Penn National vs. Trustgard Auto: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Trustgard Auto offers significantly less expensive premiums than Penn National
• Trustgard Auto offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who live in urban areas
• Trustgard Auto offers more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the auto insurance policy

Penn National or Trustgard Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Penn National or Trustgard Auto as potential options, but which one will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Trustgard Auto is quite a bit cheaper than Penn National, with rates averaging $137 a month compared to $218 with Penn National.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Trustgard Auto will be the less expensive option for every driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your age, your driving record, your credit score, or even where you call home (among other things), so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Penn National and Trustgard Auto by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Penn National vs. Trustgard Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Penn National and Trustgard Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Penn National offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Tennessee has the most noticable difference, where Penn National premiums are $5 more affordable than car insurance prices at Trustgard Auto.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just your home state. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's generally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Trustgard Auto save over 25% per month compared to those who use Penn National.

But both companies will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Trustgard Auto offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Penn National's average premiums drop almost 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance prices you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

When looking at Penn National and Trustgard Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Trustgard Auto gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older more than 40% less expensive than the national average for Penn National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are generally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples? That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover more than one vehicle, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Trustgard Auto rates coming in at a third less than Penn National's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Trustgard Auto offers the cheapest average premiums.

Penn National or Trustgard Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men normally pay more for insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Women usually pay around $5 a month less than men with Penn National, and about $10 with Trustgard Auto.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Trustgard Auto comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average premiums 35% less for men and 38% cheaper for women.

Penn National vs. Trustgard Auto: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Trustgard Auto has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $79. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Trustgard Auto again has the edge, with policies averaging around $196 per month to Penn National's $292.

Is Penn National or Trustgard Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car 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.

Speeding tickets and accidents will most likely raise your premiums, but is Penn National or Trustgard Auto more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Penn National for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Trustgard Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 34%.

That being said, Trustgard Auto has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories. With Trustgard Auto Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $41 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $31 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Penn National can expect to see about an $67 -- or around 33% -- rise in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Trustgard Auto for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $35 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their auto insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, Trustgard Auto offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average premiums coming in at $133 compared to Penn National Insurance's $206.

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. On average, Penn National will raise your rates around 60% after a DUI, while Trustgard Auto's average prices climb by nearly 45%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Trustgard Auto tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $171 to Penn National's $346.

How does Credit Score Impact Penn National and Trustgard Auto Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Insurance carriers 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, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable prices.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Penn National or Trustgard Auto 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 large impact on your monthly rates? Normally, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Penn National or Trustgard Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Trustgard Auto comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $137 a month for both.

Penn National or Trustgard Auto: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Trustgard Auto usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $134 monthly with Trustgard Auto compared to Penn National's $165. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $132 with Trustgard Auto compared to $212 with Penn National. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Trustgard Auto's average rates are around $147 per month compared to Penn National's $275.

Penn National vs. Trustgard Auto Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the company 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Penn National and Trustgard Auto so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Both carriers offer excellent discounts like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student.

Final Thoughts: Is Penn National or Trustgard Auto Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best fit for you?

Trustgard Auto might be best for you if....

• You have below-average credit.
• Your credit score is high.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Penn National might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Penn National and Trustgard Auto and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Penn National and Trustgard Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Penn National vs. Trustgard Auto FAQs

Is Penn National or Trustgard Auto cheaper?

Trustgard Auto is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $137 a month with Trustgard Auto and $218 for Penn National. But that doesn't mean Trustgard Auto will be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a range of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Penn National or Trustgard Auto?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Penn National and Trustgard Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things like age, gender, your driving record, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Penn National and Trustgard Auto calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Penn National or Trustgard Auto is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Penn National or Trustgard Auto 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.