Imt vs. North Star Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Imt offers significantly more affordable premiums than North Star Mutual
• Imt offers less expensive average prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Imt tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Imt vs. North Star Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Imt or North Star Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, North Star Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Imt, with rates averaging $180 per month compared to just $109 with Imt.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Imt will be the less expensive option for every driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, where you call home, or even your credit score (among other things), so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Imt or North Star Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Imt and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with Imt offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Nebraska has the most noticable difference, where Imt prices are over 15% cheaper than auto insurance premiums at North Star Mutual.

But there's more to car insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers calculate your rates. Keep reading 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 on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Imt for their car insurance pay nearly $150 less than those who use North Star Mutual.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Imt policyholders lower almost $95 and North Star Mutual's premiums reduce more than $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Imt and North Star Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Imt gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $82 monthly compared to North Star Mutual's $144.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are usually more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married policyholders having several cars on their policy -- something lots of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Imt is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $75 a month less expensive than North Star Mutual, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Imt offers the cheapest average rates.

Imt vs. North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Men normally pay over 10% more per month than women with Imt, and about 2% with North Star Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Imt comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $75 a month and men save around $67 with Imt compared to the average North Star Mutual policyholder.

Imt or North Star 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Imt usually offers more affordable prices of $58 compared to North Star Mutual's $65. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Imt again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month cheaper than North Star Mutual, on average.

Is Imt or North Star 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Imt policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $13 a month if they get a ticket, while North Star Mutual typically raises prices around $44 per month, on average.

However, Imt tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are $25 and $56 more affordable, respectively, compared to North Star Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Imt drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through North Star Mutual will see about a 40% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Imt end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $134 compared to North Star Mutual's $174.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, North Star Mutual increases average prices by just under $200 a month -- that's over a 65% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Imt tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $135 a month compared to $299 from North Star Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Imt and North Star Mutual Rates?

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

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 less expensive prices.

Looking specifically at North Star Mutual and Imt, which one has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Imt. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 35% compared to North Star Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $50 or 33% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Imt typically offers lower rates than North Star Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $71 per month less with Imt compared to North Star Mutual, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $112 per month.

Is Imt or North Star 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 your monthly car insurance bill. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Imt or North Star Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Imt 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 rates of $109 a month for both.

Imt vs. North Star Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Imt boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 46% with Imt compared to North Star Mutual. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 39% less with Imt compared to North Star Mutual. In urban areas, IMT Insurance's average prices are about 35% less than North Star Mutual.

Imt vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing 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.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Imt and North Star Mutual offer their customers 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, Imt comes out ahead with nine discounts to North Star Mutual's six.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, multi-policy discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but Imt also offers commercial product discounts, distant student discounts, driver training discounts, and more that North Star Mutual does not.

On the flip side, North Star Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- anti-theft discounts, family discounts, and passive restraint discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Imt or North Star Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance premiums. 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 insurance company is the best company for you and your specific needs?

Imt might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

North Star 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 better idea of the difference between Imt and North Star Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 a handful of carriers, not just Imt and North Star Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Imt vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Imt or North Star Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Imt is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $109 per month compared to $180 for North Star Mutual. That being said, Imt won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Imt or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Imt and North Star Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as where your home is, where you park your vehicle, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Imt and North Star Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Imt or North Star Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Imt or North Star 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.