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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Hastings Mutual offers slightly cheaper premiums than Safe Auto
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable prices for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Safe Auto has more affordable premiums for residents of urban areas

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hastings Mutual is about $12 per month cheaper than Safe Auto.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Hastings Mutual will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Safe Auto offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Safe Auto rates are over 20% cheaper than insurance premiums at Hastings Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Hastings Mutual save nearly $70 a month compared to those who use Safe Auto.

But both carriers will lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Hastings Mutual policyholders drop more than $150 and Safe Auto's prices decrease almost $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto? Hastings Mutual gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $12 more affordable than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers typically cover more than one car, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Hastings Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $28 per month less expensive than Safe Auto, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married couples, where drivers who use Safe Auto save about 4% a month.

Hastings Mutual vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

On average, men see premiums around $5 per month higher with Hastings Mutual, while with Safe Auto, the difference is closer to $17 a month.

Looking at overall affordability, Hastings Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $18 per month and women save about $6 with Hastings Mutual compared to the average Safe Auto policyholder.

Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto: 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability coverage).

In this case, Safe Auto offers the cheapest average prices for state minimum liability limits, while Hastings Mutual has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Safe Auto, while full coverage comes out to be around $40 more affordable with Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Is Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto 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.

At-fault collisions and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Hastings Mutual policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $20 a month if they get a ticket, while Safe Auto usually raises prices about $40 per month, on average.

However, Hastings Mutual is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering rates that are 39% and 41% less expensive, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hastings Mutual policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by over $15, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see around a $65 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Hastings Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $126 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Hastings Mutual will raise your rates about 77% after a DUI, while Safe Auto's average premiums increase by over 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

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

So, which company offers the most affordable prices for policyholders 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 Safe Auto Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Hastings Mutual comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $211 a month for both.

Hastings Mutual vs. Safe Auto: 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 considerable impact as well. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Hastings Mutual tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Safe Auto wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $33 with Hastings Mutual compared to Safe Auto. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $23 less with Hastings Mutual compared to Safe Auto. In urban areas, Safe Auto's average prices are around $20 less than Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Hastings Mutual vs. Safe Auto Discounts

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

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

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Safe Auto has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Hastings Mutual offers a grand total of 10 discounts, while Safe Auto has 14.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Safe Auto also offers agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, driver training 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 being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You have a short commute.

Safe Auto might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- undefined only offers policies in.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You live in an urban area.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Hastings Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $211 per month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. That being said, Hastings Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Hastings Mutual offers less expensive rates for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Safe Auto is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors like age, where you park your vehicle, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Hastings Mutual and Safe Auto calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto 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 does 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. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Hastings Mutual or Safe Auto 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.