Pekin vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Pekin offers significantly cheaper premiums than Western Reserve Group
• Pekin tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles each year
• Western Reserve Group offers more discounts than Pekin Insurance

Pekin vs. Western Reserve Group: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering Pekin or Western Reserve Group for your next policy, but which company will offer you more affordable prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Pekin has average rates that are about 45% per month cheaper than those from Western Reserve Group.

However, Pekin may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, where you call home, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Pekin and Western Reserve Group by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Pekin or Western Reserve Group: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Pekin and Western Reserve Group only compete against each other in Indiana, where Pekin offers the cheaper average prices. For Indiana residents, Pekin offers insurance for $74 monthly on average. Western Reserve Group's average rates come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $165 a month.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. That's generally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Pekin save more than $90 a month compared to those who use Western Reserve Group.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. Western Reserve Group offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Pekin still has the most affordable rates at $62 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Pekin gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $58 a month compared to Western Reserve Group's $107.

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 policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Pekin is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $69 per month more affordable than Western Reserve Group, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Pekin has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Pekin vs. Western Reserve Group: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get tickets and get into accidents, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive premiums.

On average, men see prices around 1% a month higher with Pekin, but surprisingly, with Western Reserve Group, men normally pay about 1% per month less than women.

Looking at overall affordability, Pekin comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 45% less for men and 46% cheaper for women.

Pekin or Western Reserve Group: 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. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Pekin generally offers significantly less expensive prices of $46 compared to Western Reserve Group's $94. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Pekin again has the edge, with policies around $75 a month cheaper than Western Reserve Group, on average.

Is Pekin or Western Reserve Group Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Pekin or Western Reserve Group -- has the most affordable rates for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Pekin policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $13 per month if they get a ticket, while Western Reserve Group typically raises premiums about $34 a month, on average.

But Pekin is usually the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are 39% and 45% less expensive, respectively, compared to Western Reserve Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Pekin drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under $20, while those who have insurance through Western Reserve Group will see around a $30 increase.

Overall, Pekin offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $73 compared to Western Reserve Group's $120.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. Western Reserve Group drivers usually see a 60% climb in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Pekin will normally increase prices by about 48%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Pekin tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $104 per month compared to $218 from Western Reserve Group.

How does Credit Score Impact Pekin and Western Reserve Group Rates?

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

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Pekin. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 55% compared to Western Reserve Group, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $57 or 49% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Pekin typically offers lower premiums than Western Reserve Group when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $63 per month less with Pekin compared to Western Reserve Group, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $75 monthly.

Is Pekin or Western Reserve Group 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 prices. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Western Reserve Group charges. However, there's a significant difference in monthly rates for Pekin, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Pekin is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Pekin vs. Western Reserve Group: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Pekin usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, Pekin Insurance's average prices are around $62 less than Western Reserve Group. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $71 less with Pekin compared to Western Reserve Group. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $55 with Pekin compared to Western Reserve Group.

Pekin vs. Western Reserve Group Discounts

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

The challenging 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.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Pekin and Western Reserve Group offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Western Reserve Group comes out ahead with 11 discounts to Pekin's 10.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student. Western Reserve Group also offers agency transfer discounts, company car discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Pekin does not.

On the flip side, Pekin has a couple unique discounts of its own -- EFT discounts, group discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Pekin or Western Reserve Group Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car 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 insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific needs?

Pekin might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Western Reserve Group might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Western Reserve Group offers the most).

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Pekin and Western Reserve Group. 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Pekin and Western Reserve Group. 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 carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Pekin vs. Western Reserve Group FAQs

Is Pekin or Western Reserve Group cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Pekin is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $74 a month compared to $137 for Western Reserve Group. However, Pekin won't necessarily be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are many different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Pekin or Western Reserve Group?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Pekin and Western Reserve Group offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors like where you live, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Pekin and Western Reserve Group calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if Pekin or Western Reserve Group is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 area information 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 cheapest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Pekin or Western Reserve Group 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.