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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Hastings Mutual offers slightly less expensive premiums than Wolverine Mutual
• Hastings Mutual tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• Wolverine Mutual offers more affordable average rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Hastings Mutual vs. Wolverine 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 have narrowed it down to Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual for your next policy, but which company has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hastings Mutual is about $13 per month more affordable than Wolverine Mutual.

Even so, Hastings Mutual may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where Wolverine Mutual offers the cheaper average rates. For Michigan residents, Wolverine Mutual offers car insurance for $224 monthly on average. Hastings Mutual's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $582 a month.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any group on the road. That's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Hastings Mutual save nearly $60 a month compared to those who use Wolverine Mutual.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Wolverine Mutual offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying a third less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Hastings Mutual still has the most affordable prices at $202 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates you'll ever see.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual? Wolverine Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 30% less expensive than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are normally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something several car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

If you're in the market for insurance, Hastings Mutual tends to have the most affordable average prices regardless of if you're married or single, with prices around 4% more affordable for married couples and nearly 10% less expensive for single policyholders.

Hastings Mutual vs. Wolverine Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Usually, women see rates about 2% per month less with Hastings Mutual; women and men get the same monthly prices with Wolverine Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Hastings Mutual comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $16 a month and men save around $11 with Hastings Mutual compared to the average Wolverine Mutual policyholder.

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

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

In this case, Wolverine Mutual offers the lowest average prices for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while Hastings Mutual has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $30 with Wolverine Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be about $55 cheaper with Hastings Mutual Insurance Company.

Is Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car 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 accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with spotty 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 Wolverine Mutual generally raises prices around $29 a month, on average.

But Hastings Mutual has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 25% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 26% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Wolverine Mutual raising by over $40. Hastings Mutual has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay more than $15 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Hastings Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $126 compared to Wolverine Mutual's $188.

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

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Wolverine Mutual tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $389 a month compared to $478 from Hastings Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Auto insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a small number of states that restricts car insurance companies from using credit scores to determine premiums. And since Wolverine Mutual is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts rates because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Hastings Mutual and other carriers tend to raise prices quite a bit in other states if you don't have excellent credit.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to auto insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost Hastings Mutual drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage? Usually, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. 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. Wolverine Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a large impact on your monthly insurance cost. Generally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Hastings Mutual typically comes out as the less expensive option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Wolverine Mutual wins in rural areas.

In urban areas, Hastings Mutual's average rates are about $291 per month compared to Wolverine Mutual's $344. People in suburban areas pay around $177 with Hastings Mutual compared to Wolverine Mutual's $192 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $137 per month with Wolverine Mutual and $164 with Hastings Mutual.

Hastings Mutual vs. Wolverine Mutual 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 utilizing as many 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're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Hastings Mutual comes out ahead with 10 discounts to Wolverine Mutual's nine.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts. Hastings Mutual also offers anti-theft discounts, company car discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Wolverine Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Wolverine Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- distant student discounts, military discounts, multi-policy discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• Your credit is below-average.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Wolverine Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 several carriers, not just Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hastings Mutual vs. Wolverine Mutual FAQs

Is Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Hastings Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $211 a month compared to $224 for Wolverine Mutual. However, Hastings Mutual won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Hastings Mutual or Wolverine Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Hastings Mutual offers less expensive premiums for single policyholders, while Wolverine Mutual is more affordable for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Variables such as age, gender, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Hastings Mutual and Wolverine Mutual calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Hastings Mutual or Wolverine 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.