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

Quick Facts

• In general, Nationwide offers slightly cheaper rates than Southern County Mutual
• Nationwide has less expensive prices for couples purchasing car insurance together
• Southern County Mutual offers more affordable rates for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Nationwide vs. Southern County Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Nationwide or Southern County Mutual as potential options, but which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Nationwide is about $9 per month less expensive than Southern County Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Nationwide will be the more affordable option for each driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, and a variety of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

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

Nationwide or Southern County Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Nationwide and Southern County Mutual only compete against each other in Texas, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average prices. For Texas residents, Nationwide offers car insurance for $156 per month on average. Southern County Mutual's average rates come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $179 monthly.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

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 Southern County Mutual for their car insurance pay more than $20 less than those who use Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers auto insurance in 34 different states compared to Southern County Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Nationwide policyholders lower nearly $250 and Southern County Mutual's premiums drop around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices you can find.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Nationwide gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at about $125 a month compared to Southern County Mutual's $129. However, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, such as where you live or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are typically cheaper for married drivers than they are for single drivers? This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for those who are single, with rates only differing around $3 a month, on average. The advantage for married policyholders is more obvious, where drivers who use Nationwide save over 10% per month.

Nationwide vs. Southern County Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident. That means when it comes to insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Men usually pay about 7% more a month than women with Nationwide, and almost 10% with Southern County Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, Nationwide comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $6 per month and men save around $12 with Nationwide compared to the average Southern County Mutual policyholder.

Nationwide or Southern County 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.

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

But the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

In this case, Southern County Mutual offers the most affordable average rates for state minimum liability limits, while Nationwide has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $7 with Southern County Mutual Insurance Company, while full coverage comes out to be about $25 more affordable with Nationwide.

Is Nationwide or Southern County Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Nationwide policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $24 a month if they get a ticket, while Southern County Mutual typically raises rates around $10 per month, on average.

Even so, Nationwide is generally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are $41 and $27 cheaper, respectively, compared to Southern County Mutual Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Nationwide increasing by just under $55. Southern County Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $3 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Southern County Mutual, with monthly premiums averaging $169 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 ticket or even an accident. For example, Nationwide increases average prices by over $100 a month -- that's over a 45% increase.

Southern County Mutual has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $207 monthly, but it's worth noting that Nationwide's average rates come from 34 states compared to just one for Southern County Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Southern County Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for quite a few policyholders.

The reasoning 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 normally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Southern County Mutual and Nationwide, which one has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Nationwide. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 10% compared to Southern County Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $10 or 6% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $15 less with Nationwide than Southern County Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $4 per month with Southern County Mutual.

Is Nationwide or Southern County 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 large impact on your monthly auto insurance bill? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Southern County Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Nationwide, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying around $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Nationwide is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Nationwide vs. Southern County Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

Nationwide boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both companies, but Nationwide comes out on top with average premiums about $151 a month. Nationwide also has less expensive average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $3 and $18 a month respective difference when compared to Southern County Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Nationwide vs. Southern County Mutual Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Nationwide and Southern County Mutual 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.

Nationwide knocks Southern County Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Southern County Mutual.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts -- but Nationwide also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Southern County Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Southern County Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, paid in full discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Nationwide or Southern County Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Southern County Mutual might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.
• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Nationwide and Southern County Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Nationwide and Southern County Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Nationwide vs. Southern County Mutual FAQs

Is Nationwide or Southern County Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $179 for Southern County Mutual. But Nationwide won't necessarily be the lowest company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Nationwide or Southern County Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Southern County Mutual offers less expensive rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while Nationwide is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Nationwide and Southern County Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Factors like gender, where you park your car, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Nationwide and Southern County Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Nationwide or Southern County Mutual 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.