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

Quick Facts

• In general, Grinnell Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than Progressive
• Grinnell Mutual has more affordable prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• Progressive may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Grinnell Mutual

Grinnell Mutual or Progressive: 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 huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Grinnell Mutual or Progressive, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Grinnell Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Progressive, with premiums averaging $115 a month compared to $180 with Progressive.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Grinnell Mutual will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your driving record, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Grinnell Mutual or Progressive is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Grinnell Mutual vs. Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Grinnell Mutual and Progressive 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 insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables 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 group on the road. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Grinnell Mutual save almost 50% a month compared to those who use Progressive.

But both carriers will decrease premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Grinnell Mutual still has the most affordable prices at $113 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

When looking at Grinnell Mutual and Progressive specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Grinnell Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 40% less expensive than the national average for Progressive.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are generally more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's because policies for married couples normally cover multiple vehicles, which quite a few companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Grinnell Mutual premiums coming in at around 40% less than Progressive's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Grinnell Mutual offers the cheapest average rates.

Grinnell Mutual or Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Grinnell Mutual, men typically pay about 5% more per month than women., and around 3% with Progressive.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Grinnell Mutual offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average prices 36% less for men and 37% cheaper for women.

Grinnell Mutual vs. Progressive: 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 auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard 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 property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Grinnell Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates 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 about $183 a month to Progressive's $250.

Is Grinnell Mutual or Progressive 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.

Speeding tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is Grinnell Mutual or Progressive 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 Progressive policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around $30.

However, Grinnell Mutual has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 23% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 36% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Grinnell Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by 0%, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see about a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, Grinnell Mutual offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $115 compared to Progressive's $214.

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. On average, Progressive will climb your prices around 16% after a DUI, while Grinnell Mutual's average rates climb by 0%.

How does Credit Score Impact Grinnell Mutual and Progressive Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Car insurance carriers 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.

Looking specifically at Grinnell Mutual and Progressive, which company has the best prices 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 Grinnell Mutual or Progressive 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 pretty big impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

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

Grinnell Mutual or Progressive: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Grinnell Mutual usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Grinnell Mutual's average rates are around $96 less than Progressive. People who live in suburban areas pay about $64 less with Grinnell Mutual compared to Progressive. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $35 with Grinnell Mutual compared to Progressive.

Grinnell Mutual vs. Progressive Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Grinnell Mutual and Progressive so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Progressive blows Grinnell Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 22 more discounts than Grinnell Mutual.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, EFT discounts, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts. Progressive also offers discounts for advance quote, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Grinnell Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like excess vehicle discounts and new business discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Grinnell Mutual or Progressive Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

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

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

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- undefined is only available to residents.
• You care about discounts (Progressive offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Grinnell Mutual and Progressive. 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 a handful of companies, not just Grinnell Mutual and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Grinnell Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Grinnell Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Grinnell Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $115 per month with Grinnell Mutual and $180 for Progressive. But that doesn't mean Grinnell Mutual will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Grinnell Mutual or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Grinnell Mutual and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Grinnell Mutual and Progressive calculate rates using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Grinnell Mutual or Progressive 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.