Key vs. Mendakota: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Mendakota offers more affordable prices than Key
• Key offers more affordable premiums for residents of urban areas
• Mendakota has less expensive rates for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Key vs. Mendakota: 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 large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Key or Mendakota as your top options, but which carrier has cheaper prices for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Key has average rates that are about 14% per month more expensive than those from Mendakota.

That being said, Mendakota may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Key or Mendakota is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Key or Mendakota: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Key and Mendakota only offer car insurance in Nevada, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For Nevada residents, Mendakota offers insurance for $244 monthly on average. Key's average premiums come out to be over 15% more expensive, at $285 a month.

Typically, your home state will play a huge role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in Nevada, numerous other factors will come into play when you compare Key and Mendakota. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. 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 that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Mendakota save nearly $250 a month compared to those who use Key.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Key policyholders decrease more than 65% and Mendakota's prices lower over 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Key and Mendakota? Mendakota gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $36 less expensive than the national average for Key.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for single policyholders. That's typically because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Mendakota is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $74 per month cheaper than Key, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married policyholders, where drivers who use Key save about 2% a month.

Key vs. Mendakota: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will often charge men more than women.

Women generally pay almost $55 per month less than men with Key, and around $18 less with Mendakota.

Looking at overall affordability, Mendakota comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates 19% less for men and 9% cheaper for women.

Key or Mendakota: 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. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Mendakota typically offers less expensive prices of $172 compared to Key's $196. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Mendakota again has the edge, with policies about $55 a month more affordable than Key, on average.

Is Key or Mendakota Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Key or Mendakota cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Key auto insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Mendakota policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

But Key tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering premiums that are 5% and 13% less expensive, respectively, compared to Mendakota Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Mendakota raising by over $50. Key has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay $25 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use Key end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $235 compared to Mendakota Insurance Company's $273.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, Key increases average rates by more than $250 per month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Mendakota tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $241 per month compared to $483 from Key.

How does Credit Score Impact Key and Mendakota Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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

Looking at Key and Mendakota specifically, which one has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Mendakota. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 15% compared to Key, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $41 or 14% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Mendakota typically offers lower premiums than Key when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $41 a month less with Mendakota compared to Key, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $41 monthly.

Is Key or Mendakota 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 pretty big impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Key or Mendakota report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Mendakota comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $244 per month for both.

Key vs. Mendakota: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Typically, 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.

Mendakota boasts the cheapest average premiums in rural and suburban areas, while Key wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $138 a month with Mendakota and $234 with Key. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $176 with Mendakota compared to Key's $234 per month. In urban areas, Key's average prices are about $386 a month compared to Mendakota's $418.

Key vs. Mendakota Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult 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 table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Key and Mendakota so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Mendakota comes out ahead with five discounts to Key's four.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts -- but Mendakota also offers homeowner discounts and paid in full discounts that Key does not.

On the flip side, Key has a unique discount of its own -- a good driving discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Key or Mendakota Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best fit for you?

Mendakota might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Key might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Key and Mendakota and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 companies, not just Key and Mendakota. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Key vs. Mendakota FAQs

Is Key or Mendakota cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Mendakota is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $244 per month compared to $285 for Key. That being said, Mendakota won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are lots of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Key or Mendakota?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Key offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while Mendakota is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Key and Mendakota offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as where your home is, age, gender, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Key and Mendakota calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Key or Mendakota is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code 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 best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Key or Mendakota 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.