Partners Mutual vs. Progressive: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Partners Mutual offers significantly less expensive premiums than Progressive
• Partners Mutual has cheaper rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• Progressive tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Partners Mutual vs. Progressive: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Partners Mutual or Progressive as your top options, but which carrier will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Progressive has average rates that are about 30% per month more expensive than those from Partners Mutual.

Even so, that doesn't mean Partners Mutual will necessarily be more affordable than Progressive for each driver. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or how old you are (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Partners Mutual and Progressive by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Partners Mutual or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Partners Mutual and Progressive only compete against each other in Iowa, where Progressive offers the cheaper average rates. For Iowa residents, Progressive offers car insurance for $97 a month on average. Partners Mutual's average prices come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $123 per month.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. It's generally because 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.

However, 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 more than $200 less a month by choosing Partners Mutual over Progressive.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Partners Mutual still has the lowest prices at $106 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Partners Mutual and Progressive? Partners Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 25% less expensive than the national average for Progressive.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single drivers tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance prices than married drivers. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Partners Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $83 per month cheaper than Progressive, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Partners Mutual has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Partners Mutual vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is generally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Men usually pay about 6% more a month than women with Partners Mutual, while with Progressive, the difference is closer to 3% per month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Partners Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $56 a month and women save around $59 with Partners Mutual compared to the average Progressive policyholder.

Partners Mutual or Progressive: 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.

For most people, car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Partners Mutual typically offers significantly less expensive premiums of $52 compared to Progressive's $111. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Partners Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $55 per month more affordable than Progressive, on average.

Is Partners Mutual or Progressive Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that tickets and collisions lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Partners Mutual or Progressive -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Partners Mutual policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $16 a month if they get a ticket, while Progressive normally raises prices around $31 per month, on average.

That being said, Partners Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $70 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $85 per month with Partners Mutual Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Progressive raising by $65. Partners Mutual has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay over $35 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Partners Mutual, with monthly premiums averaging $115 compared to Progressive's $214.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Partners Mutual drivers usually see a 61% climb in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Progressive will usually raise prices by about 16%.

How does Credit Score Impact Partners Mutual and Progressive Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for many drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper rates, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Partners Mutual and Progressive, which company has the cheapest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Partners Mutual or Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Partners Mutual or Progressive report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Partners Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle each year, with average prices of $123 a month for both.

Partners Mutual vs. Progressive: 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 considerable impact as well. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Partners Mutual generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Partners Mutual Insurance's average prices are around 31% less than Progressive. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 40% less with Partners Mutual compared to Progressive. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 23% with Partners Mutual compared to Progressive.

Partners Mutual vs. Progressive Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Partners Mutual and Progressive so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Progressive knocks Partners Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 26 more discounts than Partners Mutual.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, group discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Progressive also offers advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Partners Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Partners Mutual has a unique discount of its own -- a ESC discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Partners Mutual or Progressive Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You have a clean record.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national auto insurance carrier.
• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for discounts -- Progressive has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Partners Mutual and Progressive 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Partners Mutual and Progressive. 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Partners Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Partners Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Partners Mutual is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $123 per month compared to $180 for Progressive. However, Partners Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Partners Mutual or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Progressive offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Partners Mutual is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Partners Mutual and Progressive offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Variables like gender, your driving record, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Partners Mutual and Progressive calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Partners Mutual or Progressive is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Partners Mutual or Progressive 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.