State Farm vs. Wolverine Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, State Farm offers significantly less expensive prices than Wolverine Mutual
• State Farm offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Wolverine Mutual has more affordable rates in MI

State Farm or Wolverine Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering State Farm or Wolverine Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which one has cheaper prices for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Wolverine Mutual has average rates that are around 30% a month more expensive than those from State Farm.

That being said, that doesn't mean State Farm will necessarily be less expensive than Wolverine Mutual for every single driver. Car insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

State Farm vs. Wolverine Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Farm and Wolverine Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where Wolverine Mutual offers the cheaper average premiums. Wolverine Mutual drivers tend to pay about $387 per month less on average compared to drivers who use State Farm for their insurance.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's generally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State Farm for their car insurance pay almost 20% less than those who use Wolverine Mutual. It's worth noting that State Farm offers auto insurance in 51 different states compared to Wolverine Mutual's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for State Farm policyholders drop about $200 and Wolverine Mutual's prices decrease around $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? State Farm gets the slight edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older about 7% cheaper than the national average for Wolverine Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with State Farm premiums coming in at a quarter less than Wolverine Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - State Farm offers the cheapest average prices.

State Farm or Wolverine Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Typically, women see rates over $10 a month more affordable with State Farm; men and women end up paying the same monthly prices with Wolverine Mutual.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, State Farm comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $60 per month and women save around $72 with State Farm compared to the average Wolverine Mutual policyholder.

State Farm vs. Wolverine 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 a complicated subject for most people. There are several different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Farm has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $99. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies averaging about $216 a month to Wolverine Mutual's $335.

Is State Farm or Wolverine Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use State Farm for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 14% after getting a speeding ticket. Wolverine Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 17%.

However, State Farm has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories. With State Farm, drivers with a clean record can save around $12 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $20 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Wolverine Mutual increasing by around 22%. State Farm has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay nearly 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable prices come from State Farm, with average premiums coming in at $163 compared to Wolverine Mutual's $188.

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 auto insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Wolverine Mutual drivers usually see a 62% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while State Farm will usually raise premiums by about 25%.

State Farm has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $179 monthly, but it's worth noting that State Farm's average rates come from 51 states compared to just one for Wolverine Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact State Farm and Wolverine Mutual Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking at State Farm and Wolverine Mutual specifically, which carrier has the cheapest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a few states that bans car insurance companies from using credit scores to determine prices. And since Wolverine Mutual is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts rates because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since State Farm and other carriers tend to increase premiums quite a bit in other states if you don't have excellent credit.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost State Farm drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is State Farm or Wolverine 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 sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost? Normally, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Wolverine Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for State Farm, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying around $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, State Farm is the cheaper company.

State Farm or Wolverine Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Usually, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, State Farm typically comes out as the lowest 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 about $127 a month with State Farm compared to Wolverine Mutual's $137. People in suburban areas pay around $161 with State Farm compared to Wolverine Mutual's $192 per month. In urban areas, State Farm's average premiums are about $185 while Wolverine Mutual offers prices around $344.

State Farm vs. Wolverine Mutual 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 hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts State Farm and Wolverine Mutual offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Farm knocks Wolverine Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than Wolverine Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but State Farm also offers discounts for annual mileage, anti-theft, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Wolverine Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a seat belt discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is State Farm or Wolverine Mutual Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Wolverine Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in MI.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare State Farm and Wolverine Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 a handful of carriers, not just State Farm and Wolverine Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

State Farm vs. Wolverine Mutual FAQs

Is State Farm or Wolverine Mutual cheaper?

State Farm is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $158 per month with State Farm and $224 for Wolverine Mutual. That being said, that doesn't mean State Farm will be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, State Farm or Wolverine Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do State Farm and Wolverine Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors like age, where your home is, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both State Farm and Wolverine Mutual calculate prices using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if State Farm or Wolverine Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't State Farm or Wolverine 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.