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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly cheaper premiums than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual offers more affordable average prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• West Bend Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in suburban areas

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

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

You might be considering Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual as potential options, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, West Bend Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Hastings Mutual, with rates averaging $131 per month compared to $211 with Hastings Mutual when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will necessarily be less expensive than Hastings Mutual for each driver. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among several other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Hastings Mutual and West Bend Mutual by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Hastings Mutual offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Iowa, Hastings Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average premiums. West Bend Mutual is the less expensive option in Wisconsin.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any group out there on the road. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have West Bend Mutual for their insurance pay more than $45 less than those who use Hastings Mutual.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Hastings Mutual policyholders reduce over $150 and West Bend Mutual's prices decrease about $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance rates out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? West Bend Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 45% more affordable than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

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 couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something quite a few auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, West Bend Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $69 a month cheaper than Hastings Mutual, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with West Bend Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save more than 50% per month.

Hastings Mutual vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is usually more expensive for men than for women. This is because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

With Hastings Mutual, women typically pay about $5 a month less than men, and over $15 cheaper with West Bend Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, West Bend Mutual offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $74 per month and women save around $85 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Hastings Mutual or West Bend 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, West Bend Mutual usually offers significantly less expensive prices of $77 compared to Hastings Mutual's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $95 a month more affordable than Hastings Mutual, on average.

Is Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual -- has the lowest rates 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 per month if they get a ticket, while West Bend Mutual generally raises prices around $25 a month, on average.

However, West Bend Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 23% and 16% less expensive, respectively, compared to Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

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% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use West Bend Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $79 (or 48%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Hastings Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $126 compared to West Bend Mutual Insurance's $163.

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 ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. On average, Hastings Mutual will raise your premiums around 77% after a DUI, while West Bend Mutual's average prices rise by over 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, West Bend Mutual tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $169 a month compared to $478 from Hastings Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and West Bend Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with West Bend Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 40% compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $78 or 40% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

West Bend 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 $74 per month less with West Bend Mutual compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $95 monthly.

Is Hastings Mutual or West Bend 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. Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, West Bend Mutual 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 $131 a month for both.

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

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

West Bend Mutual boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but West Bend Mutual comes out on top with average premiums around $113 per month. West Bend Mutual also has cheaper average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $133 and $55 per month respective difference when compared to Hastings Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Hastings Mutual vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Hastings Mutual and West Bend Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

West Bend Mutual blows Hastings Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering six more discounts than Hastings Mutual.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good driver -- but West Bend Mutual also offers advanced safety feature discounts, distant student discounts, excess vehicle 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, passive restraint discounts, prior carrier discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have above-average credit.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Hastings Mutual and West Bend Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

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

Hastings Mutual vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, West Bend Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $131 a month compared to $211 for Hastings Mutual. But West Bend Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Hastings Mutual offers cheaper rates for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while West Bend Mutual is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Hastings Mutual and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Variables such as your driving record, gender, where you park your vehicle, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Hastings Mutual and West Bend Mutual calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Hastings Mutual or West Bend Mutual 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.