Casualty has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $30 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $37 per month with General Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

General Casualty drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over $55, while those who have insurance through Rockford Mutual will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, drivers who use General Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $146 compared to Rockford Mutual Insurance Company's $158.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. Rockford Mutual drivers usually see a 48% raise in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while General Casualty will typically increase premiums by about 52%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, General Casualty tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $186 a month compared to $229 from Rockford Mutual.

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

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking at General Casualty and Rockford Mutual specifically, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders 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 General Casualty. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 25% compared to Rockford Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $23 or 16% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

General Casualty typically offers lower rates than Rockford Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $33 a month less with General Casualty compared to Rockford Mutual, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $34 per month.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a considerable impact on your monthly prices? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither General Casualty or Rockford Mutual report increasing premiums 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 car annually, with average prices of $139 per month for both.

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

Where you live can play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, General Casualty typically comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Rockford Mutual wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, General Casualty's average prices are about $151 while Rockford Mutual offers premiums around $233. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly rate of about $131 with Rockford Mutual compared to $134 with General Casualty. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $131 monthly with General Casualty and $144 with Rockford Mutual.

General Casualty vs. Rockford Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both General Casualty and Rockford Mutual so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. General Casualty also offers advance quote discounts, distant student discounts, employee discounts, and more that Rockford Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Rockford Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for being a homeowner, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and renewal discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, is General Casualty or Rockford Mutual the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your premiums.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Rockford Mutual might be best for you if...

• You live in an suburban area.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between General Casualty and Rockford 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just General Casualty and Rockford Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. Rockford Mutual FAQs

Is General Casualty or Rockford Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, General Casualty is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $139 a month compared to $169 for Rockford Mutual. But General Casualty won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, General Casualty or Rockford Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, General Casualty offers more affordable prices for single drivers, while Rockford Mutual is cheaper for drivers who have already retired.

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

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

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be General Casualty or Rockford 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.