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Bear River Mutual Auto Insurance: Is It Right For You?

If you live in Utah, Bear River Mutual can be an affordable choice for auto insurance coverage. See if this regional provider is right for you.

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Written by:
Dash Lewis , Writer
Written by: Dash Lewis Content Writer
03/03/2024 05:38 PM

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Key Points:

  • Bear River Mutual car insurance is available only for Utah residents.
  • The provider holds an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau.
  • Bear River Mutual doesn’t offer as many discounts as most national providers.
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If you live in Utah, you may be considering the Bear River Mutual insurance company, one of the oldest car insurance providers in the state. The company is known for its affordable coverage, but expert ratings are only decent.

In this review, we’ll explore Bear River Mutual insurance coverage, discount opportunities, and customer reviews. We’ll then compare it to the providers that scored highest in our deep dive into the industry’s best auto insurance.

To get free, personalized car insurance quotes for your vehicle, enter your zip code above.


Bear River Mutual Overview

Bear River Mutual is headquartered in Murray, Utah. It was founded in 1909, making it Utah’s oldest mutual property and casualty insurance company. As a mutual company, Bear River is owned by its policyholders, who reap the benefits of purchasing coverage from a mutual insurance company by receiving below-average premiums.

Bear River Mutual notes that it has strict eligibility criteria and only allows the safest drivers to purchase policies, which helps keep costs down. Since it only serves the state of Utah, customers get a personal experience from insurance agents when purchasing a car insurance policy from Bear River. 

The insurance company gets decent ratings from experts. Bear River has an A- from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an A- in financial strength from AM Best. While these ratings aren’t bad, they are lower than most leading national providers in the auto insurance industry.

Customers can use Bear River Mutual for other insurance needs as well. The provider also offers: 

  • RV insurance
  • Renters insurance
  • Home insurance
  • Condo insurance
  • Dwelling insurance
  • Umbrella insurance

Bear River Mutual Cost And Discounts

The national average cost of car insurance in Utah is $1,950 per year or $163 per month for full coverage, and $962 per year or $80 per month for minimum liability coverage. This is close to national average costs, which are $1,968 per year or $164 per month for full coverage, and $798 per year or $67 per month for full coverage. Estimating the cost of car insurance is difficult because prices depend on individual factors like:

  • Age and gender
  • Marital status
  • Vehicle make and model
  • Age of car
  • Driving history
  • Driving activity

You’ll have to reach out to a Bear River Mutual insurance agent to see what the provider’s policies would cost for you. However, we compiled cost estimates from reputable insurance companies to provide you with a better idea of what you can expect to pay for coverage. The table below shows the cheapest full-coverage car insurance providers in Utah using the following driving profile:

  • Male
  • Single
  • 30 years old
  • Good credit 
  • Clean driving record
  • Owns a 2020 Honda CR-V
ProviderAverage Annual Cost of
Full-Coverage Car Insurance in Utah
Geico$1,398
Auto-Owners$1,502
Progressive$1,516
USAA$1,594
Allstate$1,985

With Bear River Mutual auto insurance, you can get discounts on your premium for: 

  • Bundling auto and homeowners insurance
  • Paying in full
  • Insuring multiple vehicles
  • Paying on time
  • Adding a motorhome to your policy
  • Driving an older car
  • Taking a driving training class (for seniors only)
  • Being a student without owning a car

Bear River Mutual Car Insurance Coverage

Bear River Mutual offers the following coverage options:

  • Liability auto insurance: Covers motorists for damages or injuries they incur to third parties during an accident
  • Collision insurance: Covers the cost of damage from collisions
  • Comprehensive car insurance: Covers the cost of physical damage to your vehicle that isn’t caused by a collision (theft, vandalism, storms, and more)
  • Personal injury protection (PIP): Covers the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and loss of services in the event you are injured in an accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Provides coverage for injuries caused by drivers without insurance or with too little insurance
  • 24/7 roadside assistance: Covers the cost of lockouts, towing, and gas delivery
  • Rental car reimbursement: Pays for the cost of a rental car when your vehicle is damaged

The first five types of auto insurance are standard. Roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement are add-ons offered by many insurers that can be nice to have after an accident or breakdown.


Bear River Reviews And Ratings

Bear River Mutual has 4.5 stars on Google reviews, based on more than 1,700 comments from drivers. Positive reviews highlight exceptional customer service and long-standing relationships, while negative reviews focus on issues with the insurance claims process.


Bear River Mutual Auto Insurance: Our Take

With more than 100 years of experience, Bear River Mutual is a reliable choice from car insurance. However, it has limited options for coverage. We think customers looking for great local service will be satisfied with Bear River Mutual, but those in need of more choices may want to look into a leading nationwide provider.

Pros

  • In business for over 100 years
  • Competitive rates
  • Solid ratings from the BBB and AM Best

Cons

  • Available only in Utah
  • Limited coverage options

Top Recommendations For Car Insurance

Whether or not Bear River Mutual checks all the boxes for you, it’s always a good idea to look into more than one insurer before making a final decision. Two providers that scored highly in our industry-wide insurance review were Geico and Progressive.

Enter your zip code below to compare personalized, free quotes between top auto insurance companies.

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Geico: 4.5 Stars

With a strong financial foundation, expansive coverage, and reasonable rates, Geico was named Best for Basic Coverage in our comparison of leading insurance providers. The third-largest auto insurer in the U.S. provides standard coverage plus options like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and mechanical breakdown insurance. It has many opportunities to save, including a military discount, good student discount, and safe driver discount.


Progressive: 4.5 Stars

Progressive is a well-respected insurance company that has been in business since 1937. It has an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best. In addition to standard coverage, you can get custom parts and equipment coverage, loan/lease payoff, and more with Progressive. Due to programs like small and large accident forgiveness, our research team considers Progressive one of the best options for high-risk drivers.

You can compare these providers in our Geico Vs. Progressive article.


Bear River Mutual Auto Insurance: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about Bear River Mutual Insurance:

How do I contact Bear River Mutual?

Bear River Mutual lists its phone number, which you can call or text, on its website. There’s also a contact form on the website.

What is the slogan of Bear River Mutual?

Bear River Mutual’s slogan, according to its mission listed on its website, is “Mutually Insuring Each Other For Less.”

Who offers the cheapest car insurance in Utah?

According to our research, Geico is the cheapest car insurance provider for Utah drivers. Auto-Owners, Progressive, and USAA also provide affordable auto coverage in The Beehive State.


How We Rate Auto Insurers

Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

  • Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
  • Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
  • Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
  • Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
  • Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.