National General vs. Southern County Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Southern County Mutual offers significantly cheaper premiums than National General
• National General offers more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI
• Southern County Mutual has less expensive rates for policyholders who have a short commute

National General or Southern County Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed it down to National General or Southern County Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company has more affordable prices for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, National General is quite a bit more expensive than Southern County Mutual, with premiums averaging $249 a month compared to just $179 with Southern County Mutual.

But Southern County Mutual may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of National General or Southern County Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by multiple different rate factors.

National General vs. Southern County Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both National General and Southern County Mutual only offer car insurance in Texas, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. Southern County Mutual drivers tend to pay about $70 per month less on average compared to drivers who use National General for their insurance.

Typically, where you live will play a pretty big role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in Texas, a lot of other variables will come into play when you compare National General and Southern County Mutual. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. The reason is that 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 auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Southern County Mutual for their insurance pay almost 40% less than those who use National General.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for National General policyholders drop around $400 and Southern County Mutual's premiums decrease nearly $200 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 you'll ever see.

When looking at National General and Southern County Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Southern County Mutual gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 30% cheaper than the national average for National General.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive insurance premiums than single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

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

National General or Southern County Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll typically end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Men normally pay about $15 a month more than women with National General, but with Southern County Mutual, the difference is closer to $18 per month.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Southern County Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $69 less for men and $71 cheaper for women.

National General vs. Southern County 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 limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

However, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Southern County Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $105. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Southern County Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $254 a month to National General's $348.

Is National General or Southern County 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use National General for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 11% after getting a speeding ticket. Southern County Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 6%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Southern County Mutual tends to offer the best rates at about 3% more affordable, while National General has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through National General can expect to see around an $311 -- or about 66% -- rise in their car insurance prices. Drivers who use Southern County Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $3 (or 2%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Southern County Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $169 compared to National General Insurance's $472.

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 car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. For example, Southern County Mutual increases average prices by more than $40 per month -- that's nearly a 20% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, National General tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $183 to Southern County Mutual's $207.

How does Credit Score Impact National General and Southern County Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it might come into play for many drivers.

Auto insurance carriers argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at National General and Southern County Mutual, which carrier has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Southern County Mutual will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Southern County Mutual comes in more than 25.74 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 27% with Southern County Mutual compared to average premiums from National General.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Southern County Mutual typically offers lower rates than National General when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 26% a month less with Southern County Mutual compared to National General, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 32% per month.

Is National General or Southern County Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither National General or Southern County Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Southern County Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average prices of $179 per month for both.

National General or Southern County Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a large role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Southern County Mutual usually comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 35% with Southern County Mutual compared to National General. People who live in suburban areas pay around 27% less with Southern County Mutual compared to National General. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Southern County Mutual Insurance Company's average premiums are about 23% less than National General Insurance.

National General vs. Southern County Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts National General and Southern County Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Southern County Mutual comes out ahead with nine discounts to National General's eight.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Southern County Mutual also offers discounts for corporate, distant student, good student, and more.

On the other hand, National General has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, defensive driver discounts, driver training discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is National General or Southern County Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Southern County Mutual might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

National General might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between National General and Southern County Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just National General and Southern County Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

National General vs. Southern County Mutual FAQs

Is National General or Southern County Mutual cheaper?

Southern County Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $179 a month with Southern County Mutual and $249 for National General. Even so, that doesn't mean Southern County Mutual will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your insurance payment.

Who is better, National General or Southern County Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Southern County Mutual is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while National General offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do National General and Southern County Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things like where you call home, gender, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both National General and Southern County Mutual use different formulas, 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 a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if National General or Southern County Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't National General or Southern County 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.