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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Western National offers more affordable rates than North Star Mutual
• North Star Mutual has cheaper premiums for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record
• Western National tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who live in suburban areas

North Star Mutual vs. Western National: 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 big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering North Star Mutual or Western National as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

As you can see, North Star Mutual has average rates that are about 14% per month more expensive than those from Western National when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, Western National may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among several other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both North Star Mutual and Western National by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

North Star Mutual or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

North Star Mutual and Western National only compete against each other in two states, with Western National offering less expensive rates to the average driver in all of them. South Dakota has the most noticable difference, where Western National prices are over 40% more affordable than insurance premiums at North Star Mutual.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $25 less a month by choosing Western National over North Star Mutual.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for North Star Mutual policyholders decrease over 50% and Western National's prices drop nearly 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable auto insurance premiums 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 North Star Mutual and Western National specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Western National gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $35 less expensive than the national average for North Star Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly cheaper insurance premiums than those who are single. That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $24 per month more affordable than North Star Mutual, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Western National has the edge when it comes to average prices.

North Star Mutual vs. Western National: 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 auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

With North Star Mutual, women normally pay about 2% a month less than men, while with Western National, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Western National offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $31 a month and men save around $21 with Western National compared to the average North Star Mutual policyholder.

North Star Mutual or Western National: 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 variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Western National generally offers slightly less expensive rates of $60 compared to North Star Mutual's $65. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies about $45 per month more affordable than North Star Mutual, on average.

Is North Star Mutual or Western National 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- North Star Mutual or Western National -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National car insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but North Star Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 30%.

Even so, North Star Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering prices that are $53 and $9 cheaper, respectively, compared to Western National Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through North Star Mutual can expect to see about an $73 -- or around 42% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Western National for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $0 (or 0%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, Western National offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $154 compared to North Star Mutual's $174.

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 insurance bill. North Star Mutual drivers usually see a 66% increase in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Western National will normally raise premiums by around 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Western National tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $154 a month compared to $299 from North Star Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact North Star Mutual and Western National Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly car insurance rates. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking at North Star Mutual and Western National specifically, which company has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is North Star Mutual or Western National 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 considerable impact on your monthly car insurance bill? Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing 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 premiums for Western National, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $4 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Western National is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

North Star Mutual vs. Western National: 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, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads in those areas.

Western National tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in suburban ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Western National comes out on top with average prices around $127 per month. Western National also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and rural ZIP codes -- a $31 and $8 a month respective difference when compared to North Star Mutual drivers in similar areas.

North Star Mutual vs. Western National 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 utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both North Star Mutual and Western National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Western National blows North Star Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering six more discounts than North Star Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Western National also offers corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, distant student discounts, and more that North Star Mutual does not.

On the flip side, North Star Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- paid in full discounts and passive restraint discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is North Star Mutual or Western National the right fit for you?

Western National might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

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

• You have a clean record.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between North Star Mutual and Western National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just North Star Mutual and Western National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

North Star Mutual vs. Western National FAQs

Is North Star Mutual or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Western National is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $154 per month compared to $180 for North Star Mutual. That being said, Western National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are a bunch of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, North Star Mutual or Western National?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Western National offers more affordable rates for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while North Star Mutual is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do North Star Mutual and Western National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Variables like where you live, age, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both North Star Mutual and Western National calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be North Star Mutual or Western National 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.