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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Pioneer State Mutual offers significantly more affordable rates than Encompass
• Encompass tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Pioneer State Mutual has less expensive prices for policyholders who have a short commute

Encompass vs. Pioneer State 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 hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual as your top options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Encompass has average rates that are about 35% per month more expensive than those from Pioneer State Mutual.

Even so, Pioneer State Mutual may not be the most affordable or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where Pioneer State Mutual offers the cheaper average prices. For Michigan residents, Pioneer State Mutual offers auto insurance for $310 per month on average. Encompass's average premiums come out to be over 50% more expensive, at $490 a month.

But there's more to insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers determine your prices. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for car insurance than any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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 Pioneer State Mutual over Encompass. It's worth noting that Encompass offers auto insurance in 31 different states compared to Pioneer State Mutual's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Encompass policyholders drop over 65% and Pioneer State Mutual's rates reduce nearly 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

When looking at Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Pioneer State Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $90 more affordable than the national average for Encompass.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive insurance prices than those who are single. That's normally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Pioneer State Mutual is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $232 per month more affordable than Encompass, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Pioneer State Mutual is also obvious, where drivers save almost $55 a month.

Encompass vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Women typically pay about 5% per month less than men with Encompass; and with Pioneer State Mutual, everyone ends up paying the same monthly prices regardless of gender.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Pioneer State Mutual comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $144 a month and men save around $167 with Pioneer State Mutual compared to the average Encompass policyholder.

Encompass or 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Pioneer State Mutual usually offers significantly cheaper rates of $182 compared to Encompass's $302. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Pioneer State Mutual again has the edge, with policies about $200 per month less expensive than Encompass, on average.

Is Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Encompass policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $61 a month if they get a ticket, while Pioneer State Mutual normally raises premiums around $152 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Pioneer State Mutual tends to offer the best prices at about 8% more affordable, while Encompass has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Encompass drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by over $100, while those who have insurance through Pioneer State Mutual will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, the cheaper premiums come from Pioneer State Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $247 compared to Encompass Insurance's $328.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Encompass increases average prices by over $500 a month -- that's just under a 80% increase.

Pioneer State Mutual has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $425 monthly, but it's worth noting that Encompass's average rates come from 31 states compared to just one for Pioneer State Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will typically be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a just a few states that bans auto insurance carriers from using credit scores to calculate rates. And since Pioneer State Mutual is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts prices because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Encompass and other companies tend to raise 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-stellar 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 Encompass drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance bill. Generally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Pioneer State Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Encompass, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying about $2 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Pioneer State Mutual is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Encompass vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

Pioneer State Mutual boasts the cheapest average rates for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest prices from both carriers, but Pioneer State Mutual comes out on top with average premiums around $231 a month. Pioneer State Mutual also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 29% and 30% per month respective difference when compared to Encompass policyholders in similar areas.

Encompass vs. Pioneer State Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

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

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Encompass also offers advance quote discounts, defensive driver discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Pioneer State Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Pioneer State Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- affiliation policy experience discounts, comp only discounts, non-affiliation experience discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual the right fit for you?

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

• Your credit is less-than-stellar.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

Encompass might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Pioneer State Mutual is only available in MI.
• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates climb.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Encompass vs. Pioneer State Mutual FAQs

Is Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Pioneer State Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $310 a month compared to $466 for Encompass. But Pioneer State Mutual won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, gender, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Encompass and Pioneer State Mutual calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

How do I know if Encompass 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 several 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Encompass or Pioneer State Mutual 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.