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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, West Bend Mutual offers slightly less expensive premiums than General Casualty
• General Casualty has cheaper prices for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself
• West Bend Mutual offers more affordable average rates for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

General Casualty vs. West Bend 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 might have narrowed it down to General Casualty or West Bend Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which company will offer you less expensive premiums?

As you can see, West Bend Mutual is about $8 per month more affordable than General Casualty when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean West Bend Mutual will be the cheaper option for every driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

General Casualty or West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $60 less a month by choosing General Casualty over West Bend Mutual.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for General Casualty policyholders reduce over $150 and West Bend Mutual's rates drop around $200 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 cheapest premiums you'll ever find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between General Casualty and West Bend Mutual? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 25% cheaper than the national average for General Casualty.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married couples usually cover several cars, which lots of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single drivers, with premiums only differing about $1 per month, on average. The advantage for married policyholders is more obvious, where drivers who use West Bend Mutual save nearly 20% a month.

General Casualty vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Generally, women see prices almost 10% per month less with General Casualty, while with West Bend Mutual, the difference is closer to 12% a month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, West Bend Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $9 per month and men save around $7 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average General Casualty policyholder.

General Casualty or West Bend 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- 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 limits for liability insurance, West Bend Mutual usually offers slightly less expensive prices of $77 compared to General Casualty's $82. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $10 a month cheaper than General Casualty, on average.

Is General Casualty or West Bend 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 tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-perfect 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 West Bend Mutual generally raises prices around $25 a month, on average.

However, West Bend Mutual has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $6 and $24 less expensive, respectively, compared to General Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with West Bend Mutual climbing by just under $80. General Casualty has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay over $55 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, General Casualty offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $146 compared to West Bend Mutual Insurance's $163.

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 car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, General Casualty will raise your premiums about 52% after a DUI, while West Bend Mutual's average rates rise by over 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, West Bend Mutual tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $169 monthly compared to $186 from General Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact General Casualty and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

Auto insurance carriers 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.

So, which carrier offers the lowest premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with West Bend Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 6% compared to General Casualty, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $3 or 3% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend Mutual typically offers lower prices than General Casualty when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $6 per month less with West Bend Mutual compared to General Casualty, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $15 per month.

Is General Casualty or West Bend 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 sizable impact on your monthly rates? Normally, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither General Casualty or West Bend Mutual report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. West Bend Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average rates of $131 a month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly insurance cost. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, West Bend Mutual tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while General Casualty wins in urban areas.

In urban areas, General Casualty's average rates are about $151 while West Bend Mutual offers prices around $158. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $122 with West Bend Mutual compared to $134 with General Casualty. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $113 a month with West Bend Mutual and $131 with General Casualty.

General Casualty vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by General Casualty and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, West Bend Mutual comes out ahead with 16 discounts to General Casualty's 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for being a good student. West Bend Mutual also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, and more that General Casualty does not.

On the flip side, General Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, employee discounts, new vehicle discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

General Casualty might be best for you if...

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare General Casualty and West Bend 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just General Casualty and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

General Casualty vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is General Casualty or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, West Bend Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $131 per month compared to $139 for General Casualty. Even so, West Bend Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, General Casualty or West Bend Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, General Casualty offers less expensive premiums for single policyholders, while West Bend Mutual is more affordable for drivers who have already retired.

Why do General Casualty and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Things such as where you live, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both General Casualty and West Bend Mutual calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be General Casualty or West Bend 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.