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

Quick Facts

• In general, GEICO offers significantly cheaper prices than Pioneer State Mutual
• GEICO tends to be a much less expensive option for couples purchasing insurance together
• Pioneer State Mutual offers more affordable rates for residents in Michigan

GEICO vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering pretty big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering GEICO or Pioneer State Mutual, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, GEICO has average rates that are about 40% per month more affordable than those from Pioneer State Mutual.

That being said, that doesn't mean GEICO will necessarily be cheaper than Pioneer State Mutual for every driver. Car insurance companies 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 rates could differ drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both GEICO and Pioneer State Mutual by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

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

GEICO 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 insurance for $310 a month on average. GEICO's average premiums come out to be over 20% more expensive, at $377 monthly.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have GEICO for their auto insurance pay nearly $200 less than those who use Pioneer State Mutual. It's worth noting that GEICO offers car insurance in 50 different states compared to Pioneer State Mutual's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your prices decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for GEICO policyholders reduce more than $200 and Pioneer State Mutual's rates drop almost $250 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? GEICO gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older nearly 40% more affordable than the national average for Pioneer State Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married couples typically cover multiple cars, which quite a few companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, GEICO is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $132 a month less expensive than Pioneer State Mutual, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - GEICO offers the most affordable average rates.

GEICO vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into collisions, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, women see prices about 4% per month less with GEICO; men and women get the same monthly premiums with Pioneer State Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, GEICO comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average rates 39% less for men and 42% cheaper for women.

GEICO 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.

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

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, GEICO usually offers significantly more affordable prices of $101 compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $182. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, GEICO again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month cheaper than Pioneer State Mutual, on average.

Is GEICO 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 car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with at-fault collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

GEICO policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $35 per month if they get a ticket, while Pioneer State Mutual typically raises premiums about $152 a month, on average.

That being said, GEICO has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 45% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 58% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through GEICO can expect to see around an $85 -- or about 43% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Pioneer State Mutual for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $39 (or 16%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, GEICO offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $200 compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $247.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Pioneer State Mutual will increase your rates about 51% after a DUI, while GEICO's average prices climb by just under 60%.

GEICO has the overall most affordable rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $275 per month, but it's worth noting that GEICO's average rates come from 50 states compared to just one for Pioneer State Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

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

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for a lot of drivers.

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

So, which company offers the best prices for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a small number of states that bans auto insurance carriers 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 prices because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since GEICO and other companies tend to raise rates 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 a below average credit score 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 GEICO drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is GEICO or Pioneer State Mutual 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 your monthly insurance payment. Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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 Pioneer State Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for GEICO, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying around $8 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, GEICO is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

GEICO boasts the cheapest average premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but GEICO comes out on top with average prices about $159 monthly. GEICO also has more affordable average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 47% and 39% per month respective difference when compared to Pioneer State Mutual policyholders in similar areas.

GEICO vs. Pioneer State Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

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

GEICO knocks Pioneer State Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than Pioneer State Mutual.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, defensive driver 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 GEICO or Pioneer State Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

GEICO might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You have below-average credit.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

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

• You're looking for the best rates in MI.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between GEICO and Pioneer State Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best 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 a handful of carriers, not just GEICO and Pioneer State Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

GEICO vs. Pioneer State Mutual FAQs

Is GEICO or Pioneer State Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, GEICO is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $185 a month compared to $310 for Pioneer State Mutual. However, GEICO won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are many different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, GEICO or Pioneer State Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

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

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Factors such as gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both GEICO and Pioneer State Mutual calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be GEICO 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.