Grinnell Mutual vs. North Star Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Grinnell Mutual offers significantly cheaper prices than North Star Mutual
• Grinnell Mutual offers more affordable rates for single people who will be the only person on the car insurance policy
• North Star Mutual offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record

Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about 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've maybe even narrowed it down to Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, North Star Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Grinnell Mutual, with premiums averaging $180 a month compared to just $115 with Grinnell Mutual.

Even so, Grinnell Mutual may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how old you are, 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 company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Grinnell Mutual vs. North Star Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in North Dakota, where Grinnell Mutual 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.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen 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. As you can see above, teens who use Grinnell Mutual save over 35% a month compared to those who use North Star Mutual.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Grinnell Mutual policyholders drop around $100 and North Star Mutual's rates reduce more than $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices out there.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Grinnell Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 45% more affordable than the national average for North Star Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Grinnell Mutual prices coming in at a third less than North Star Mutual's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Grinnell Mutual has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Women generally pay about 5% per month less than men with Grinnell Mutual, and around 2% less with North Star Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Grinnell Mutual offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $66 a month and men save about $64 with Grinnell Mutual compared to the average North Star Mutual policyholder.

Grinnell Mutual vs. North Star 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Grinnell Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $47. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Grinnell Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $183 per month to North Star Mutual's $295.

Is Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your rates, but is Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Grinnell Mutual car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but North Star Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about a third.

If you have gotten a speeding ticket, Grinnell Mutual tends to offer the best prices at around 21% less expensive, while North Star Mutual has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Grinnell Mutual can expect to see about an $0 -- or around 0% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use North Star Mutual for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $73 (or 42%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Grinnell Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $115 compared to North Star Mutual's $174.

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 -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, North Star Mutual increases average rates by nearly $200 a month -- that's more than a 65% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Grinnell Mutual tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $115 to North Star Mutual's $299.

How does Credit Score Impact Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it does affect many drivers out there.

Car insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual specifically, which carrier has the lowest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual 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 big impact on your monthly insurance payment? Usually, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much North Star Mutual charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly rates for Grinnell Mutual, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $14 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Grinnell Mutual is the less expensive company.

Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Grinnell Mutual boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Grinnell Mutual's average premiums are around $97 less than North Star Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about $50 less with Grinnell Mutual compared to North Star Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $47 with Grinnell Mutual compared to North Star Mutual.

Grinnell Mutual vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

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 qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Grinnell Mutual knocks North Star Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering six more discounts than North Star Mutual.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts. Grinnell Mutual also offers discounts for ABS, EFT, excess vehicle, and more.

On the other hand, North Star Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a family discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You have a short commute.

North Star Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Grinnell Mutual vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual cheaper?

Grinnell Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $115 per month with Grinnell Mutual and $180 for North Star Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Grinnell Mutual will be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are several different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Grinnell Mutual and North Star Mutual use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Grinnell Mutual or North Star Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Grinnell Mutual or North Star 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.