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

Quick Facts

• In general, Union Mutual offers significantly more affordable prices than Nationwide
• Nationwide may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Union Mutual
• Union Mutual has less expensive rates in VT

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Nationwide or Union Mutual, but between the two, which company has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

As you can see, Nationwide is around $38 more a month than Union Mutual when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Union Mutual will be the cheaper option for each driver. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Nationwide and Union Mutual only compete against each other in Vermont, where Nationwide offers the cheaper average premiums. Nationwide drivers tend to pay about $19 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Union Mutual for their car insurance.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies determine your prices. 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 generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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 Union Mutual for their insurance pay over 10% less than those who use Nationwide. It's worth noting that Nationwide offers car insurance in 34 different states compared to Union Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Nationwide policyholders reduce about $250 and Union Mutual's premiums drop almost $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Union Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 20% less expensive than the national average for Nationwide.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable insurance rates than those who are single. That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

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

Nationwide or Union Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

With Nationwide, women normally pay around $10 a month less than men, but with Union Mutual, the difference is closer to $14 per month.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Union Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $37 less for men and $39 cheaper for women.

Nationwide vs. Union 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.

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

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Union Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $48. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Union Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $216 a month to Nationwide's $229.

Is Nationwide or Union 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 accidents and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Nationwide for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 16% after getting a speeding ticket. Union Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 4%.

That being said, Union Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 30% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 38% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Nationwide drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Union Mutual will see around a 15% increase.

At the end of the day, the more affordable rates come from Union Mutual, with average premiums coming in at $103 compared to Nationwide's $178.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- typically a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, Union Mutual increases average prices by more than $150 per month -- that's nearly a 65% increase.

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

How does Credit Score Impact Nationwide and Union Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

So, which company offers the cheapest rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Union Mutual will generally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Union Mutual comes in just under 24.81 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 30% with Union Mutual compared to average prices from Nationwide.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Union Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Nationwide when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 29% a month less with Union Mutual compared to Nationwide, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 10% monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

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

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

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Usually, 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 roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Union Mutual normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Union Mutual's average rates are about $128 while Nationwide offers premiums around $199. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $135 with Union Mutual compared to Nationwide's $159 per month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $132 a month with Union Mutual and $151 with Nationwide.

Nationwide vs. Union Mutual Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Nationwide and Union Mutual so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Nationwide knocks Union Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 22 different discounts to Union Mutual's 10.

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts -- but Nationwide also offers discounts for advance quote, agency transfer, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Union Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, company car discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Nationwide or Union Mutual the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Nationwide might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance company.
• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You're looking for discounts -- Nationwide has the most.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Nationwide and Union Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto 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 Union Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Nationwide vs. Union Mutual FAQs

Is Nationwide or Union Mutual cheaper?

Union Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $132 per month with Union Mutual and $170 for Nationwide. However, that doesn't mean Union Mutual will be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are many different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Nationwide or Union Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Union Mutual is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Nationwide offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Nationwide and Union Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge. Variables such as where you park your vehicle, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Nationwide and Union Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, 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 Union 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.