Progressive vs. Rurual Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, Rurual Mutual offers slightly more affordable prices than Progressive
• Progressive offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Rurual Mutual tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who may not have much of a commute

Progressive vs. Rurual Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Progressive or Rurual Mutual for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Rurual Mutual is about $13 per month less expensive than Progressive.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Rurual Mutual will be the cheaper option for every driver. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Progressive or Rurual Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Progressive or Rurual Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and Rurual Mutual only compete against each other in Wisconsin, where Progressive offers the cheaper average rates. For Wisconsin residents, Progressive offers car insurance for $104 per month on average. Rurual Mutual's average prices come out to be over 60% more expensive, at $167 monthly.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Rurual Mutual for their auto insurance pay more than $100 less than those who use Progressive. It's worth noting that Progressive offers car insurance in 44 different states compared to Rurual Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. Rurual Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Progressive still has the cheapest premiums at $142 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 lowest rates you'll ever see.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Progressive gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $131 monthly compared to Rurual Mutual's $135. But the difference is only about 5%, so other variables (such as where you live or your driving record) will likely come into play when determining which company has the most affordable prices for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance premiums than single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something a lot of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Rurual Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $32 a month less expensive than Progressive, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Progressive vs. Rurual Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

Men typically pay about $5 per month more than women with Progressive, while with Rurual Mutual, the difference is closer to $11 a month.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Rurual Mutual comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $16 per month and men save around $10 with Rurual Mutual compared to the average Progressive policyholder.

Progressive or Rurual 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.

It's no secret that insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages 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 comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Rurual Mutual offers the lowest average prices for state minimum liability limits, while Progressive has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $45 with Rurual Mutual Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be about $15 cheaper with Progressive.

Is Progressive or Rurual Mutual 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Progressive policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $31 a month if they get a ticket, while Rurual Mutual normally raises premiums around $10 per month, on average.

That being said, Rurual Mutual is generally the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 21% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 29% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Progressive increasing by $65. Rurual Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay just under $20 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Rurual Mutual offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $136 compared to Progressive's $214.

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 insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, Rurual Mutual increases average premiums by over $150 a month -- that's just under a 60% increase.

Progressive has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $177 a month, but it's worth noting that Progressive's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Rurual Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Rurual Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly car insurance rates. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers 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 premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best prices 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 Rurual Mutual. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save nearly 10% compared to Progressive, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $17 or 11% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Rurual Mutual typically offers lower rates than Progressive when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $3 per month less with Rurual Mutual compared to Progressive, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $20 per month.

Is Progressive or Rurual 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 insurance bill. Usually, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Progressive or Rurual Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Rurual Mutual comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average rates of $167 a month for both.

Progressive vs. Rurual Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a big role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Progressive generally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Rurual Mutual wins in suburban areas.

In urban areas, Progressive's average prices are around $4 less than Rurual Mutual Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $47 less with Rurual Mutual compared to Progressive. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $4 with Progressive compared to Rurual Mutual.

Progressive vs. Rurual Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be hard to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Progressive and Rurual Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive blows Rurual Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Rurual Mutual's six.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, and more that Rurual Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Rurual Mutual has a unique discount of its own -- a claim free discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Rurual Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have a clean record.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Rurual Mutual Insurance only offers policies to Wisconsin residents.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Progressive and Rurual Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Progressive and Rurual Mutual. 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.

Progressive vs. Rurual Mutual FAQs

Is Progressive or Rurual Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Rurual Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $167 per month compared to $180 for Progressive. But Rurual Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are several different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Progressive or Rurual Mutual?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Progressive offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Rurual Mutual is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Progressive and Rurual Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at many different variables when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Things such as gender, your driving record, age, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Progressive and Rurual Mutual calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Progressive or Rurual Mutual 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, Compare.com does 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. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Progressive or Rurual 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.