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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Progressive offers cheaper rates than National Mutual
• National Mutual tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Progressive offers more affordable average premiums for drivers with a DUI

National Mutual or Progressive: 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 big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering National Mutual or Progressive as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, National Mutual has average rates that are around 10% a month more expensive than those from Progressive.

However, that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be less expensive than National Mutual for every driver. Car insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of National Mutual or Progressive is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

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

National Mutual and Progressive only compete against each other in three states, with Progressive offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Iowa has the most noticable difference, where Progressive rates are $122 less expensive than auto insurance prices at National Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Read on to learn 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 other group of drivers out there on the road. That's usually 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.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Progressive for their car insurance pay over 5% less than those who use National Mutual.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. National Mutual's average rates decrease more than 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at National Mutual and Progressive specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? In this case, Progressive has the slight edge, with rates about $3 per month less than National Mutual. Even so, the difference is only around 5%, so other variables (like your driving record is or your credit score) will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the cheapest premiums for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is not very significant, with Progressive premiums coming in at about 10% less than National Mutual's. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average prices.

National Mutual or Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

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

With National Mutual, women generally pay around $20 a month less than men, and about $5 cheaper with Progressive when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Progressive comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average premiums 14% less for men and 7% cheaper for women.

National Mutual vs. Progressive: 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 so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, National Mutual has the edge, while Progressive offers the cheapest average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with National Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $60 more affordable with Progressive.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their auto 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 at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use National Mutual for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 8% after getting a speeding ticket. Progressive policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 17%.

That being said, National Mutual is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are $18 and $38 more affordable, respectively, compared to Progressive.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

National Mutual policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by over $75, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see about a $65 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use National Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $207 compared to Progressive's $214.

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. National Mutual drivers usually see a 60% raise in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Progressive will normally climb premiums by around 16%.

How does Credit Score Impact National Mutual and Progressive Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several drivers.

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

Looking at National Mutual and Progressive specifically, which one has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly insurance cost. Typically, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither National Mutual or Progressive report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Progressive comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $180 per month for both.

National Mutual or Progressive: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, 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.

Progressive boasts the cheapest 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 about $154 a month with Progressive and $189 with National Mutual. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of around $179 with Progressive compared to $201 with National Mutual. In urban areas, Progressive's average rates are about $207 a month compared to National Mutual's $214.

National Mutual vs. Progressive 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 utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both National Mutual and Progressive so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Progressive blows National Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 15 more discounts than National Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Progressive also offers discounts for ABS, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, National Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like claim free discounts, driver training discounts, empty nester discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is National Mutual or Progressive 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 carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is National Mutual or Progressive the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in an urban area.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

National Mutual might be best for you if...

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.

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

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just National Mutual and Progressive. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

National Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is National Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Progressive is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $180 per month with Progressive and $201 for National Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean Progressive will be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, National Mutual or Progressive?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, National Mutual is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while Progressive offers more affordable rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do National Mutual and Progressive offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use quite a few different factors when calculating the prices they charge. Variables 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 Mutual and Progressive use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if National Mutual or Progressive 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 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't National Mutual or Progressive 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.