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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Grinnell Mutual offers significantly less expensive prices than State Auto
• Grinnell Mutual has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Grinnell Mutual

Grinnell Mutual or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Grinnell Mutual or State Auto, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Grinnell Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than State Auto, with premiums averaging $115 a month compared to $259 with State Auto when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Grinnell Mutual will necessarily be more affordable than State Auto for every single driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, your age, or even where you call home (among other things), so prices will change quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Grinnell Mutual or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

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

Grinnell Mutual and State Auto only compete against each other in North Dakota, where Grinnell Mutual offers the cheaper average premiums. Undefined drivers tend to pay about undefined per month less on average compared to drivers who use undefined for their car insurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Grinnell Mutual for their auto insurance pay over 70% less than those who use State Auto.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Grinnell Mutual policyholders lower around $100 and State Auto's rates decrease more than $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest car insurance prices you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

When looking at Grinnell Mutual and State Auto specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Grinnell Mutual gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $80 monthly compared to State Auto's $167.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Grinnell Mutual rates coming in at around a third of State Auto's. The advantage for married drivers with Grinnell Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save almost 45% a month.

Grinnell Mutual or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Typically, women see premiums about $6 per month less expensive with Grinnell Mutual, and around $25 cheaper with State Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Grinnell Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $135 a month and men save about $153 with Grinnell Mutual compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Grinnell Mutual vs. State Auto: 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, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum 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 State Auto's $369.

Is Grinnell Mutual or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Grinnell Mutual insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but State Auto policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about 20%.

Even so, Grinnell Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save around 32% a month with Grinnell Mutual, and the same can be said for those with a ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Grinnell Mutual can expect to see about an $0 -- or around 0% -- rise in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use State Auto for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $99 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Grinnell Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $115 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, State Auto increases average premiums by more than $200 per month -- that's more than a 55% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Grinnell Mutual tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $115 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Grinnell Mutual and State Auto Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers 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 cheaper premiums.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Grinnell Mutual or State Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

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

Grinnell Mutual or State Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a large role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Grinnell Mutual boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Grinnell Mutual's average prices are around 65% less than State Auto Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay about 51% less with Grinnell Mutual compared to State Auto. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 47% with Grinnell Mutual compared to State Auto.

Grinnell Mutual vs. State Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Grinnell Mutual and State Auto offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

State Auto blows Grinnell Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to Grinnell Mutual's 12.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Auto also offers discounts for advance quote, advantage program , COVID-19 relief, and more.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Grinnell Mutual or State Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Grinnell Mutual or State Auto the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Grinnell Mutual and State Auto 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 a handful of companies, not just Grinnell Mutual and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Grinnell Mutual vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Grinnell Mutual or State Auto cheaper?

Grinnell Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $115 a month with Grinnell Mutual and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean Grinnell Mutual will be the lowest company for each driver, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Grinnell Mutual or State Auto?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Grinnell Mutual and State Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors like gender, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Grinnell Mutual and State Auto calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company 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 State Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 information once 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 cheapest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Grinnell Mutual or State Auto 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.