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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, North Star Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than Memberselect
• Memberselect may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than North Star Mutual
• North Star Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Memberselect or North Star Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Memberselect or North Star Mutual for your next policy, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, North Star Mutual is quite a bit cheaper than Memberselect, with prices averaging $180 a month compared to $274 with Memberselect.

But North Star Mutual may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on where you live or how good your credit score is (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Memberselect and North Star Mutual by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Memberselect vs. North Star Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Memberselect and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in Minnesota, where North Star Mutual offers the cheaper average prices. North Star Mutual drivers tend to pay about $79 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Memberselect for their insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, 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 over 25% less a month by choosing North Star Mutual over Memberselect.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Memberselect policyholders decrease almost 40% and North Star Mutual's prices drop more than 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Memberselect and North Star Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? North Star Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $94 cheaper than the national average for Memberselect.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance prices than single policyholders. That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with North Star Mutual rates coming in at a third less than Memberselect's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - North Star Mutual offers the most affordable average prices.

Memberselect or North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to car insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Men typically pay around $10 per month more than women with Memberselect, and about $4 with North Star Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, North Star Mutual offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $98 a month and women save around $91 with North Star Mutual compared to the average Memberselect policyholder.

Memberselect vs. 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, North Star Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $65. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, North Star Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $295 per month to Memberselect's $366.

Is Memberselect or North Star Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Memberselect or North Star Mutual -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Memberselect for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 24% after getting a speeding ticket. North Star Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 30%.

However, North Star Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 44% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 39% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Memberselect drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by over $35, while those who have insurance through North Star Mutual will see around a $75 increase.

At the end of the day, North Star Mutual offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average rates coming in at $174 compared to MemberSelect Insurance Company's $216.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Memberselect increases average prices by nearly $300 a month -- that's more than a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, North Star Mutual tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $299 to Memberselect's $466.

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

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

Auto 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, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, North Star Mutual will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, North Star Mutual comes in over 26.88 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 30% with North Star Mutual compared to average premiums from Memberselect.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

North Star Mutual typically offers lower rates than Memberselect when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 32% per month less with North Star Mutual compared to Memberselect, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around 41% a month.

Is Memberselect or North Star 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 premiums. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much North Star Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Memberselect, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $12 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, North Star Mutual is the cheaper carrier.

Memberselect or North Star Mutual: 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. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

North Star Mutual boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, North Star Mutual's average rates are around $86 less than MemberSelect Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay about $137 less with North Star Mutual compared to Memberselect. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $62 with North Star Mutual compared to Memberselect.

Memberselect vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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 company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Memberselect and North Star Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Memberselect knocks North Star Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than North Star Mutual.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and paid in full discounts -- but Memberselect also offers discounts for AAA, advance quote, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, North Star Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like family discounts and passive restraint discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You have above-average credit.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Memberselect might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Memberselect offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Memberselect and North Star Mutual. 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Memberselect 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 free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Memberselect vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Memberselect or North Star Mutual cheaper?

North Star Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $180 a month with North Star Mutual and $274 for Memberselect. Even so, that doesn't mean North Star Mutual will be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Memberselect or North Star Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

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

Car insurance companies use lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge. Variables such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Memberselect and North Star Mutual calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Memberselect or North Star Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Memberselect or North Star Mutual at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.