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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Progressive offers cheaper prices than Iowa Mutual
• Iowa Mutual offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Progressive offers less expensive average prices for residents of urban areas

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

So, you're considering 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 be considering Iowa Mutual or Progressive as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you more affordable rates?

As you can see, Progressive has average rates that are about 15% per month less expensive than those from Iowa Mutual when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Progressive may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Iowa Mutual and Progressive by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Iowa Mutual or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Iowa Mutual and Progressive only compete against each other in Nebraska, where Progressive offers the cheaper average premiums. For Nebraska residents, Progressive offers car insurance for $165 per month on average. Iowa Mutual's average prices come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $211 monthly.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance carriers determine your premiums. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. It's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Progressive for their insurance pay nearly $50 less than those who use Iowa Mutual.

Even so, both companies will decrease prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Iowa Mutual policyholders drop more than $300 and Progressive's premiums reduce around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Iowa Mutual and Progressive? Progressive gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $15 more affordable than the national average for Iowa Mutual.

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? This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Progressive is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $29 a month cheaper than Iowa Mutual, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Progressive is also obvious, where drivers save over 20% per month.

Iowa Mutual vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will often charge men more than women.

On average, men see premiums almost $35 a month higher with Iowa Mutual, and around $5 with Progressive.

Looking at overall affordability, Progressive comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices $45 less for men and $17 cheaper for women.

Iowa Mutual or Progressive: 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 auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

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

In this case, Iowa Mutual offers the lowest average rates for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while Progressive has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Iowa Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be about $80 less expensive with Progressive.

Is Iowa Mutual or Progressive 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 at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Iowa Mutual policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $11 per month if they get a ticket, while Progressive generally raises prices around $31 a month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Progressive tends to offer the best rates at about 9% cheaper, while Iowa Mutual has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Progressive climbing by $65. Iowa Mutual has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay over $25 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Iowa Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $191 compared to Progressive's $214.

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 auto insurance bill. For example, Iowa Mutual increases average prices by more than $150 per month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Iowa Mutual and Progressive Rates?

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

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking at Iowa Mutual and Progressive specifically, which company has the lowest rates 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 Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more miles you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

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

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

Where you park your car can have a substantial impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Progressive boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Progressive offers rates around $207 a month compared to Iowa Mutual's $248. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $179 per month for Progressive and $199 for Iowa Mutual. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable prices from both carriers, with average monthly rates coming in at $154 and $187 for Progressive and Iowa Mutual respectively.

Iowa Mutual vs. Progressive 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.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Iowa Mutual and Progressive offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Progressive blows Iowa Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Iowa Mutual's 12.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Progressive also offers advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Iowa Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Iowa Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and hybrid vehicle discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Iowa Mutual or Progressive Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is Iowa Mutual or Progressive the right company for you and your specific needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You live in a rural area.

Iowa Mutual might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Iowa Mutual and Progressive. 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Iowa Mutual and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Iowa Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Iowa Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Progressive is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $211 for Iowa Mutual. However, Progressive won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Iowa Mutual or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Iowa Mutual offers more affordable rates for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Progressive is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Iowa Mutual and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at several different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Iowa Mutual and Progressive calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Iowa Mutual or Progressive is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 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 Iowa Mutual or Progressive 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.