Preferred Mutual vs. Utica National: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Utica National offers significantly cheaper rates than Preferred Mutual
• Preferred Mutual has more affordable prices for residents of rural areas
• Utica National offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Preferred Mutual vs. Utica National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Preferred Mutual or Utica National as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Preferred Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Utica National, with prices averaging $542 per month compared to just $394 with Utica National.

Even so, Utica National may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could differ drastically from person to person.

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

Preferred Mutual or Utica National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Preferred Mutual and Utica National only compete against each other in New York, where Utica National offers the cheaper average rates. For New York residents, Utica National offers insurance for $394 a month on average. Preferred Mutual's average prices come out to be over 60% more expensive, at $638 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's normally 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 teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $400 less a month by choosing Utica National over Preferred Mutual.

But both carriers will drop rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Preferred Mutual policyholders reduce over 55% and Utica National's prices decrease more than 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Preferred Mutual and Utica National specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Utica National gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $86 less expensive than the national average for Preferred Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable insurance rates than those who are single. That's because policies for married couples generally cover more than one car, which lots of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Utica National is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $180 per month cheaper than Preferred Mutual, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Utica National is also obvious, where drivers save over $100 a month.

Preferred Mutual vs. Utica National: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

With Preferred Mutual, women typically pay around $15 per month less than men, and about $30 cheaper with Utica National when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Utica National comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums 26% less for men and 29% cheaper for women.

Preferred Mutual or Utica 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.

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

The two most common 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 what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Utica National normally offers less expensive prices of $197 compared to Preferred Mutual's $234. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Utica National again has the edge, with policies around $250 a month more affordable than Preferred Mutual, on average.

Is Preferred Mutual or Utica National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Preferred Mutual policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $3 per month if they get a ticket, while Utica National typically raises prices about $58 a month, on average.

However, Utica National is generally the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 22% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 8% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Preferred Mutual drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over $95, while those who have insurance through Utica National will see around a $60 increase.

Overall, Utica National offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $362 compared to Preferred Mutual's $486.

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 ticket or even an accident. On average, Preferred Mutual will increase your rates about 57% after a DUI, while Utica National's average premiums rise by just under 45%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Utica National tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $548 monthly compared to $902 from Preferred Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Preferred Mutual and Utica National Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Utica National. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 20% compared to Preferred Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $175 or 31% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Utica National typically offers lower premiums than Preferred Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $258 per month less with Utica National compared to Preferred Mutual, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $437 a month.

Is Preferred Mutual or Utica National 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 more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more 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 Utica National charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Preferred Mutual, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $2 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Utica National is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Preferred Mutual vs. Utica 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Utica National boasts the cheapest average premiums in urban and suburban areas, while Preferred Mutual wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $80 with Preferred Mutual compared to Utica National. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $156 less with Utica National compared to Preferred Mutual. In urban areas, Utica National's average prices are around $369 less than Preferred Mutual.

Preferred Mutual vs. Utica 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Preferred Mutual and Utica National offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Utica National has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Preferred Mutual offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while Utica National has 18.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, DRL discounts, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Utica National also offers driver training discounts, EFT discounts, ESC discounts, and more that Preferred Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Preferred Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- annual mileage discounts, discounts for being a good driver, mature driver discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Preferred Mutual or Utica National Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the variables car insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Utica National might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices climb.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Preferred Mutual might be best for you if...

• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Preferred Mutual and Utica National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your 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 Preferred Mutual and Utica National. 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.

Preferred Mutual vs. Utica National FAQs

Is Preferred Mutual or Utica National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Utica National is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $394 a month compared to $542 for Preferred Mutual. Even so, Utica National won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Preferred Mutual or Utica National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Preferred Mutual and Utica National offer me different rates?

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

How do I know if Preferred Mutual or Utica National is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Preferred Mutual or Utica 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.