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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Rurual Mutual offers slightly less expensive rates than Nationwide
• Nationwide offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods
• Rurual Mutual tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles yearly

Nationwide or Rurual 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 might have narrowed it down to Nationwide or Rurual Mutual, but which carrier has more affordable prices for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Nationwide is around $3 more a month than Rurual Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Rurual Mutual will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or where you live (among an array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Nationwide and Rurual Mutual by a bunch of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

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

Nationwide and Rurual Mutual only compete against each other in Wisconsin, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average prices. Nationwide drivers tend to pay about $36 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Rurual Mutual for their insurance.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Generally, that's because 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 car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 10% less a month by choosing Rurual Mutual over Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers insurance in 34 different states compared to Rurual Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Rurual Mutual offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Nationwide's average premiums decrease over 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Nationwide and Rurual Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Nationwide gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older about 7% more affordable than the national average for Rurual Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance prices are typically cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single? That's because policies for married drivers usually cover more than one vehicle, which a lot of companies will give you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Rurual Mutual is the winner for single policyholders, with rates around 6% per month more affordable than Nationwide, on average.

Nationwide or Rurual Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Normally, men see premiums about $10 a month higher with Nationwide, and more than $10 with Rurual Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Rurual Mutual comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average rates 2% less for men and 1% cheaper for women.

Nationwide vs. Rurual 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

When it comes to state minimum liability insurance, Rurual 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 Rurual Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $40 less expensive with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Rurual 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.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher rates, but which company -- Nationwide or Rurual Mutual -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Nationwide for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Rurual Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 8%.

But Rurual Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 6% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 15% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

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

At the end of the day, drivers who use Rurual Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $136 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. For example, Rurual Mutual increases average prices by more than $150 per month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

Nationwide has the overall cheapest premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $230 monthly, but it's worth noting that Nationwide's average rates come from 34 states compared to just one for Rurual Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Rurual Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper prices.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Rurual Mutual will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Rurual Mutual comes in NaN less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save around 8% with Rurual Mutual compared to average prices from Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 1% less with Rurual Mutual than Nationwide, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 5% a month with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Rurual 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 your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, those who drive less will end up with cheaper rates 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 Rurual Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Nationwide, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Rurual Mutual is the more affordable company.

Nationwide or Rurual Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which decreases the chances of an accident.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Nationwide boasts the most affordable average premiums in rural and urban areas, while Rurual Mutual wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Nationwide's average prices are around $199 while Rurual Mutual offers premiums about $211. People in suburban areas pay around $132 with Rurual Mutual compared to Nationwide's $159 a month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $151 per month with Nationwide and $158 with Rurual Mutual.

Nationwide vs. Rurual Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing 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 qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Nationwide and Rurual Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Nationwide blows Rurual Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than Rurual Mutual.

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

On the other hand, Rurual Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own like claim free discounts and paid in full discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Nationwide or Rurual Mutual the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

Nationwide 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 car insurance together.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Nationwide and Rurual Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 multiple carriers, not just Nationwide and Rurual Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. Rurual Mutual FAQs

Is Nationwide or Rurual Mutual cheaper?

Rurual Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $167 per month with Rurual Mutual and $170 for Nationwide. Even so, that doesn't mean Rurual Mutual will be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Rurual Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Nationwide is more affordable for drivers who have already retired, while Rurual Mutual offers less expensive prices for single drivers.

Why do Nationwide and Rurual Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use several different variables when determining the rates they charge. Factors such as your driving record, where you park your vehicle, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and Rurual Mutual calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. 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 best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Nationwide or Rurual 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.