Grange vs. Preferred Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Grange offers significantly less expensive prices than Preferred Mutual
• Grange offers cheaper average rates for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Grange tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Grange or Preferred Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Grange or Preferred Mutual, but which company has less expensive prices for insurance?

As you can see, Grange has average rates that are around 55% a month more affordable than those from Preferred Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Grange will necessarily be cheaper than Preferred Mutual for every driver. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Grange or Preferred Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Grange vs. Preferred Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Grange and Preferred Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Preferred Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Massachusetts has the most noticable difference, where Preferred Mutual rates are $108 more affordable than insurance prices at Grange.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other variables 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 auto insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's generally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Grange save over 50% per month compared to those who use Preferred Mutual.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Grange policyholders reduce about $350 and Preferred Mutual's rates lower around $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable auto insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

When looking at Grange and Preferred Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Grange gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 50% cheaper than the national average for Preferred Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance prices than married policyholders. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Grange premiums coming in at about half of Preferred Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Grange offers the cheapest average prices.

Grange or Preferred Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll generally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

On average, women see premiums more than $10 a month less expensive with Grange, and around $15 with Preferred Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Grange comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $291 per month and men save about $295 with Grange compared to the average Preferred Mutual policyholder.

Grange vs. Preferred 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 terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Grange has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $185. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Grange again has the edge, with policies averaging around $313 a month to Preferred Mutual's $850.

Is Grange or Preferred Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Grange for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Preferred Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 1%.

That being said, Grange is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 54% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 40% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Grange drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by over $85, while those who have insurance through Preferred Mutual will see about a $95 increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from Grange, with average premiums coming in at $266 compared to Preferred Mutual's $486.

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 speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Preferred Mutual will climb your rates around 57% after a DUI, while Grange's average prices climb by nearly 45%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Grange tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $314 to Preferred Mutual's $902.

How does Credit Score Impact Grange and Preferred Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Grange and Preferred Mutual, which one has the cheapest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Grange will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Grange comes in more than 61.48 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 61% with Grange compared to average premiums from Preferred Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Grange typically offers lower rates than Preferred Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 61% per month less with Grange compared to Preferred Mutual, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 59% monthly.

Is Grange or Preferred Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly premiums. Typically, those who drive less will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Grange tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Preferred Mutual's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 54% more expensive than Grange. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around 54% more with Preferred Mutual over Grange.

Grange or Preferred Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which decreases the chances of an accident.

Grange boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Grange's average prices are about $292 a month compared to Preferred Mutual's $902. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $235 with Grange compared to Preferred Mutual's $472 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $220 per month with Grange and $253 with Preferred Mutual.

Grange vs. Preferred Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Grange and Preferred Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Grange blows Preferred Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Preferred Mutual's 14.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like annual mileage discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and mature driver discounts. Grange also offers discounts for advanced safety feature, agency transfer, company car, and more.

On the other hand, Preferred Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a DRL discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Grange or Preferred Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the best fit for you?

Grange might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Preferred Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Grange and Preferred Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 several companies, not just Grange and Preferred Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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.

Grange vs. Preferred Mutual FAQs

Is Grange or Preferred Mutual cheaper?

Grange is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $249 per month with Grange and $542 for Preferred Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Grange will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Grange or Preferred Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Grange and Preferred Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use many different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables such as your driving record, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Grange and Preferred Mutual calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Grange or Preferred 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 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Grange or Preferred Mutual at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.