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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Western National offers significantly more affordable prices than Hastings Mutual
• Hastings Mutual offers less expensive average rates for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Western National offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering considerable savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Hastings Mutual or Western National as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hastings Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Western National, with prices averaging $211 a month compared to just $154 with Western National.

But Western National may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, where you call home, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Hastings Mutual and Western National by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Western National only compete against each other in two states, with Hastings Mutual offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. Iowa has the most noticable difference, where Hastings Mutual premiums are $42 more affordable than insurance prices at Western National.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. Generally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, 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 almost 20% less per month by choosing Western National over Hastings Mutual.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Hastings Mutual policyholders reduce over 45% and Western National's rates lower nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Hastings Mutual and Western National? Western National gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $58 cheaper than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married couples. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Western National premiums coming in at a quarter less than Hastings Mutual's. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Western National has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Hastings Mutual or Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into collisions, which means they'll normally end up paying more for insurance than women.

With Hastings Mutual, women typically pay around 2% a month less than men, and about 9% less with Western National.

Looking at overall affordability, Western National offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $52 per month and women save around $61 with Western National compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western National: 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 terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

However, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Western National has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $60. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $248 a month to Hastings Mutual's $279.

Is Hastings Mutual or Western National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great premiums 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 speeding tickets and accidents lead to higher rates, but which company -- Hastings Mutual or Western National -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Western National insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Hastings Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

Even so, Hastings Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are 29% and 16% less expensive, respectively, compared to Western National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Hastings Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums rise by over $15, while those who have insurance through Western National will see around a $0 increase.

At the end of the day, Hastings Mutual offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $126 compared to Western National Insurance Company's $154.

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

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Western National tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $154 to Hastings Mutual's $478.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Western National Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Auto 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 cheaper premiums.

Looking at Hastings Mutual and Western National specifically, which one has the cheapest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Western National will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Western National comes in nearly 58.08 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 41% with Western National compared to average prices from Hastings Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 26% less with Western National than Hastings Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 1% a month with Hastings Mutual.

Is Hastings Mutual or Western National 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 car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Hastings Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Western National, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Western National is the cheaper carrier.

Hastings Mutual or Western National: 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. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

Western National boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $158 a month with Western National compared to Hastings Mutual's $164. People in suburban areas pay about $127 with Western National compared to Hastings Mutual's $177 per month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Western National's average premiums are around $177 per month compared to Hastings Mutual's $291.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western National Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones 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 Western National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Western National has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Hastings Mutual offers a grand total of 10 discounts, while Western National has 12.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Western National also offers discounts for corporate, COVID-19 relief, distant student, and more.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Hastings Mutual or Western National Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Hastings Mutual or Western National the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You have above-average credit.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.
• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Hastings Mutual and Western National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Hastings Mutual and Western National. 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 top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western National FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Western National cheaper?

Western National is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $154 a month with Western National and $211 for Hastings Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Western National will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Western National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Western National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use several different factors when determining the prices they charge. Variables such as age, gender, where you live, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Hastings Mutual and Western National calculate premiums using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Hastings Mutual or Western National 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.