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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Pemco offers significantly cheaper premiums than Oregon Mutual
• Oregon Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than PEMCO Insurance
• Pemco offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually

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

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

You might be considering Oregon Mutual or Pemco, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Pemco has average rates that are around 21% a month less expensive than those from Oregon Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Pemco will be the cheaper option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your age, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

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

Oregon Mutual and Pemco only compete against each other in Washington, where Pemco offers the cheaper average prices. Pemco drivers tend to pay about $29 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Oregon Mutual for their 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 premiums. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's generally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Pemco save almost 35% a month compared to those who use Oregon Mutual.

However, both carriers will decrease prices by the time drivers turn 25. Pemco offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Oregon Mutual's average rates reduce nearly 70% during that same period.

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 cheapest premiums you can find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Oregon Mutual and Pemco? Pemco gets the slight edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 10% less expensive than the national average for Oregon Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married policyholders. That's because policies for married couples usually cover more than one vehicle, which lots of companies will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Pemco premiums coming in at a quarter less than Oregon Mutual's. The advantage for married drivers with Pemco is also obvious, where drivers save about $10 per month.

Oregon Mutual or Pemco: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men typically pay more for insurance than women do. That's because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

On average, men see rates nearly 10% a month higher with Oregon Mutual, and around 4% with Pemco.

Looking at overall affordability, Pemco comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices 23% less for men and 19% cheaper for women.

Oregon Mutual vs. Pemco: 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages 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 bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Pemco has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $62. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Pemco again has the edge, with policies averaging about $152 per month to Oregon Mutual's $172.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

At-fault collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Oregon Mutual or Pemco more affordable for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Oregon Mutual for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 9% after getting a speeding ticket. Pemco policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 16%.

That being said, Pemco is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering prices that are $26 and $21 less expensive, respectively, compared to Oregon Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Oregon Mutual can expect to see around an $22 -- or about 17% -- rise in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Pemco for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $26 (or 23%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, Pemco offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $111 compared to Oregon Mutual's $133.

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 car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Oregon Mutual will climb your rates about 35% after a DUI, while Pemco's average prices increase by more than 35%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Pemco tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $131 to Oregon Mutual's $171.

How does Credit Score Impact Oregon Mutual and Pemco Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Pemco will typically reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Pemco comes in over 45.69 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 32% with Pemco compared to average premiums from Oregon Mutual.

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 prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 18% less with Pemco than Oregon Mutual, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about 4% a month with Oregon Mutual.

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Pemco tends to be the more affordable option. Oregon Mutual average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $28 more expensive than Pemco. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about $27 more with Oregon Mutual over Pemco.

Oregon Mutual or Pemco: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Pemco tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, PEMCO Insurance's average premiums are around 24% less than Oregon Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about 14% less with Pemco compared to Oregon Mutual. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 23% with Pemco compared to Oregon Mutual.

Oregon Mutual vs. Pemco Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Oregon Mutual and Pemco so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Oregon Mutual has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Pemco offers a grand total of 12 discounts, while Oregon Mutual has 15.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Oregon Mutual also offers discounts for csl discount, driver training, legacy discount, and more.

On the other hand, Pemco has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like homeowner discounts, paid in full discounts, and passive restraint discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Oregon Mutual or Pemco 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. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Pemco might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Oregon Mutual might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Oregon Mutual and Pemco. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Oregon Mutual and Pemco. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Oregon Mutual vs. Pemco FAQs

Is Oregon Mutual or Pemco cheaper?

Pemco is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $107 per month with Pemco and $135 for Oregon Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Pemco will be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Oregon Mutual or Pemco?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Oregon Mutual is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Pemco offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do Oregon Mutual and Pemco offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors such as where you park your car, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Oregon Mutual and Pemco use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Oregon Mutual or Pemco 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.