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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Nationwide offers slightly more affordable rates than North Star Mutual
• Nationwide offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have below-average credit
• North Star Mutual offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Nationwide or North Star Mutual as your top options, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, North Star Mutual is around $10 more a month than Nationwide when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But that doesn't mean Nationwide will necessarily be cheaper than North Star Mutual for every driver. Car insurance carriers use a ton of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Nationwide or North Star Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by lots of different rate factors.

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

Nationwide and North Star Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with Nationwide offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. South Dakota has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide prices are $68 cheaper than insurance premiums at North Star Mutual.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just your home state. 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 typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. That's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have North Star Mutual for their insurance pay over 10% less than those who use Nationwide.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Nationwide policyholders decrease about $250 and North Star Mutual's rates lower around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance prices out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can raise rates.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Nationwide gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $125 a month compared to North Star Mutual's $144.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is not very significant, with North Star Mutual prices coming in at around 1% less than Nationwide's. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Nationwide offers the cheapest average rates.

Nationwide or North Star Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women? That's because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Usually, women see premiums about 7% per month less with Nationwide, but with North Star Mutual, the difference is closer to 2% a month.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Nationwide comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 3% less for men and 8% cheaper for women.

Nationwide 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.

It's no secret that car 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.

Even so, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum liability limits, North Star Mutual has the edge, while Nationwide offers the cheapest average prices for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $45 with North Star Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be around $65 more affordable with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide 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 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Nationwide for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. North Star Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 30%.

However, North Star Mutual is normally the cheaper option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 19% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 3% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Nationwide policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums rise by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through North Star Mutual will see about a 40% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use North Star Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $174 compared to Nationwide's $178.

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 car insurance bill. For example, North Star Mutual increases average rates by nearly $200 per month -- that's more than a 65% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Nationwide tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $230 to North Star Mutual's $299.

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

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

Insurance carriers 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 company offers the lowest premiums for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Nationwide will generally reward you the most for an "excellent" credit score. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Nationwide comes in 2% more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 1% with North Star Mutual compared to average rates from Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Nationwide typically offers lower prices than North Star Mutual when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 0% a month less with Nationwide compared to North Star Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 15% monthly.

Is Nationwide or North Star Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage? Usually, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident 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 rates for Nationwide, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying around $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, Nationwide is the more affordable carrier.

Nationwide 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 insurance. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Nationwide typically comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $15 with Nationwide compared to North Star Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay around $6 less with Nationwide compared to North Star Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide's average prices are about $9 less than North Star Mutual.

Nationwide vs. North Star Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

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

Nationwide blows North Star Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to North Star Mutual's six.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, multi-policy discounts, and passive restraint discounts -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, distant student, and more.

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

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best company for you and your specific needs?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

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

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

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Nationwide and North Star Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your 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 several carriers, not just Nationwide 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 multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. North Star Mutual FAQs

Is Nationwide or North Star Mutual cheaper?

Nationwide is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $170 per month with Nationwide and $180 for North Star Mutual. But that doesn't mean Nationwide will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are a range of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Nationwide or North Star Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Nationwide is cheaper for drivers who have already retired, while North Star Mutual offers more affordable prices for single drivers.

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

Auto insurance companies use quite a few different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables such as age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and North Star Mutual calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once 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 cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Nationwide 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.