American Select vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, American Select offers significantly less expensive rates than Pioneer State Mutual
• American Select offers more affordable average premiums for drivers who have below-average credit
• American Select has cheaper prices for drivers with a DUI

American Select or Pioneer State Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might be considering American Select or Pioneer State Mutual for your next policy, but which one has more affordable rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Pioneer State Mutual has average rates that are around 45% a month more expensive than those from American Select.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean American Select will be the less expensive option for each driver. Car insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so premiums will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

American Select vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Select and Pioneer State Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where American Select offers the cheaper average premiums. American Select drivers tend to pay about $97 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Pioneer State Mutual for their insurance.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Normally, 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use American Select save almost 45% a month compared to those who use Pioneer State Mutual.

But with both companies, you'll see your rates lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for American Select policyholders reduce about $150 and Pioneer State Mutual's rates decrease nearly $250 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 most affordable premiums you'll ever see.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between American Select and Pioneer State Mutual? American Select gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older almost 45% cheaper than the national average for Pioneer State Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with American Select prices coming in at around half of Pioneer State Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - American Select offers the cheapest average premiums.

American Select or Pioneer State Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, women tend to get cheaper rates than men.

With American Select, men generally pay about $1 per month more than women; and with Pioneer State Mutual, everyone ends up paying the same monthly prices regardless of gender.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, American Select comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates $139 less for men and $140 cheaper for women.

American Select vs. Pioneer State 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 pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

However, the most common 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 collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, American Select has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $90. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, American Select again has the edge, with policies averaging around $251 a month to Pioneer State Mutual's $438.

Is American Select or Pioneer State 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 at-fault collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates 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 usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. Pioneer State Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 42%.

That being said, American Select has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are 44% and 59% cheaper, respectively, compared to Pioneer State Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with American Select increasing by about 26%. Pioneer State Mutual has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than 15% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the more affordable premiums come from American Select, with average rates coming in at $158 compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $247.

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. Pioneer State Mutual drivers usually see a 51% climb in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American Select will typically raise premiums by around 55%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, American Select tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $258 to Pioneer State Mutual's $425.

How does Credit Score Impact American Select and Pioneer State Mutual Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly car insurance prices. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it will come into play for several drivers.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders 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 generally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the lowest prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a few states that does not allow auto insurance companies from using credit scores to calculate premiums. And since Pioneer State 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 American Select and other carriers 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 less-than-perfect credit and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to car 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 Pioneer State 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 payment? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither American Select or Pioneer State Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. American Select comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $170 per month for both.

American Select or Pioneer State Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a considerable role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, 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.

American Select tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $75 with American Select compared to Pioneer State Mutual. People who live in suburban areas pay about $154 less with American Select compared to Pioneer State Mutual. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, American Select Insurance Company's average prices are around $190 less than Pioneer State Mutual.

American Select vs. Pioneer State 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 taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by American Select and Pioneer State Mutual so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

American Select knocks Pioneer State Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 20 different discounts to Pioneer State Mutual's 12.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts -- but American Select also offers discounts for account relationship, advance quote, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Pioneer State Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like affiliation policy experience discounts, comp only discounts, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Select or Pioneer State Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You want to save money on your car insurance after an accident.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year.

Pioneer State Mutual might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between American Select and Pioneer State Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 multiple companies, not just American Select and Pioneer State Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

American Select vs. Pioneer State Mutual FAQs

Is American Select or Pioneer State Mutual cheaper?

American Select is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $170 a month with American Select and $310 for Pioneer State Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean American Select will be the lowest company for each policyholder, since there are a range of different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, American Select or Pioneer State Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do American Select and Pioneer State Mutual offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables like age, where your home is, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both American Select and Pioneer State Mutual calculate rates differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if American Select or Pioneer State Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the auto 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once 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 Pioneer State 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.