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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Pekin offers significantly cheaper prices than American Select
• American Select may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Pekin Insurance
• Pekin offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

American Select or Pekin: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to American Select or Pekin as potential options, but which carrier has more affordable rates for insurance?

As you can see, American Select has average rates that are around 55% a month more expensive than those from Pekin when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

However, Pekin may not be the most affordable or best option for every single driver out there. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your age, or even your credit score (among other things), so prices could vary drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if American Select or Pekin is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

American Select vs. Pekin: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Pekin only compete against each other in Indiana, where Pekin offers the cheaper average prices. Pekin drivers tend to pay about $48 per month less on average compared to drivers who use American Select for their auto insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 45% less a month by choosing Pekin over American Select.

That being said, both companies will reduce rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for American Select policyholders lower about $150 and Pekin's prices decrease around $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise rates.

When looking at American Select and Pekin specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Pekin gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $78 less expensive than the national average for American Select.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are normally more affordable for married drivers than they are for single policyholders? That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Pekin rates coming in at about half of American Select's. The advantage for married couples with Pekin is also obvious, where drivers save over $85 per month.

American Select or Pekin: Average Rates by Gender

Men generally pay more for auto insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into a collision or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, men see prices around 1% a month higher with American Select, and about 1% more with Pekin.

Looking at overall affordability, Pekin comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $96 per month and men save around $96 with Pekin compared to the average American Select policyholder.

American Select vs. Pekin: 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a range of different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Pekin has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $46. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Pekin again has the edge, with policies averaging about $103 a month to American Select's $251.

Is American Select or Pekin 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 at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest prices to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Select for their auto insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Pekin policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 19%.

However, Pekin has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 54% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 55% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through American Select can expect to see around an $41 -- or about 26% -- rise in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Pekin for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $19 (or 26%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, Pekin offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $73 compared to American Select Insurance Company's $158.

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. On average, American Select will increase your prices about 55% after a DUI, while Pekin's average premiums increase by nearly 50%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Pekin tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $104 to American Select's $258.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Pekin Rates?

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

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which raises the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at American Select and Pekin, which one has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Pekin will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Pekin comes in more than 55.14 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 55% with Pekin compared to average rates from American Select.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Pekin typically offers lower premiums than American Select when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 55% per month less with Pekin compared to American Select, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about 58% per month.

Is American Select or Pekin Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing 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 significant difference in monthly prices for Pekin, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Pekin is the more affordable carrier.

American Select or Pekin: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more cars on the roads where they live.

Pekin tends to offer the most affordable rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $86 with Pekin compared to American Select. People who live in suburban areas pay around $82 less with Pekin compared to American Select. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Pekin Insurance's average prices are about $120 less than American Select Insurance Company.

American Select vs. Pekin Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by American Select and Pekin so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

American Select knocks Pekin out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Pekin.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and group discounts. American Select also offers discounts for ABS, account relationship, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Pekin has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like EFT discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and multi-car discounts.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Pekin might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

American Select might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select and Pekin. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 several companies, not just American Select and Pekin. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Select vs. Pekin FAQs

Is American Select or Pekin cheaper?

Pekin is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $74 a month with Pekin and $170 for American Select. But that doesn't mean Pekin will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, American Select or Pekin?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do American Select and Pekin offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Variables such as your driving record, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American Select and Pekin calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if American Select or Pekin 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't American Select or Pekin 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.