American Select vs. Michigan: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, American Select offers significantly more affordable prices than Michigan
• American Select offers more affordable rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• American Select tends to be a much less expensive option for couples purchasing insurance together

American Select vs. Michigan: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering American Select or Michigan as potential options, but which carrier has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, American Select is quite a bit cheaper than Michigan, with prices averaging $170 per month compared to $480 with Michigan.

Even so, that doesn't mean American Select will necessarily be more affordable than Michigan for each driver. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both American Select and Michigan by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

American Select or Michigan: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Michigan only compete against each other in Michigan, where American Select offers the cheaper average rates. For Michigan residents, American Select offers auto insurance for $213 a month on average. Michigan's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $480 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's typically 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 insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $500 less a month by choosing American Select over Michigan.

However, with both companies, you'll see your prices drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for American Select policyholders decrease over 45% and Michigan's prices reduce more than 70% over that time.

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 premiums you'll ever see.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between American Select and Michigan? American Select gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 60% less expensive than the national average for Michigan.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples. That's because policies for married drivers normally cover more than one car, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, American Select is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $392 per month cheaper than Michigan, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with American Select is also obvious, where drivers save over $200 a month.

American Select vs. Michigan: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men normally pay around $1 per month more than women with American Select; men and women end up paying the same monthly rates with Michigan.

Looking at overall affordability, American Select offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 64% less for men and 65% cheaper for women.

American Select or Michigan: 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 car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, American Select typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $90 compared to Michigan's $312. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Select again has the edge, with policies about $400 a month more affordable than Michigan, on average.

Is American Select or Michigan Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher rates, but which company -- American Select or Michigan -- has the cheapest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Select policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $32 per month if they get a ticket, while Michigan generally raises prices around $205 a month, on average.

Even so, American Select has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $164 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $337 a month with American Select Insurance Company.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

American Select drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Michigan will see about a 35% increase.

Overall, drivers who use American Select end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $158 compared to Michigan Insurance Company's $431.

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. For example, Michigan increases average premiums by just under $450 per month -- that's over a 60% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, American Select tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $258 monthly compared to $723 from Michigan.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Michigan Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a few states that prohibits auto insurance carriers from using credit scores to determine rates. And since Michigan is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts premiums because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since American Select and other companies tend to increase prices 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 bad 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 American Select drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is American Select or Michigan 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 how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much American Select charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly premiums for Michigan, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying around $59 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, American Select is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

American Select vs. Michigan: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

American Select tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $304 with American Select compared to Michigan. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $338 less with American Select compared to Michigan. In urban areas, American Select Insurance Company's average premiums are about $288 less than Michigan Insurance Company.

American Select vs. Michigan Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car 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 qualify for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by American Select and Michigan so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, American Select has advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Michigan offers a grand total of 17 discounts, while American Select has 20.

Both companies offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, family discounts, and next generation discounts -- but American Select also offers account relationship discounts, agency transfer discounts, companion auto discounts, and more that Michigan does not.

On the flip side, Michigan has a couple unique discounts of its own -- COVID-19 relief discount, family car discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Select or Michigan Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is American Select or Michigan the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

American Select might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Michigan might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Select and Michigan and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just American Select and Michigan. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Michigan FAQs

Is American Select or Michigan cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American Select is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $170 a month compared to $480 for Michigan. That being said, American Select won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Select or Michigan?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do American Select and Michigan offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both American Select and Michigan use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if American Select or Michigan is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Select or Michigan 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.