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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Western Reserve Group offers significantly more affordable rates than Hastings Mutual
• Western Reserve Group offers cheaper average premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute
• Western Reserve Group has less expensive prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Hastings Mutual vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group for your next policy, but which one has more affordable rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Western Reserve Group has average rates that are about 35% per month less expensive than those from Hastings Mutual.

But Western Reserve Group may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your age, where you call home, or even your driving record (among other things), so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group 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 Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in two states, with Hastings Mutual offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where Hastings Mutual prices are over 30% less expensive than auto insurance rates at Western Reserve Group.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's generally 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Western Reserve Group for their auto insurance pay more than $100 less than those who use Hastings Mutual.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Hastings Mutual policyholders reduce over $150 and Western Reserve Group's rates lower nearly $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices out there.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group? Western Reserve Group gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 35% cheaper than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married drivers usually cover several cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Western Reserve Group is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $74 a month more affordable than Hastings Mutual, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Western Reserve Group has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

With Hastings Mutual, men normally pay about 2% more per month than women., but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, men typically pay around 1% a month less than women.

Looking at overall affordability, Western Reserve Group comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $70 per month and men save about $77 with Western Reserve Group compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group: 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. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Western Reserve Group normally offers significantly less expensive rates of $94 compared to Hastings Mutual's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western Reserve Group again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month cheaper than Hastings Mutual, on average.

Is Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group -- has the lowest prices 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 Western Reserve Group generally raises prices about $34 a month, on average.

However, Western Reserve Group tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are 19% and 5% more affordable, respectively, compared to Hastings Mutual 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 climb by just under 15%, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see around a 25% increase.

Overall, the less expensive rates come from Western Reserve Group, with monthly prices averaging $120 compared to Hastings Mutual Insurance Company's $126.

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 insurance bill. On average, Hastings Mutual will climb your premiums about 77% after a DUI, while Western Reserve Group's average prices rise by just under 60%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Western Reserve Group tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $218 per month compared to $478 from Hastings Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking at Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group specifically, which company has the cheapest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Western Reserve Group. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 40% compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $76 or 39% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Western Reserve Group typically offers lower premiums than Hastings Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $68 per month less with Western Reserve Group compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $86 a month.

Is Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group 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 considerable impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Normally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Western Reserve Group comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $137 a month for both.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western Reserve Group: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Western Reserve Group typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both companies, but Western Reserve Group comes out on top with average premiums about $125 monthly. Western Reserve Group also has more affordable average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $144 and $38 per month respective difference when compared to Hastings Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Western Reserve Group comes out ahead with 11 discounts to Hastings Mutual's 10.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Western Reserve Group also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Hastings Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Hastings Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, discounts for being a good driver, passive restraint discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if....

• You're worried about the impact your credit score will have on your prices.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group. 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Western Reserve Group is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $137 a month compared to $211 for Hastings Mutual. Even so, Western Reserve Group won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things like where you park your car, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Hastings Mutual and Western Reserve Group 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 a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Hastings Mutual or Western Reserve Group 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.