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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Travelers offers significantly cheaper premiums than Great Northern
• Travelers tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Travelers offers more discounts than Great Northern Insurance

Great Northern vs. Travelers: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Great Northern or Travelers for your next policy, but which one will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Great Northern is quite a bit more expensive than Travelers, with premiums averaging $496 per month compared to just $167 with Travelers.

However, Travelers may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Great Northern or Travelers is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by lots of different rate factors.

Great Northern or Travelers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing Travelers over Great Northern.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Great Northern policyholders decrease nearly 50% and Travelers's prices reduce over 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance rates you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Travelers gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $214 more affordable than the national average for Great Northern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be less expensive for married couples than they are for single drivers. That's normally 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, Travelers is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $363 per month cheaper than Great Northern, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Travelers is also obvious, where drivers save almost $300 a month.

Great Northern vs. Travelers: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for car insurance than women.

Women and men get the same monthly prices with Great Northern, and around 6% with Travelers.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Travelers offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 65% less for men and 68% cheaper for women.

Great Northern or Travelers: 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two 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 their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Travelers typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $108 compared to Great Northern's $255. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Travelers again has the edge, with policies about $500 per month more affordable than Great Northern, on average.

Is Great Northern or Travelers 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Great Northern or Travelers -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Great Northern auto insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Travelers policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around $30.

But Travelers tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering prices that are $368 and $336 cheaper, respectively, compared to Great Northern Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Travelers raising by $45. Great Northern has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay $0 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Travelers, with monthly premiums averaging $173 compared to Great Northern Insurance's $496.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Travelers drivers usually see a 38% climb in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Great Northern will generally raise premiums by about 0%.

How does Credit Score Impact Great Northern and Travelers Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several policyholders.

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

Looking at Great Northern and Travelers specifically, which carrier has the most affordable 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 Travelers 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 your monthly car insurance payment. Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Great Northern charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Travelers, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Travelers is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Great Northern vs. Travelers: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your vehicle can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both companies, but Travelers comes out on top with average prices about $136 monthly. Travelers also has more affordable average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 64% and 67% a month respective difference when compared to Great Northern policyholders in similar areas.

Great Northern vs. Travelers Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Great Northern and Travelers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Travelers knocks Great Northern out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 15 more discounts than Great Northern.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and discounts for being a good student -- but Travelers also offers advance quote discounts, alternative fuel discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Great Northern does not.

On the flip side, Great Northern has a couple unique discounts of its own -- occasional operator discounts, renewal discounts, and vehicle ownership discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Great Northern or Travelers Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, is Great Northern or Travelers the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Travelers might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Great Northern might be best for you if...

• You have above-average credit.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Great Northern and Travelers and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 Great Northern and Travelers. 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 companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Great Northern vs. Travelers FAQs

Is Great Northern or Travelers cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Travelers is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $167 per month compared to $496 for Great Northern. Even so, Travelers won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are several different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Great Northern or Travelers?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Travelers offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Great Northern is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Great Northern and Travelers offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as gender, age, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Great Northern and Travelers use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Great Northern or Travelers 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Great Northern or Travelers 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.