Great Northern vs. Hastings Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Hastings Mutual offers significantly cheaper premiums than Great Northern
• Hastings Mutual has less expensive rates for residents of suburban areas
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Great Northern or Hastings Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Great Northern or Hastings Mutual for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hastings Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Great Northern, with rates averaging $211 a month compared to $496 with Great Northern.

Even so, that doesn't mean Hastings Mutual will necessarily be more affordable than Great Northern for every driver. Insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Great Northern and Hastings Mutual by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Great Northern vs. Hastings Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Great Northern and Hastings Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where Great Northern offers the cheaper average prices. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their car insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. It's because teen 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. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Hastings Mutual for their insurance pay over 60% less than those who use Great Northern.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Great Northern policyholders drop around $450 and Hastings Mutual's premiums reduce more than $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Great Northern and Hastings Mutual? Hastings Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $179 less expensive than the national average for Great Northern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for single drivers. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Hastings Mutual premiums coming in at about 60% less than Great Northern's. The advantage for married couples with Hastings Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save around $250 a month.

Great Northern or Hastings Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for insurance than women? That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Men and women end up paying the same monthly prices with Great Northern, and about $5 with Hastings Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Hastings Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $283 per month and women save around $288 with Hastings Mutual compared to the average Great Northern policyholder.

Great Northern vs. Hastings 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Hastings Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $142. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Hastings Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $279 a month to Great Northern's $737.

Is Great Northern or Hastings Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their 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 at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Great Northern or Hastings Mutual -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Great Northern auto insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Hastings Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

However, Hastings Mutual is usually the cheaper option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 78% and 74% more affordable, respectively, compared to Great Northern Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Great Northern can expect to see around an $0 -- or about 0% -- rise in their auto insurance rates. Drivers who use Hastings Mutual for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $17 (or 13%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Hastings Mutual, with average premiums coming in at $126 compared to Great Northern Insurance's $496.

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 ticket. For example, Hastings Mutual increases average prices by more than $350 per month -- that's more than a 75% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Hastings Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $478 to Great Northern's $496.

How does Credit Score Impact Great Northern and Hastings Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance rates. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking specifically at Great Northern and Hastings Mutual, which company has the lowest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Great Northern or Hastings Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Typically, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Great Northern or Hastings Mutual report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Hastings Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average rates of $211 a month for both.

Great Northern or Hastings Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Hastings Mutual tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Hastings Mutual Insurance Company's average prices are around $279 less than Great Northern Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about $309 less with Hastings Mutual compared to Great Northern. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $268 with Hastings Mutual compared to Great Northern.

Great Northern vs. Hastings 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. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Great Northern and Hastings Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

They both offer great discounts like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and passive restraint discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Great Northern or Hastings Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Great Northern or Hastings Mutual the best company for you and your specific needs?

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if....

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

Great Northern might be best for you if...

• You already have a great credit score.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Great Northern and Hastings Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Great Northern and Hastings Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Great Northern vs. Hastings Mutual FAQs

Is Great Northern or Hastings Mutual cheaper?

Hastings Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $211 per month with Hastings Mutual and $496 for Great Northern. Even so, that doesn't mean Hastings Mutual will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are many different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Great Northern or Hastings Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Great Northern is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Hastings Mutual offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Great Northern and Hastings Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like gender, age, where you park your car, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Great Northern and Hastings Mutual use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Great Northern or Hastings 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 companies 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Great Northern or Hastings 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.