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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, North Star Mutual offers more affordable premiums than Iowa Mutual
• Iowa Mutual offers more discounts than North Star Mutual
• North Star Mutual offers cheaper average rates for residents of suburban areas

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual as potential options, but which carrier has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Iowa Mutual has average rates that are about 15% per month more expensive than those from North Star Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean North Star Mutual will be the cheaper option for every driver. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by multiple different rate factors.

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

Iowa Mutual and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in Nebraska, where North Star Mutual offers the cheaper average prices. For Nebraska residents, North Star Mutual offers car insurance for $172 a month on average. Iowa Mutual's average rates come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $211 monthly.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance premiums than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. Generally, 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.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $150 less a month by choosing North Star Mutual over Iowa Mutual.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Iowa Mutual policyholders drop nearly 65% and North Star Mutual's premiums reduce over 50% over that time.

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 prices you'll ever find.

When looking at Iowa Mutual and North Star Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? North Star Mutual gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $144 per month compared to Iowa Mutual's $146. However, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors (such as your credit score or your driving record) will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the lowest premiums for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are usually more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, North Star Mutual is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $51 per month less expensive than Iowa Mutual, on average. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - North Star Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums , but the difference is less than $10.

Iowa Mutual vs. North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men usually pay more for insurance than women.

With Iowa Mutual, men generally pay almost 15% more a month than women., and about 2% more with North Star Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, North Star Mutual offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums $46 less for men and $17 cheaper for women.

Iowa Mutual 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 auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are many different coverages that account for a variety 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.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, North Star Mutual typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $65 compared to Iowa Mutual's $94. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, North Star Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $35 per month less expensive than Iowa Mutual, on average.

Is Iowa Mutual 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.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Iowa Mutual policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $11 a month if they get a ticket, while North Star Mutual generally raises rates about $44 per month, on average.

But North Star Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 38% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 17% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Iowa Mutual can expect to see around an $27 -- or about 14% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use North Star Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $73 (or 42%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use North Star Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $174 compared to Iowa Mutual's $191.

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 ticket or even a collision. North Star Mutual drivers usually see a 66% increase in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Iowa Mutual will typically raise prices by about 48%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, North Star Mutual tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $299 a month compared to $315 from Iowa Mutual.

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

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Iowa Mutual or North Star 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 substantial impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage? Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, North Star Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle every year, with average prices of $180 a month for both.

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

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, North Star Mutual normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, North Star Mutual's average prices are around 16% less than Iowa Mutual. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 17% less with North Star Mutual compared to Iowa Mutual. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 11% with North Star Mutual compared to Iowa Mutual.

Iowa Mutual vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

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

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 section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Iowa Mutual and North Star Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Iowa Mutual blows North Star Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering six more discounts than North Star Mutual.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but Iowa Mutual also offers ABS discounts, claim free 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 -- family discounts and paid in full discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

North Star Mutual might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You live in a rural area.

Iowa Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Iowa Mutual has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Iowa Mutual and North Star Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your 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 multiple carriers, not just Iowa Mutual and North Star Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Iowa Mutual vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, North Star Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 per month compared to $211 for Iowa Mutual. However, North Star Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

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

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as gender, where you call home, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Iowa Mutual and North Star Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Iowa Mutual or North Star Mutual 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 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Iowa Mutual 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.