Main Street America vs. Union Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Union Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than Main Street America
• Main Street America offers more discounts than Union Mutual
• Union Mutual offers less expensive average premiums for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years

Main Street America vs. Union Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to Main Street America or Union Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Union Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Main Street America, with prices averaging $132 per month compared to $227 with Main Street America.

Even so, that doesn't mean Union Mutual will necessarily be cheaper than Main Street America for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Main Street America or Union Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by several different rate factors.

Main Street America or Union Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Main Street America and Union Mutual only compete against each other in Vermont, where Union Mutual offers the cheaper average prices. For Vermont residents, Union Mutual offers insurance for $132 per month on average. Main Street America's average rates come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $150 a month.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading 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 group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Union Mutual save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Main Street America.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Main Street America policyholders reduce almost 55% and Union Mutual's premiums lower more than 70% 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 lowest prices you'll ever find.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Union Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $84 less expensive than the national average for Main Street America.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married policyholders. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Union Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices about $105 per month cheaper than Main Street America, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Union Mutual has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Main Street America vs. Union Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll generally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Surprisingly, women normally pay around $6 a month more than men with Main Street America, and about $14 less with Union Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Union Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women, with average prices $85 less for men and $105 cheaper for women.

Main Street America or Union 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are lots of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Union Mutual normally offers significantly more affordable rates of $48 compared to Main Street America's $159. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Union Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $80 per month less expensive than Main Street America, on average.

Is Main Street America or Union 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Main Street America policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $61 a month if they get a ticket, while Union Mutual usually raises premiums about $4 per month, on average.

However, Union Mutual has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 50% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 61% 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 Main Street America can expect to see around an $40 -- or about 19% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Union Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $15 (or 15%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance company.

Overall, Union Mutual offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $103 compared to Main Street America Insurance's $215.

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 speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Union Mutual will raise your prices about 64% after a DUI, while Main Street America's average premiums climb by just under 40%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Union Mutual tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $244 monthly compared to $283 from Main Street America.

How does Credit Score Impact Main Street America and Union Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Union Mutual. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 10% compared to Main Street America, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $30 or 22% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Union Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Main Street America when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $52 a month less with Union Mutual compared to Main Street America, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $290 per month.

Is Main Street America or Union Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly prices. Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Union Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Main Street America, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Union Mutual is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Main Street America vs. Union Mutual: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Union Mutual boasts the most affordable average premiums 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 pay around $132 monthly with Union Mutual and $188 with Main Street America. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly premium of about $135 with Union Mutual compared to $230 with Main Street America. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Union Mutual's average prices are around $128 per month compared to Main Street America's $264.

Main Street America vs. Union Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Main Street America and Union Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Main Street America blows Union Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Union Mutual.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for getting driver training, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts -- but Main Street America also offers defensive driver discounts, distant student discounts, DRL discounts, and more that Union Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Union Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- company car discounts and hybrid vehicle discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Main Street America or Union Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Union Mutual might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Main Street America might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Main Street America and Union Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 Main Street America and Union Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Main Street America vs. Union Mutual FAQs

Is Main Street America or Union Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Union Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $132 a month compared to $227 for Main Street America. But Union Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Main Street America or Union Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Main Street America and Union Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Main Street America and Union Mutual calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Main Street America or Union Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Main Street America or Union 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.