State Auto vs. West Bend Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, West Bend Mutual offers significantly less expensive rates than State Auto
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than West Bend Mutual Insurance
• West Bend Mutual offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs

State Auto or West Bend Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to State Auto or West Bend Mutual, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Auto is quite a bit more expensive than West Bend Mutual, with prices averaging $259 a month compared to just $131 with West Bend Mutual.

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

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

State Auto vs. West Bend Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Auto and West Bend Mutual only compete against each other in one states, with West Bend Mutual offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Wisconsin has the most noticable difference, where West Bend Mutual premiums are $105 cheaper than insurance rates at State Auto.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 55% less per month by choosing West Bend Mutual over State Auto.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. West Bend Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. State Auto's average rates decrease almost 75% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the cheapest auto insurance prices out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? West Bend Mutual gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $92 monthly compared to State Auto's $167.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover multiple vehicles, which a lot of carriers will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with West Bend Mutual prices coming in at about half of State Auto's. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - West Bend Mutual has the edge when it comes to average rates.

State Auto or West Bend Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance carriers will tend to offer women more affordable prices.

On average, men see rates nearly 10% a month higher with State Auto, and more than 10% with West Bend Mutual.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, West Bend Mutual comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $132 per month and women save around $124 with West Bend Mutual compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

State Auto vs. West Bend 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.

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

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, West Bend Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $77. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, West Bend Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging about $186 a month to State Auto's $369.

Is State Auto or West Bend Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is State Auto or West Bend Mutual less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use State Auto for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 22% after getting a speeding ticket. West Bend Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 23%.

However, West Bend Mutual has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 51% and 50% less expensive, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

State Auto drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by over 35%, while those who have insurance through West Bend Mutual will see around a 50% increase.

At the end of the day, West Bend Mutual offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $163 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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 a collision. State Auto drivers usually see a 55% climb in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while West Bend Mutual will generally increase rates by about 50%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, West Bend Mutual tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $169 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact State Auto and West Bend Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a car insurance factor) but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

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 premiums, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the best prices for policyholders 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 State Auto or West Bend Mutual 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 pretty big impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage? That's because the more milage you put on your car, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither State Auto or West Bend Mutual report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, West Bend Mutual comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average premiums of $131 per month for both.

State Auto or West Bend 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 sizable impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which decreases the chances of an accident.

West Bend Mutual boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $112 with West Bend Mutual compared to State Auto. People who live in suburban areas pay around $114 less with West Bend Mutual compared to State Auto. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, West Bend Mutual Insurance's average prices are about $159 less than State Auto Insurance.

State Auto vs. West Bend Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? 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 find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by State Auto and West Bend Mutual so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, State Auto comes out ahead with 18 discounts to West Bend Mutual's 16.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. State Auto also offers discounts for advance quote, advantage program , COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, West Bend Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advanced safety feature discounts, excess vehicle discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is State Auto or West Bend Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

West Bend Mutual might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (State Auto offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare State Auto and West Bend Mutual and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just State Auto and West Bend Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. 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.

State Auto vs. West Bend Mutual FAQs

Is State Auto or West Bend Mutual cheaper?

West Bend Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $131 a month with West Bend Mutual and $259 for State Auto. That being said, that doesn't mean West Bend Mutual will be the most affordable 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, State Auto or West Bend Mutual?

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

Why do State Auto and West Bend Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use lots of different variables when determining the rates they charge. Things such as gender, age, where your home is, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both State Auto and West Bend Mutual use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if State Auto or West Bend 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, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't State Auto or West Bend Mutual 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.