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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Trustgard Auto offers significantly less expensive prices than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual offers cheaper average rates for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Trustgard Auto has less expensive premiums for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto, but between the two, which company will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Trustgard Auto has average rates that are around 35% a month cheaper than those from Hastings Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't mean Trustgard Auto will necessarily be less expensive than Hastings Mutual for every single driver. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, and a variety of other factors, so prices could vary drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Hastings Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Trustgard Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Trustgard Auto offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Illinois has the most noticable difference, where Trustgard Auto prices are $62 more affordable than auto insurance rates at Hastings Mutual.

But there's more to insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies determine your premiums. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 5% less per month by choosing Trustgard Auto over Hastings Mutual.

However, both carriers will decrease prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Hastings Mutual policyholders reduce about $150 and Trustgard Auto's prices drop around $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car 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 Trustgard Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Trustgard Auto gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $71 less expensive than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover multiple vehicles, which many companies will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Trustgard Auto prices coming in at a quarter less than Hastings Mutual's. The advantage for married drivers with Trustgard Auto is also obvious, where drivers save almost $90 a month.

Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto: 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, insurance companies will often charge women less than men.

Men usually pay about 2% more per month than women with Hastings Mutual, and around 6% more with Trustgard Auto.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Trustgard Auto comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $71 a month and women save about $75 with Trustgard Auto compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Hastings Mutual vs. Trustgard 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.

For most people, 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 end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (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 -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Trustgard Auto has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $79. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Trustgard Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $196 per month to Hastings Mutual's $279.

Is Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Hastings Mutual for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Trustgard Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 34%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Hastings Mutual tends to offer the best premiums at about 13% cheaper, while Trustgard Auto has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

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 over $15, while those who have insurance through Trustgard Auto will see around a $35 increase.

At the end of the day, Hastings Mutual offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average prices coming in at $126 compared to Trustgard Auto Insurance's $133.

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 raise your premiums about 77% after a DUI, while Trustgard Auto's average rates climb by nearly 45%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Trustgard Auto tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $171 to Hastings Mutual's $478.

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

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance companies 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 premiums.

Looking at Hastings Mutual and Trustgard Auto specifically, which one has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Trustgard Auto will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Trustgard Auto comes in just under 32.93 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 34% with Trustgard Auto compared to average premiums from Hastings Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Trustgard Auto typically offers lower rates than Hastings Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 32% a month less with Trustgard Auto compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 38% monthly.

Is Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto 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 your monthly prices? Typically, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Trustgard Auto comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $137 per month for both.

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

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

Trustgard Auto boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Trustgard Auto's average premiums are around $147 while Hastings Mutual offers prices about $291. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $132 with Trustgard Auto compared to Hastings Mutual's $177 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $134 per month with Trustgard Auto compared to Hastings Mutual's $164.

Hastings Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Hastings Mutual and Trustgard Auto offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Trustgard Auto knocks Hastings Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 16 different discounts to Hastings Mutual's 16.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student. Trustgard Auto also offers discounts for advance quote, advanced safety feature, COVID-19 relief, and more.

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

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Trustgard Auto might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You care about discounts (Trustgard Auto offers the most).
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Hastings Mutual and Trustgard Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 a handful of carriers, not just Hastings Mutual and Trustgard Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Hastings Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Trustgard Auto is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $137 a month with Trustgard Auto and $211 for Hastings Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean Trustgard Auto will be the lowest company for every driver, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Trustgard Auto is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Hastings Mutual offers cheaper rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

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

Insurance companies use a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors like where you park your vehicle, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Hastings Mutual and Trustgard Auto calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Hastings Mutual or Trustgard Auto 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.