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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Shelter offers more affordable rates than Grange
• Grange may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Shelter Insurance
• Shelter offers less expensive average premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

Grange or Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Grange or Shelter for your next policy, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Grange has average rates that are around 16% a month more expensive than those from Shelter.

Even so, Shelter may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Grange vs. Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Grange and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Grange offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Kentucky has the most noticable difference, where Grange rates are $97 cheaper than auto insurance prices at Shelter.

But there's more to insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers determine your rates. Read on to find out more.

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 out there on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 20% less per month by choosing Shelter over Grange.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Grange policyholders drop almost 65% and Shelter's premiums lower more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Grange and Shelter? Shelter gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 30% less expensive than the national average for Grange.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are normally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Shelter prices coming in at about 15% less than Grange's. The advantage for married policyholders with Shelter is also obvious, where drivers save over 15% a month.

Grange or Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

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

With Grange, women usually pay around 5% per month less than men, but with Shelter, the difference is closer to 11% a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Shelter offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $34 less for men and $47 cheaper for women.

Grange vs. Shelter: 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Shelter has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $129. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Shelter again has the edge, with policies averaging about $288 per month to Grange's $313.

Is Grange or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Grange or Shelter -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Grange for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Shelter policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 22%.

Even so, Shelter has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are $38 and $54 cheaper, respectively, compared to Grange Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Grange can expect to see around an $86 -- or about 32% -- rise in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Shelter for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $92 (or 39%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Shelter end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $234 compared to Grange Insurance's $266.

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 -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Shelter drivers usually see a 49% raise in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Grange will usually increase rates by about 43%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Shelter tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $277 to Grange's $314.

How does Credit Score Impact Grange and Shelter Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

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

So, which carrier offers the best prices for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Grange or Shelter 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 how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Normally, those who drive less will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Shelter tends to be the cheaper option. Grange's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in $45 more expensive than Shelter. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than $35 more with Grange over Shelter.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more cars on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Shelter generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $17 with Shelter compared to Grange. People who live in suburban areas pay around $48 less with Shelter compared to Grange. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Shelter Insurance's average prices are about $57 less than Grange Insurance.

Grange vs. Shelter 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 taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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 can take advantage of.

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

Grange blows Shelter away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Shelter's 10.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Grange also offers discounts for ABS, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Shelter has a proprietary discount of their own -- a advance quote discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Grange or Shelter Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Grange might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Grange has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Grange and Shelter. 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Grange and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Grange vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Grange or Shelter cheaper?

Shelter is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $208 a month with Shelter and $249 for Grange. But that doesn't mean Shelter will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, Grange or Shelter?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Grange and Shelter offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge. Things like gender, age, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Grange and Shelter calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if Grange or Shelter is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Grange or Shelter 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.