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

Quick Facts

• In general, Pioneer State Mutual offers significantly more affordable rates than Hanover
• Hanover offers more discounts than Pioneer State Mutual
• Pioneer State Mutual has cheaper prices for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record

Hanover 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 substantial discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Hanover or Pioneer State Mutual as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Pioneer State Mutual has average rates that are about 65% per month less expensive than those from Hanover.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Pioneer State Mutual will be the cheaper option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

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

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

Hanover and Pioneer State Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where Pioneer State Mutual offers the cheaper average rates. For Michigan residents, Pioneer State Mutual offers car insurance for $310 monthly on average. Hanover's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at 1164 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any group out there on the road. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Pioneer State Mutual save more than $500 a month compared to those who use Hanover.

But both carriers will decrease rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Hanover policyholders drop over $500 and Pioneer State Mutual's prices reduce 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 lowest premiums out there.

When looking at Hanover and Pioneer State Mutual specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Pioneer State Mutual gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 60% more affordable than the national average for Hanover.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive insurance prices than single drivers. That's generally because married couples tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Pioneer State Mutual is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $660 per month cheaper than Hanover, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Pioneer State Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums.

Hanover vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and file an insurance claim, which means they'll usually end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

On average, women see prices about 7% a month less with Hanover; and with Pioneer State Mutual, both genders end up paying the same monthly premium.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Pioneer State Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 65% less for men and 62% cheaper for women.

Hanover 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Pioneer State Mutual typically offers significantly less expensive premiums of $182 compared to Hanover's $509. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Pioneer State Mutual again has the edge, with policies around $500 per month more affordable than Hanover, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Hanover policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $221 a month if they get a ticket, while Pioneer State Mutual usually raises premiums about $152 per month, on average.

But Pioneer State Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 66% and 57% cheaper, respectively, compared to Hanover Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Hanover can expect to see around an $326 -- or about 35% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Pioneer State Mutual for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $39 (or 16%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Pioneer State Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $247 compared to Hanover Insurance's $943.

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 auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, Hanover increases average premiums by just under $400 a month -- that's just under a 40% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Pioneer State Mutual tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $425 per month compared to 1013 from Hanover.

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

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a small number of states that bans insurance companies from using credit scores to determine prices. 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 Hanover 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 auto insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost Hanover drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision 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 Hanover, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying about $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Pioneer State Mutual is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Pioneer State Mutual usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Pioneer State Mutual offers prices around $395 a month compared to Hanover's $966. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $304 per month for Pioneer State Mutual and $842 for Hanover. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest rates from both companies, with average monthly premiums coming in at $231 and $750 for Pioneer State Mutual and Hanover respectively.

Hanover vs. Pioneer State Mutual Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Hanover 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.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and group discounts. Hanover also offers advance quote discounts, annual mileage discounts, 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, employee discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Hanover might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Hanover offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Hanover 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 insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Hanover and Pioneer State Mutual. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Hanover vs. Pioneer State Mutual FAQs

Is Hanover or Pioneer State Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Pioneer State Mutual is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $310 a month compared to $853 for Hanover. However, Pioneer State Mutual won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are many different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Hanover or Pioneer State Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Pioneer State Mutual offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Hanover is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

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

Insurance carriers take a look at many different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, where your home is, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Hanover 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 multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the car 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Hanover 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.