Hastings Mutual vs. Motorists: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Hastings Mutual offers more affordable premiums than Motorists
• Hastings Mutual has less expensive rates for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• Motorists tends to be a much cheaper option for residents of urban areas

Hastings Mutual vs. Motorists: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Hastings Mutual or Motorists as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Motorists has average rates that are about 16% per month more expensive than those from Hastings Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Hastings Mutual will be the more affordable option for each driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

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

Hastings Mutual or Motorists: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Motorists only compete against each other in two states, with Hastings Mutual offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Hastings Mutual premiums are over 30% less expensive than car insurance rates at Motorists.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It'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. As you can see above, teens who use Hastings Mutual save more than $40 a month compared to those who use Motorists.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums drop significantly by the time you turn 25. Motorists offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Hastings Mutual still has the most affordable prices at $202 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest insurance rates out there. 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? Hastings Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older nearly 25% more affordable than the national average for Motorists.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Hastings Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $43 per month less expensive than Motorists, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Hastings Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save over 15% a month.

Hastings Mutual vs. Motorists: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive rates.

Women normally pay about 2% per month less than men with Hastings Mutual, and around 5% less with Motorists.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Hastings Mutual offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average rates $44 less for men and $37 cheaper for women.

Hastings Mutual or Motorists: 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 a complicated subject for most people. There are a range of different coverages that account for a variety of 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 property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

In this case, Motorists offers the lowest average premiums for state minimum liability insurance, while Hastings Mutual has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with Motorists Insurance Group, while full coverage comes out to be about $100 cheaper with Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Is Hastings Mutual or Motorists 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.

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Hastings Mutual or Motorists more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Hastings Mutual policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $20 a month if they get a ticket, while Motorists generally raises premiums around $18 per month, on average.

However, Hastings Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $60 and $58 cheaper, respectively, compared to Motorists Insurance Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Motorists climbing by over $35. Hastings Mutual has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay more than $15 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Hastings Mutual offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $126 compared to Motorists Insurance Group's $206.

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 ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. On average, Hastings Mutual will climb your prices about 77% after a DUI, while Motorists's average rates climb by over 60%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Motorists tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $442 monthly compared to $478 from Hastings Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Motorists Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable prices.

So, which company offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Motorists. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save 5% compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $8 or 4% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Hastings Mutual typically offers lower rates than Motorists when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $24 a month less with Hastings Mutual compared to Motorists, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $154 a month.

Is Hastings Mutual or Motorists 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Hastings Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Motorists, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $10 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Hastings Mutual is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Hastings Mutual vs. Motorists: 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 sizable impact as well. Typically, 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.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Hastings Mutual boasts the lowest average premiums in rural and suburban areas, while Motorists wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 35% with Hastings Mutual compared to Motorists. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 18% less with Hastings Mutual compared to Motorists. In urban areas, Motorists Insurance Group's average rates are around 2% less than Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Hastings Mutual vs. Motorists Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Hastings Mutual and Motorists so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Motorists comes out ahead with 14 discounts to Hastings Mutual's 10.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and passive restraint discounts. Motorists also offers advance quote discounts, empty nester discounts, homeowner discounts, and more that Hastings Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Hastings Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- company car discounts, discounts for being a good driver, discounts for being a good student, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hastings Mutual or Motorists Best for You?

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

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

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You have below-average credit.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for discounts -- Motorists has the most.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Hastings Mutual and Motorists and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Hastings Mutual and Motorists. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Hastings Mutual vs. Motorists FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Motorists cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Hastings Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $211 per month compared to $251 for Motorists. But Hastings Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Motorists?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Motorists offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Factors like age, your driving record, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Hastings Mutual and Motorists calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Hastings Mutual or Motorists is right for me?

The only way to find the 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Hastings Mutual or Motorists 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.