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

Quick Facts

• In general, National Mutual offers slightly less expensive rates than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual has cheaper premiums for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years
• National Mutual offers more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI

Hastings Mutual or National Mutual: 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 considerable savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Hastings Mutual or National Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Hastings Mutual is around $10 more a month than National Mutual.

That being said, National 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 how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Hastings Mutual or National Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Hastings Mutual vs. National Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and National Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with Hastings Mutual offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Iowa has the most noticable difference, where Hastings Mutual rates are $129 cheaper than car insurance prices at National Mutual.

But there's more to auto insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers determine your rates. Continue reading to see 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 prices 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 car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 20% less per month by choosing Hastings Mutual over National Mutual.

But both companies will lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Hastings Mutual policyholders drop more than 45% and National Mutual's rates reduce over 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you'll ever see.

When looking at Hastings Mutual and National Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? National Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 20% more affordable than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is not very significant, with Hastings Mutual rates coming in at about 4% less than National Mutual's. The advantage for married drivers is more obvious, where drivers who use National Mutual save around $35 a month.

Hastings Mutual or National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women generally pay less for insurance than men.

Women usually pay about $5 per month less than men with Hastings Mutual, and around $20 cheaper with National Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, National Mutual offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $1 a month and women save about $17 with National Mutual compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Hastings Mutual vs. National 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits 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 provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, National Mutual has the edge, while Hastings Mutual offers the most affordable average rates for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $50 with National Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $30 cheaper with Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Is Hastings Mutual or National Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Hastings Mutual for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. National Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 8%.

However, Hastings Mutual is normally the less expensive option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 17% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 9% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hastings Mutual policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by over $15, while those who have insurance through National Mutual will see about a $75 increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from Hastings Mutual, with average premiums coming in at $126 compared to National Mutual Insurance's $207.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Hastings Mutual will increase your prices around 77% after a DUI, while National Mutual's average premiums climb by nearly 60%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, National Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $325 to Hastings Mutual's $478.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and National Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, National Mutual will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, National Mutual comes in just under 24.55 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 17% with National Mutual compared to average prices from Hastings Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Hastings Mutual typically offers lower rates than National Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 6% per month less with Hastings Mutual compared to National Mutual, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 7% monthly.

Is Hastings Mutual or National 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 how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage? Usually, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or National Mutual report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, National 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 $201 a month for both.

Hastings Mutual or National Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, 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 carriers side-by-side, Hastings Mutual boasts the cheapest average premiums in rural and suburban areas, while National Mutual wins in urban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, National Mutual's average rates are about $214 per month compared to Hastings Mutual's $291. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $177 with Hastings Mutual compared to National Mutual's $201 per month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $164 a month with Hastings Mutual compared to National Mutual's $189.

Hastings Mutual vs. National Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Hastings Mutual and National 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.

National Mutual blows Hastings Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering nine more discounts than Hastings Mutual.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts -- but National Mutual also offers discounts for advance quote, claim free, continuous insurance, and more.

On the other hand, Hastings Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, company car discounts, good driving discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

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

• You already have a great credit score.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

National Mutual might be best for you if...

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You live in an suburban area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Hastings Mutual and National Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 multiple carriers, not just Hastings Mutual and National Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or National Mutual cheaper?

National Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $201 a month with National Mutual and $211 for Hastings Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean National Mutual will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or National Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, National Mutual is cheaper for drivers who have already retired, while Hastings Mutual offers less expensive prices for single drivers.

Why do Hastings Mutual and National Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like gender, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Hastings Mutual and National Mutual calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Hastings Mutual or National 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.