Patriot vs. Vermont Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Vermont Mutual offers slightly less expensive rates than Patriot
• Patriot offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Vermont Mutual offers cheaper average rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Patriot vs. Vermont 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 large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Patriot or Vermont Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which one has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Vermont Mutual is about $18 per month less expensive than Patriot.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Vermont Mutual will be the cheaper option for each driver. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Patriot or Vermont Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Patriot or Vermont Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Patriot and Vermont Mutual only compete against each other in three states, with Patriot offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Vermont has the most noticable difference, where Vermont Mutual prices are over 20% cheaper than car insurance rates at Patriot.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost 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?

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

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Vermont Mutual for their car insurance pay more than $85 less than those who use Patriot.

Even so, both companies will drop rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Patriot policyholders decrease nearly $250 and Vermont Mutual's prices lower around $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates you'll ever find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

When looking at Patriot and Vermont Mutual specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Patriot gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at about $128 per month compared to Vermont Mutual's $131. However, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other variables, such as your credit score or your driving record.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Vermont Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $25 a month more affordable than Patriot, on average. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use Vermont Mutual save about 7% per month.

Patriot vs. Vermont Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Women tend to pay less for insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Men usually pay almost $20 a month more than women with Patriot, and around $14 more with Vermont Mutual.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, Vermont Mutual comes out as the most affordable option for both genders, with average prices $20 less for men and $16 cheaper for women.

Patriot or Vermont 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

In this case, Patriot offers the cheapest average rates for state minimum liability limits, while Vermont Mutual has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $5 with Patriot Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $40 less expensive with Vermont Mutual.

Is Patriot or Vermont Mutual 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Patriot or Vermont Mutual -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Patriot policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $23 per month if they get a ticket, while Vermont Mutual generally raises premiums around $7 a month, on average.

Even so, Patriot tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save about $33 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $17 a month with Patriot Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Vermont Mutual climbing by over $25. Patriot has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay just under $20 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from Patriot, with monthly prices averaging $103 compared to Vermont Mutual's $144.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. Patriot drivers usually see a 82% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Vermont Mutual will usually climb prices by about 62%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Vermont Mutual tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $307 a month compared to $472 from Patriot.

How does Credit Score Impact Patriot and Vermont Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many policyholders out there.

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

Looking at Patriot and Vermont Mutual specifically, which company has the lowest prices 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 Patriot or Vermont Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly premiums. Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

In this case, neither Patriot or Vermont Mutual report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Vermont Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average rates of $173 per month for both.

Patriot vs. Vermont Mutual: 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 pretty big impact as well. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Vermont Mutual tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Patriot wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 17% with Vermont Mutual compared to Patriot. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 15% less with Vermont Mutual compared to Patriot. In urban areas, Patriot Insurance's average prices are around 3% less than Vermont Mutual.

Patriot vs. Vermont Mutual 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

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

Overall, Vermont Mutual comes out ahead with 14 discounts to Patriot's 11.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Vermont Mutual also offers ABS discounts, annual mileage discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Patriot does not.

On the flip side, Patriot has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for being a defensive driver, full coverage discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Patriot or Vermont Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Patriot or Vermont Mutual the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

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

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You're looking for discounts -- Vermont Mutual has the most.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Patriot might be best for you if...

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want to save money on your insurance after a collision.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Patriot and Vermont Mutual. 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 several carriers, not just Patriot and Vermont Mutual. 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.

Patriot vs. Vermont Mutual FAQs

Is Patriot or Vermont Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Vermont Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $173 a month compared to $191 for Patriot. That being said, Vermont Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Patriot or Vermont Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Vermont Mutual offers less expensive prices for single policyholders, while Patriot is more affordable for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Patriot and Vermont Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things like age, your driving record, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Patriot and Vermont Mutual use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

How do I know if Patriot or Vermont Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Patriot or Vermont Mutual 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.