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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Pioneer State Mutual offers significantly more affordable rates than Great Northern
• Pioneer State Mutual may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Great Northern Insurance
• Pioneer State Mutual offers less expensive average prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier has cheaper premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Great Northern has average rates that are around 40% a month more expensive than those from Pioneer State Mutual.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Pioneer State Mutual will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual 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.

Great Northern vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Great Northern and Pioneer State Mutual only offer car insurance in Michigan, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. Pioneer State Mutual drivers tend to pay about $186 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Great Northern for their insurance.

Typically, the state you live in will play a hefty role in how much you pay for car insurance, but since both companies only do business in Michigan, a whole range of other variables will come into play when you compare Great Northern and Pioneer State Mutual. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Pioneer State Mutual save 40% a month compared to those who use Great Northern.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Great Northern policyholders lower almost 50% and Pioneer State Mutual's premiums drop nearly 45% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance rates 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 prices.

When looking at Great Northern 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 $101 cheaper than the national average for Great Northern.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Pioneer State Mutual premiums coming in at a third less than Great Northern's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Pioneer State Mutual offers the most affordable average prices.

Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

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

Men and women get the same monthly rates with Great Northern; men and women get the same monthly prices with Pioneer State Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Pioneer State Mutual offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $186 per month and men save about $186 with Pioneer State Mutual compared to the average Great Northern policyholder.

Great Northern 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.

For most people, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

Even so, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Pioneer State Mutual has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $182. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Pioneer State Mutual again has the edge, with policies averaging around $438 a month to Great Northern's $737.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices 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 speeding tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Great Northern auto insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Pioneer State Mutual policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about 40%.

But Pioneer State Mutual tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 58% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 27% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Great Northern can expect to see around an $0 -- or about 0% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Pioneer State Mutual for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $39 (or 16%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Pioneer State Mutual end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $247 compared to Great Northern Insurance's $496.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Pioneer State Mutual will raise your premiums about 51% after a DUI, while Great Northern's average rates rise by 0%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Pioneer State Mutual tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $425 to Great Northern's $496.

How does Credit Score Impact Great Northern and Pioneer State Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at Great Northern and Pioneer State Mutual, which company has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Great Northern 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 substantial impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? Normally, 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.

In this case, neither Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Pioneer State Mutual comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average rates of $310 per month for both.

Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Pioneer State Mutual tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Pioneer State Mutual's average rates are about 31% less than Great Northern Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 37% less with Pioneer State Mutual compared to Great Northern. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 47% with Pioneer State Mutual compared to Great Northern.

Great Northern vs. Pioneer State Mutual Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Great Northern 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.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Pioneer State Mutual has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Great Northern offers a grand total of 10 discounts, while Pioneer State Mutual has 12.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Pioneer State Mutual also offers discounts for affiliation policy experience, comp only, distant student, and more.

On the other hand, Great Northern has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like defensive driver discounts, driver training discounts, occasional operator discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually.

Great Northern might be best for you if...

• You have above-average credit.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Great Northern 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Great Northern and Pioneer State Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Great Northern vs. Pioneer State Mutual FAQs

Is Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual cheaper?

Pioneer State Mutual is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $310 a month with Pioneer State Mutual and $496 for Great Northern. That being said, that doesn't mean Pioneer State Mutual will be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a variety of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Great Northern is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Pioneer State Mutual offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Great Northern and Pioneer State Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use several different factors when determining the rates they charge. Variables such as age, where your home is, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Great Northern and Pioneer State Mutual use 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 bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Great Northern or Pioneer State Mutual 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Great Northern 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.