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

So, you're in the market for a new auto insurance policy. You may have even narrowed down your search to National Mutual and Trustgard Auto. But which of these two companies is the best one for you? Read on to find which company has the best rates and biggest discounts.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Trustgard Auto offers significantly less expensive prices than National Mutual
  • National Mutual tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
  • Trustgard Auto offers more affordable premiums for residents of suburban areas


National Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering sizable discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to National Mutual or Trustgard Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
$201$137

Looking at nationwide averages, National Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Trustgard Auto, with prices averaging $201 per month compared to just $137 with Trustgard Auto.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Trustgard Auto will be the cheaper option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

National Mutual or Trustgard Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State National Mutual Trustgard Auto
IN$224$115

National Mutual and Trustgard Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Trustgard Auto offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Indiana has the most noticable difference, where Trustgard Auto rates are over 70% cheaper than car insurance premiums at National Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out more.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
18-year-old drivers$477$357
25-year-old drivers$186$108

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

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Trustgard Auto save more than $100 a month compared to those who use National Mutual.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for National Mutual policyholders decrease nearly $300 and Trustgard Auto's prices lower about $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
65+-year-old drivers$134$96

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the cheapest car insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

When looking at National Mutual and Trustgard Auto specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Trustgard Auto gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older almost 30% less expensive than the national average for National Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Single$240$170
Married$150$94

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married policyholders. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Trustgard Auto is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $70 per month more affordable than National Mutual, on average. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Trustgard Auto offers the most affordable average rates.

National Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto: Average Rates by Gender

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Male$212$142
Female$191$133

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to car insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

With National Mutual, men generally pay nearly 10% more a month than women., and about 6% more with Trustgard Auto.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Trustgard Auto offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $58 per month and men save around $70 with Trustgard Auto compared to the average National Mutual policyholder.


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National Mutual or Trustgard Auto: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
State Minimum*$94$79
Full Coverage**$308$196

*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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

But the most common 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 a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Trustgard Auto usually offers less expensive rates of $79 compared to National Mutual's $94. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Trustgard Auto again has the edge, with policies about $100 a month cheaper than National Mutual, on average.

Is National Mutual or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great prices 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 tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- National Mutual or Trustgard Auto -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Clean Record$131$98
1 Speeding Ticket$142$148

National Mutual policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $11 per month if they get a ticket, while Trustgard Auto normally raises rates around $50 a month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Trustgard Auto tends to offer the best prices at about 25% less expensive, while National Mutual has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Clean Record$131$98
1 At-Fault Accident$207$133

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through National Mutual can expect to see around an $76 -- or about 37% -- increase in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Trustgard Auto for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $35 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use Trustgard Auto end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $133 compared to National Mutual Insurance's $207.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Clean Record$131$98
1 DUI$325$171

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. For example, National Mutual increases average premiums by just under $200 per month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Trustgard Auto tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $171 per month compared to $325 from National Mutual.


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How does Credit Score Impact National Mutual and Trustgard Auto Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Excellent Credit Score$126$112
Good Credit Score$161$128

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Trustgard Auto. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 10% compared to National Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $33 or 20% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Fair Credit Score$221$140
Poor Credit Score$297$170

Trustgard Auto typically offers lower premiums than National Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $81 a month less with Trustgard Auto compared to National Mutual, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about $127 monthly.


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

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
6,000 Annual Miles$201$137
12,000 Annual Miles$201$137

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

In this case, neither National Mutual or Trustgard Auto report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Trustgard Auto comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average prices of $137 per month for both.

National Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Urban Areas$214$147
Suburban Areas$201$132
Rural Areas$189$134

Trustgard Auto boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $134 a month with Trustgard Auto and $189 with National Mutual. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of about $132 with Trustgard Auto compared to $201 with National Mutual. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Trustgard Auto's average rates are around $147 while National Mutual offers prices about $214.

National Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts National Mutual and Trustgard Auto offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

National Mutual Trustgard Auto
Advance Quote Discount
Advanced Safety Feature Discount 
Anti-Theft Discount
Claim Free Discount 
Company Car Discount 
Continuous Insurance Discount 
Covid-19 Relief Discount 
Defensive Driver Discount
Distant Student Discount 
Driver Training Discount 
Education Discount
EFT Discount 
Empty Nester Discount 
Good Student Discount
Group Discount 
Intra-Agency Transfer Discount 
Legacy Discount 
Life Policy Discount 
Minor Child Discount 
Multi-Car Discount 

Looking at the total number of discounts, National Mutual comes out ahead with 19 discounts to Trustgard Auto's 16.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but National Mutual also offers claim free discounts, continuous insurance discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Trustgard Auto does not.

On the flip side, Trustgard Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advanced safety feature discounts, company car discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, and more.


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Final Thoughts: Is National Mutual or Trustgard Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is National Mutual or Trustgard Auto the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Trustgard Auto might be best for you if....

  • You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
  • You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
  • You drive often but have a short commute.


National Mutual might be best for you if...

  • You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
  • You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between National Mutual and Trustgard Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 a handful of companies, not just National Mutual and Trustgard Auto. 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 the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.


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National Mutual vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is National Mutual or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Trustgard Auto is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $137 a month compared to $201 for National Mutual. However, Trustgard Auto won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, National Mutual or Trustgard Auto?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do National Mutual and Trustgard Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as gender, age, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both National Mutual and Trustgard Auto calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be National Mutual or Trustgard Auto 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.

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