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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Nationwide offers less expensive prices than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable rates for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Nationwide offers more affordable average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering substantial discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Hastings Mutual or Nationwide for your next policy, but which carrier has cheaper prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hastings Mutual is about $41 more per month than Nationwide.

However, that doesn't mean Nationwide will necessarily be more affordable than Hastings Mutual for each driver. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Hastings Mutual or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Nationwide only compete against each other in two states, with Nationwide offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide prices are over 10% more affordable than auto insurance premiums at Hastings Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors 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 other group of drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

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 Hastings Mutual save $6 a month compared to those who use Nationwide.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Hastings Mutual policyholders drop more than 45% and Nationwide's rates decrease over 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

When looking at Hastings Mutual and Nationwide specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $42 cheaper than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are generally less expensive for married drivers than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $30 per month more affordable than Hastings Mutual, on average. The advantage for married couples with Nationwide is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $55 a month.

Hastings Mutual vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they have a higher chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to charge men more than women.

On average, women see rates about $5 per month less expensive with Hastings Mutual, while with Nationwide, the difference is closer to $12 a month.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Nationwide offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 17% less for men and 21% cheaper for women.

Hastings Mutual or Nationwide: 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. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (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 comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Nationwide usually offers cheaper rates of $112 compared to Hastings Mutual's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies around $50 per month more affordable than Hastings Mutual, on average.

Is Hastings Mutual or Nationwide Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Hastings Mutual or Nationwide -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Hastings Mutual policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $20 a month if they get a ticket, while Nationwide generally raises rates about $24 per month, on average.

That being said, Hastings Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 13% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 13% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hastings Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Hastings Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $126 compared to Nationwide's $178.

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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, Hastings Mutual increases average prices by over $350 a month -- that's over a 75% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Nationwide Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the best rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Hastings Mutual or Nationwide Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly premiums. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into a collision 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 prices for Nationwide, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Nationwide is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Hastings Mutual vs. Nationwide: 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 large impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

Nationwide tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both companies, but Nationwide comes out on top with average rates around $151 per month. Nationwide also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 32% and 10% per month respective difference when compared to Hastings Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Hastings Mutual vs. Nationwide Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Hastings Mutual and Nationwide offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Nationwide knocks Hastings Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to Hastings Mutual's 22.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student -- but Nationwide also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Hastings Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Hastings Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, company car discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Hastings Mutual or Nationwide the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- undefined is only available in.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You have a short commute.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates rise.
• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Hastings Mutual and Nationwide and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Hastings Mutual and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $211 for Hastings Mutual. However, Nationwide won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every 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, Hastings Mutual or Nationwide?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile. For example, Hastings Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Nationwide is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Factors such as where you live, gender, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Hastings Mutual and Nationwide use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Hastings Mutual or Nationwide 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.