Imt vs. Shelter: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Imt offers significantly cheaper premiums than Shelter
• Imt tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who have a short commute
• Shelter offers more discounts than IMT Insurance

Imt vs. Shelter: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering 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 have narrowed it down to Imt or Shelter for your next policy, but which company will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Imt has average rates that are about 50% per month cheaper than those from Shelter.

But Imt may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Imt or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Imt and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Imt offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Nebraska has the most noticable difference, where Imt rates are over 20% more affordable than car insurance prices at Shelter.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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 Imt for their auto insurance pay nearly $250 less than those who use Shelter.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. Shelter offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Imt still has the most affordable prices at $108 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the cheapest car insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

When looking at Imt and Shelter specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Imt gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $82 a month compared to Shelter's $141.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper auto insurance prices than single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something many car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Imt is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $120 a month more affordable than Shelter, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Imt offers the most affordable average rates.

Imt vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Usually, men see premiums more than 10% per month higher with Imt, while with Shelter, the difference is closer to 11% a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Imt comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 48% less for men and 47% cheaper for women.

Imt or Shelter: 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 pretty complicated. There are multiple different coverages that account for a range 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 (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Imt typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $58 compared to Shelter's $129. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Imt again has the edge, with policies around $150 per month cheaper than Shelter, on average.

Is Imt or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great rates 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 tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Imt or Shelter -- has the lowest prices for 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 Shelter usually raises prices about $39 per month, on average.

However, Imt is typically the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 46% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 51% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Imt can expect to see around an $58 -- or about 43% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Shelter for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $92 (or 39%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Imt, with monthly premiums averaging $134 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Shelter drivers usually see a 49% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Imt will normally raise rates by about 44%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Imt tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $135 monthly compared to $277 from Shelter.

How does Credit Score Impact Imt and Shelter Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

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

So, which company offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Imt or Shelter Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Imt charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Shelter, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Imt is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Imt vs. Shelter: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a sizable impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Imt usually comes out as the lowest option 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 56% with Imt compared to Shelter. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 47% less with Imt compared to Shelter. In urban areas, IMT Insurance's average premiums are about 42% less than Shelter Insurance.

Imt vs. Shelter 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 where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Imt and Shelter so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Shelter comes out ahead with 10 discounts to Imt's nine.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Shelter also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, good driving discounts, and more that Imt does not.

On the flip side, Imt has a couple unique discounts of its own -- commercial product discounts, distant student discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Imt or Shelter Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Imt might be best for you if....

• Your credit is below-average.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Imt and Shelter. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Imt and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Imt vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Imt or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Imt is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $109 a month compared to $208 for Shelter. That being said, Imt won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Imt or Shelter?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Imt and Shelter offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Imt and Shelter calculate premiums using different factors, 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 companies.

How do I know if Imt or Shelter is right for me?

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