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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Wolverine Mutual offers significantly more affordable premiums than Great Northern
• Great Northern offers more discounts than Wolverine Mutual
• Wolverine Mutual offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record

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

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

You might be considering Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which one has cheaper rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Wolverine Mutual has average rates that are about 55% per month more affordable than those from Great Northern.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Wolverine Mutual will be the less expensive option for every driver. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Great Northern and Wolverine Mutual only offer car insurance in Michigan, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For Michigan residents, Wolverine Mutual offers auto insurance for $224 per month on average. Great Northern's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $496 a month.

Typically, the state you live in will play a hefty role in how much you pay for insurance, but since both companies only do business in Michigan, a lot of other factors will come into play when you compare Great Northern and Wolverine Mutual. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Wolverine Mutual for their car insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Great Northern.

That being said, both carriers will drop rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Great Northern policyholders decrease over $450 and Wolverine Mutual's prices lower nearly $150 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 rates you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Wolverine Mutual gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $119 monthly compared to Great Northern's $346.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married couples typically cover more than one car, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Wolverine Mutual is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $303 a month cheaper than Great Northern, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Wolverine Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save around $250 per month.

Great Northern vs. Wolverine Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll generally end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Great Northern, everyone ends up paying the same monthly premiums regardless of gender; women and men get the same monthly prices with Wolverine Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Wolverine Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 55% less for men and 55% cheaper for women.

Great Northern or Wolverine 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Wolverine Mutual typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $114 compared to Great Northern's $255. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Wolverine Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $400 a month cheaper than Great Northern, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher rates, but which company -- Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

But Wolverine Mutual is usually the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are 71% and 65% cheaper, respectively, compared to Great Northern Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Great Northern policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by 0%, while those who have insurance through Wolverine Mutual will see about a 20% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Wolverine Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $188 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 car insurance bill. For example, Wolverine Mutual increases average premiums by just under $250 per month -- that's over a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Wolverine Mutual tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $389 per month compared to $496 from Great Northern.

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

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

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive rates.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Wolverine Mutual comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average rates of $224 a month for both.

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

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

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Wolverine Mutual normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both carriers, but Wolverine Mutual comes out on top with average prices around $137 monthly. Wolverine Mutual also has less expensive average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $226 and $294 per month respective difference when compared to Great Northern policyholders in similar areas.

Great Northern vs. Wolverine Mutual Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Great Northern and Wolverine Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Great Northern has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Wolverine Mutual offers a grand total of nine discounts, while Great Northern has 10.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Great Northern also offers anti-theft discounts, defensive driver discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Wolverine Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Wolverine Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- distant student discounts, discounts for being a good driver, military discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have a clean record.
• You live in a rural area.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

Great Northern might be best for you if...

• You have above-average credit.
• You care about discounts (Great Northern offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Great Northern and Wolverine Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

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

Great Northern vs. Wolverine Mutual FAQs

Is Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Wolverine Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $224 a month compared to $496 for Great Northern. However, Wolverine Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Wolverine Mutual offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Great Northern is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

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

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as age, gender, your driving record, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Great Northern and Wolverine Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Great Northern or Wolverine Mutual 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.