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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Shelter offers slightly less expensive rates than Iowa Mutual
• Iowa Mutual offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who have a short commute
• Shelter tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Iowa Mutual or Shelter, but which company has more affordable rates for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Shelter is about $3 per month cheaper than Iowa Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Shelter will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Iowa Mutual or Shelter is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Iowa Mutual or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Iowa Mutual and Shelter only compete against each other in Nebraska, where Shelter offers the cheaper average prices. For Nebraska residents, Shelter offers insurance for $180 monthly on average. Iowa Mutual's average premiums come out to be over 15% more expensive, at $211 per month.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Generally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Shelter save $55 a month compared to those who use Iowa Mutual.

But both companies will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. Shelter offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Iowa Mutual still has the lowest rates at $177 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Iowa Mutual and Shelter? Shelter gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $141 monthly compared to Iowa Mutual's $146. However, the difference is only about 5%, so other variables will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the most affordable prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover multiple cars, which quite a few carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Shelter is the winner for those who are single, with premiums around $6 per month cheaper than Iowa Mutual, on average.

Iowa Mutual vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for insurance than women.

Men generally pay nearly $35 a month more than women with Iowa Mutual, and about $25 with Shelter.

Looking at overall affordability, Shelter is the cheapest company for men. Rates with Shelter are $7 less for men, while women can save around $1 with Iowa Mutual.

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

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

In this case, Iowa Mutual offers the most affordable average prices for state minimum liability insurance, while Shelter has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $35 with Iowa Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be about $40 less expensive with Shelter Insurance.

Is Iowa Mutual or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Iowa Mutual policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $11 per month if they get a ticket, while Shelter normally raises rates around $39 a month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Shelter tends to offer the best prices at about 13% more affordable, while Iowa Mutual has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Iowa Mutual can expect to see around an $27 -- or about 14% -- 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 a collision to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, Iowa Mutual offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $191 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 an accident. On average, Iowa Mutual will increase your premiums about 48% after a DUI, while Shelter's average prices climb by just under 50%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Shelter tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $277 per month compared to $315 from Iowa Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Iowa Mutual and Shelter Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

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.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Iowa Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Shelter, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly.

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

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Shelter boasts the most affordable average prices in urban and suburban areas, while Iowa Mutual wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 8% with Iowa Mutual compared to Shelter. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 6% less with Shelter compared to Iowa Mutual. In urban areas, Shelter Insurance's average premiums are about 5% less than Iowa Mutual.

Iowa Mutual vs. Shelter Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Iowa Mutual and Shelter 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, Iowa Mutual has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Shelter offers a grand total of 10 discounts, while Iowa Mutual has 12.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Iowa Mutual also offers ABS discounts, claim free discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more that Shelter does not.

On the flip side, Shelter has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and paid in full discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

Shelter might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Iowa Mutual might be best for you if...

• Your credit score is high.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles each year.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Iowa Mutual and Shelter. 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Iowa Mutual and Shelter. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Iowa Mutual vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Iowa Mutual or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Shelter is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $208 per month compared to $211 for Iowa Mutual. Even so, Shelter won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Iowa Mutual or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Shelter offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Iowa Mutual is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Iowa Mutual and Shelter offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as gender, age, your driving record, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Iowa Mutual and Shelter calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. 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 Iowa Mutual or Shelter is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Iowa Mutual 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.