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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Oregon Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than Nationwide
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Oregon Mutual
• Oregon Mutual tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in urban areas

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Nationwide or Oregon Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Nationwide has average rates that are around 21% a month more expensive than those from Oregon Mutual.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Oregon Mutual will be the more affordable option for every driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Nationwide or Oregon Mutual is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Nationwide vs. Oregon Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Oregon Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with Oregon Mutual offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Washington, Nationwide is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. Oregon Mutual is the more affordable option in Idaho and Oregon.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just where you live. 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 generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group out there on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 10% less per month by choosing Oregon Mutual over Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers auto insurance in 34 different states compared to Oregon Mutual's three, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will reduce prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Nationwide policyholders drop over 60% and Oregon Mutual's rates decrease nearly 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

When looking at Nationwide and Oregon Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Oregon Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $25 less expensive than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are normally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover more than one vehicle, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Oregon Mutual rates coming in at a quarter less than Nationwide's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Oregon Mutual offers the cheapest average premiums.

Nationwide or Oregon Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they run a lower risk of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to pay less for car insurance than men.

Generally, women see prices about 7% a month less with Nationwide, and around 9% less with Oregon Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Oregon Mutual offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $35 per month and men save about $35 with Oregon Mutual compared to the average Nationwide policyholder.

Nationwide vs. Oregon 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Oregon Mutual has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $97. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Oregon Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $172 a month to Nationwide's $229.

Is Nationwide or Oregon Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great rates 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 -- Nationwide or Oregon Mutual -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Nationwide for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Oregon Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 9%.

That being said, Oregon Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are $14 and $27 cheaper, respectively, compared to Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Nationwide drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Oregon Mutual will see about a 15% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Oregon Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $133 compared to Nationwide's $178.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. Nationwide drivers usually see a 46% raise in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Oregon Mutual will generally climb rates by around 35%.

Oregon Mutual has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $171 a month, but it's worth noting that Nationwide's average rates come from 34 states compared to just three for Oregon Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Oregon Mutual Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Oregon Mutual will generally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Oregon Mutual comes in nearly 12.78 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 21% with Oregon Mutual compared to average prices from Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Oregon Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Nationwide when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 27% per month less with Oregon Mutual compared to Nationwide, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 20% per month.

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

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

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Oregon Mutual tends to be the less expensive option. Oregon Mutual's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than 20% cheaper than Nationwide. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay just under 20% less with Oregon Mutual over Nationwide.

Nationwide or Oregon Mutual: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

Oregon Mutual boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Oregon Mutual's average prices are around $151 while Nationwide offers premiums about $199. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of around $138 with Oregon Mutual compared to $159 with Nationwide. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $115 monthly with Oregon Mutual and $151 with Nationwide.

Nationwide vs. Oregon 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 utilizing as many auto 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 Nationwide and Oregon Mutual so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Nationwide knocks Oregon Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Oregon Mutual.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and group discounts -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for agency transfer, EFT, good driving, and more.

On the other hand, Oregon Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like csl discounts, legacy discounts, low mileage discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Oregon Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- Oregon Mutual only offers policies in three states.
• You're looking for discounts -- Nationwide has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Nationwide and Oregon Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple carriers, not just Nationwide and Oregon Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. Oregon Mutual FAQs

Is Nationwide or Oregon Mutual cheaper?

Oregon Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $135 a month with Oregon Mutual and $170 for Nationwide. However, that doesn't mean Oregon Mutual will be the lowest carrier for each driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Oregon Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Nationwide and Oregon Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Variables like where you park your car, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and Oregon Mutual calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Nationwide or Oregon 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.