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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Rockford Mutual offers more affordable prices than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs
• Rockford Mutual offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday

Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual as potential options, but between the two, which company has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Rockford Mutual has average rates that are around 20% a month more affordable than those from Hastings Mutual.

However, Rockford Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

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

Hastings Mutual and Rockford Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Rockford Mutual offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Rockford Mutual rates are $31 cheaper than car insurance premiums at Hastings Mutual.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies calculate your prices. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 10% less per month by choosing Hastings Mutual over Rockford Mutual.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Hastings Mutual policyholders lower more than 45% and Rockford Mutual's prices drop over 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at Hastings Mutual and Rockford Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Rockford Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $49 more affordable than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are typically cheaper for married couples than they are for those who are single? That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Rockford Mutual rates coming in at about 10% less than Hastings Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Rockford Mutual offers the lowest average premiums.

Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

With Hastings Mutual, men normally pay around 2% more a month than women., and about 9% more with Rockford Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Rockford Mutual offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average rates 17% less for men and 23% cheaper for women.

Hastings Mutual vs. Rockford 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Rockford Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $88. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Rockford Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $251 per month to Hastings Mutual's $279.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Hastings Mutual for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Rockford Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 29%.

That being said, Hastings Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 9% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 24% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Hastings Mutual can expect to see about an $17 -- or around 13% -- rise in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Rockford Mutual for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $38 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Hastings Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $126 compared to Rockford Mutual Insurance Company's $158.

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

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Rockford Mutual tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $229 to Hastings Mutual's $478.

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

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

The reasoning auto 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 less expensive prices.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Rockford Mutual will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Rockford Mutual comes in nearly 19.16 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 27% with Rockford Mutual compared to average prices from Hastings Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Rockford Mutual typically offers lower rates than Hastings Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 17% per month less with Rockford Mutual compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 17% a month.

Is Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual 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 insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Rockford Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average prices of $169 a month for both.

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

Where you call home can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, 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.

Rockford Mutual boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Rockford Mutual's average rates are around $233 while Hastings Mutual offers prices about $291. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $131 with Rockford Mutual compared to Hastings Mutual's $177 per month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $144 monthly with Rockford Mutual and $164 with Hastings Mutual.

Hastings Mutual vs. Rockford Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Hastings Mutual and Rockford Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Hastings Mutual has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Rockford Mutual offers a grand total of eight discounts, while Hastings Mutual has 10.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Hastings Mutual also offers discounts for ABS, company car, passive restraint, and more.

On the other hand, Rockford Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like homeowner discounts, multi-policy discounts, and renewal discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have above-average credit.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Hastings Mutual and Rockford Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire 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 Rockford Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. Rockford Mutual FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Rockford Mutual cheaper?

Rockford Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $169 per month with Rockford Mutual and $211 for Hastings Mutual. But that doesn't mean Rockford Mutual will be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are a bunch 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 Rockford Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Rockford Mutual is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Hastings Mutual offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

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

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Factors such as age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Hastings Mutual and Rockford Mutual calculate prices using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Hastings Mutual or Rockford 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.