General Casualty vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Western Reserve Group offers slightly cheaper premiums than General Casualty
• General Casualty has more affordable prices for couples purchasing auto insurance together
• Western Reserve Group offers less expensive average premiums for people who are single and purchasing car insurance by yourself

General Casualty vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering General Casualty or Western Reserve Group, but between the two, which carrier will offer you more affordable prices?

As you can see, Western Reserve Group is about $2 per month less expensive than General Casualty when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't mean Western Reserve Group will necessarily be cheaper than General Casualty for every driver. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if General Casualty or Western Reserve Group is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

General Casualty or Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

General Casualty and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with General Casualty offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where General Casualty premiums are over 30% more affordable than auto insurance prices at Western Reserve Group.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of $3 less a month by choosing Western Reserve Group over General Casualty.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for General Casualty policyholders lower more than 55% and Western Reserve Group's rates decrease nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest insurance prices you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between General Casualty and Western Reserve Group? Western Reserve Group gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $17 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 those who are single than they are for married couples. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Western Reserve Group is the winner for single policyholders, with rates around $4 per month more affordable than General Casualty, on average.

General Casualty vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to 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.

Usually, women see premiums almost 10% a month less with General Casualty, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, women normally pay about 1% more per month than men.

Looking at overall affordability, Western Reserve Group is the most affordable carrier for men. Rates with Western Reserve Group are $10 less for men, while women can save around $6 with General Casualty.

General Casualty or Western Reserve Group: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

Even so, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

In this case, General Casualty offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability limits, while Western Reserve Group has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $10 with General Casualty, while full coverage comes out to be about $15 less expensive with Western Reserve Group.

Is General Casualty or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to 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 Western Reserve Group generally raises prices around $34 per month, on average.

But Western Reserve Group has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $2 and $11 more affordable, respectively, compared to General Casualty.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through General Casualty can expect to see about an $56 -- or around 38% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Western Reserve Group for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $32 (or 27%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Western Reserve Group end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $120 compared to General Casualty's $146.

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 speeding ticket. For example, Western Reserve Group increases average rates by just under $150 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, General Casualty tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $186 a month compared to $218 from Western Reserve Group.

How does Credit Score Impact General Casualty and Western Reserve Group Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. Certain states and companies 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 carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with General Casualty for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 0% compared to Western Reserve Group, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Western Reserve Group -- around $1 or 1% less expensive than General Casualty each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $0 less with General Casualty than Western Reserve Group, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $6 per month with Western Reserve Group.

Is General Casualty or Western Reserve Group 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 insurance cost? Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither General Casualty or Western Reserve Group report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Western Reserve Group comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average rates of $137 a month for both.

General Casualty vs. Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Western Reserve Group tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while General Casualty wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 5% with Western Reserve Group compared to General Casualty. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 4% less with General Casualty compared to Western Reserve Group. In urban areas, Western Reserve Group's average prices are about 3% less than General Casualty.

General Casualty vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts General Casualty and Western Reserve Group offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, General Casualty has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Western Reserve Group offers a grand total of 11 discounts, while General Casualty has 12.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but General Casualty also offers employee discounts, good driving discounts, new vehicle discounts, and more that Western Reserve Group does not.

On the flip side, Western Reserve Group has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, company car discounts, discounts for being a homeowner, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is General Casualty or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of accidents, tickets, or DUIs.
• You live in a rural area.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles yearly.

General Casualty might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between General Casualty and Western Reserve Group. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 a handful of companies, not just General Casualty and Western Reserve Group. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

General Casualty vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is General Casualty or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Western Reserve Group is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $137 per month compared to $139 for General Casualty. However, Western Reserve Group won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are many different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, General Casualty or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do General Casualty and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Factors such as age, where you live, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both General Casualty and Western Reserve Group use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. 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 Western Reserve Group is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be General Casualty or Western Reserve Group 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.