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

Quick Facts

• In general, Progressive offers less expensive rates than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable prices for policyholders who have a clean record
• Progressive has cheaper rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Hastings Mutual or Progressive, but which one has less expensive premiums for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hastings Mutual is about $31 more per month than Progressive.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Progressive will be the cheaper option for every driver. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Hastings Mutual or Progressive 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 Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Progressive compete against each other in six states, with Hastings Mutual offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Michigan has the most noticable difference, where Progressive prices are over 70% less expensive than insurance premiums at Hastings Mutual.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. The reason is that 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.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Hastings Mutual save more than $75 a month compared to those who use Progressive.

That being said, both carriers will drop rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Hastings Mutual policyholders reduce over 45% and Progressive's rates decrease nearly 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally 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 rates for insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Hastings Mutual and Progressive? Progressive gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $36 cheaper 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 prices than married policyholders. That's because policies for married couples typically cover more than one car, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for those who are single, with premiums only differing around $10 per month, on average. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Hastings Mutual vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for car insurance than women. This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Generally, men see premiums about 2% a month higher with Hastings Mutual, while with Progressive, the difference is closer to 3% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Progressive offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $30 a month and men save around $30 with Progressive compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Hastings Mutual or 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Progressive generally offers more affordable rates of $111 compared to Hastings Mutual's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies about $30 per month less expensive than Hastings Mutual, on average.

Is Hastings Mutual or Progressive 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and accidents lead to higher prices, but which company -- Hastings Mutual or Progressive -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Progressive normally raises prices around $31 per month, on average.

Even so, Hastings Mutual has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 27% and 28% cheaper, respectively, compared to Progressive.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hastings Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by over $15, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see about a $65 increase.

Overall, Hastings Mutual offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $126 compared to Progressive's $214.

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. For example, Hastings Mutual increases average premiums by over $350 a month -- that's over a 75% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Progressive Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking specifically at Progressive and Hastings Mutual, which carrier has the lowest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Hastings 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 your monthly car insurance bill? Typically, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or Progressive report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Progressive comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average rates of $180 per month for both.

Hastings Mutual vs. Progressive: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road in those areas, which decreases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Progressive generally comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Hastings Mutual wins in suburban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $154 monthly with Progressive compared to Hastings Mutual's $164. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $177 with Hastings Mutual compared to Progressive's $179 a month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average prices are around $207 while Hastings Mutual offers rates about $291.

Hastings Mutual vs. Progressive Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Hastings Mutual and Progressive offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive blows Hastings Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Hastings Mutual's 10.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for being a good student. Progressive also offers advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer 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, prior carrier discounts, and workloss exclusion discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your premiums.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You're buying car 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 Progressive. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Hastings Mutual and Progressive. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Hastings Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Progressive is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $211 for Hastings Mutual. That being said, Progressive won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Progressive?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Hastings Mutual offers cheaper premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while Progressive is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Progressive offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Factors like where your home is, where you call home, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Hastings Mutual and Progressive calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier 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 Progressive is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Hastings Mutual or Progressive 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.