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

Quick Facts

• In general, Partners Mutual offers significantly less expensive prices than Western National
• Partners Mutual offers more affordable average premiums for residents of suburban areas
• Western National offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to Partners Mutual or Western National as potential options, but which one has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Western National is about $31 more per month than Partners Mutual.

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

Wanting to know if Partners Mutual or Western National is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Partners Mutual or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Partners Mutual and Western National only compete against each other in Iowa, where Partners Mutual offers the cheaper average prices. For Iowa residents, Partners Mutual offers car insurance for $123 per month on average. Western National's average premiums come out to be more expensive, at $132 monthly.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about 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 out there on the road. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. As you can see above, teens who use Partners Mutual save nearly $65 a month compared to those who use Western National.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Western National offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Partners Mutual still has the cheapest prices at $106 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums you'll ever see.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Partners Mutual and Western National? Partners Mutual gets the slight edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 10% more affordable than the national average for Western National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married couples typically cover more than one car, which several carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Partners Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $37 per month cheaper than Western National, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Partners Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $25 a month.

Partners Mutual vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get tickets. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Men generally pay about $10 per month more than women with Partners Mutual, while with Western National, the difference is closer to $14 a month.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Partners Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $28 per month and men save around $34 with Partners Mutual compared to the average Western National policyholder.

Partners 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for multiple different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Partners Mutual typically offers less expensive rates of $52 compared to Western National's $60. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Partners Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $55 a month cheaper than Western National, on average.

Is Partners 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 car 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 companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National insurance policies don't report seeing their rates increase after getting a ticket, but Partners Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around $15.

However, Partners Mutual is normally the more affordable option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $75 per month with Partners Mutual Insurance, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Partners Mutual increasing by over $35. Western National has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $0 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Partners Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $115 compared to Western National Insurance Company's $154.

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 -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. Partners Mutual drivers usually see a 61% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Western National will typically 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 less expensive option with average rates of $154 monthly compared to $203 from Partners Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Partners Mutual and Western National Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

Auto 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 more affordable rates.

Looking at Partners Mutual and Western National specifically, which company has the cheapest prices 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 Western National for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 25% compared to Partners Mutual, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Partners Mutual -- about $6 or 5% cheaper than Western National each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Partners Mutual typically offers lower premiums than Western National when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $28 a month less with Partners Mutual compared to Western National, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $112 per month.

Is Partners 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 big impact on your monthly insurance payment? Usually, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Partners Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Western National, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Partners Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Partners 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

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

For drivers in rural ZIP codes, Partners Mutual offers prices about $118 a month compared to Western National's $158. People who live in urban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $143 per month for Partners Mutual and $177 for Western National. Lastly, those in suburban areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $108 and $127 for Partners Mutual and Western National respectively.

Partners Mutual vs. Western National 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 with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Partners Mutual and Western National offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Western National has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Partners Mutual offers a grand total of eight discounts, while Western National has 12.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Western National also offers corporate discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, defensive driver discounts, and more that Partners Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Partners Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, ESC discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

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

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Western National might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Partners Mutual and Western National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 a handful of companies, not just Partners Mutual and Western National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Partners Mutual vs. Western National FAQs

Is Partners Mutual or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Partners Mutual is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $123 a month compared to $154 for Western National. Even so, Partners Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a range of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Partners Mutual or Western National?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Partners Mutual and Western National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Variables such as age, where you park your vehicle, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Partners Mutual and Western National calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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, 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 insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Partners 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.