Motorists vs. National Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, National Mutual offers more affordable premiums than Motorists
• Motorists offers less expensive average prices for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• National Mutual tends to be a much more affordable option for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year

Motorists or National Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering sizable savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Motorists or National Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, National Mutual has average rates that are around 20% a month less expensive than those from Motorists.

That being said, National Mutual may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your age, where you call home, or even your credit score (among other things), so premiums could vary drastically from person to person.

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

Motorists vs. National Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Motorists and National Mutual only compete against each other in two states, with Motorists offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where Motorists premiums are $85 more affordable than auto insurance prices at National Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 15% less per month by choosing Motorists over National Mutual.

But both companies will reduce prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Motorists policyholders drop almost 45% and National Mutual's premiums decrease more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates out there.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? National Mutual gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $134 per month compared to Motorists's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with National Mutual premiums coming in at around 10% less than Motorists's. The advantage for married policyholders with National Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save about $70 a month.

Motorists or National Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men normally pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Typically, women see rates around $10 per month cheaper with Motorists, and about $21 less with National Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, National Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $54 a month and men save around $45 with National Mutual compared to the average Motorists policyholder.

Motorists vs. National 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. There are multiple different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, National Mutual has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $94. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, National Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $308 per month to Motorists's $379.

Is Motorists or National Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Motorists or National Mutual -- has the lowest rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Motorists for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 10% after getting a speeding ticket. National Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 8%.

Even so, National Mutual is typically the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 22% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 24% 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 Motorists can expect to see around an $37 -- or about 18% -- rise in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use National Mutual for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $76 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from Motorists, with average prices coming in at $206 compared to National Mutual Insurance's $207.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, Motorists increases average rates by more than $250 a month -- that's more than a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, National Mutual tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $325 to Motorists's $442.

How does Credit Score Impact Motorists and National Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

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 best prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Motorists or National Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much National Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Motorists, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $10 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, National Mutual is the more affordable company.

Motorists or National Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a large role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more cars on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

National Mutual boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, National Mutual Insurance's average prices are about $72 less than Motorists Insurance Group. People who live in suburban areas pay around $14 less with National Mutual compared to Motorists. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $63 with National Mutual compared to Motorists.

Motorists vs. National Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Motorists and National Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, National Mutual comes out ahead with 19 discounts to Motorists's 14.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, empty nester discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but National Mutual also offers discounts for claim free, continuous insurance, driver training, and more.

On the other hand, Motorists has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, homeowner discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Motorists or National Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You have above-average credit.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Motorists might be best for you if...

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You want to save money while purchasing insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Motorists and National Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Motorists and National Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Motorists vs. National Mutual FAQs

Is Motorists or National Mutual cheaper?

National Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $201 per month with National Mutual and $251 for Motorists. That being said, that doesn't mean National Mutual will be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Motorists or National Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, National Mutual is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Motorists offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Motorists and National Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use a lot of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Things such as where you park your vehicle, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Motorists and National Mutual calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Motorists or National Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Motorists or National 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.