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

Quick Facts

• In general, Meemic offers slightly more affordable prices than Pioneer State Mutual
• Meemic offers less expensive average rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Pioneer State Mutual has cheaper prices for residents of rural areas

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Meemic or Pioneer State Mutual, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Meemic is about $29 per month more affordable than Pioneer State Mutual.

But Meemic may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

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

Both Meemic and Pioneer State Mutual only offer insurance in Michigan, so you'll see that the average figures here will mirror the ones we mentioned above. For Michigan residents, Meemic offers auto insurance for $281 per month on average. Pioneer State Mutual's average prices come out to be more expensive, at $310 a month.

Typically, where you call home will play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance, but since both companies only do business in Michigan, lots of other factors will come into play when you compare Meemic and Pioneer State Mutual. Read on to learn 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 young, inexperienced 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 rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $150 less a month by choosing Meemic over Pioneer State Mutual.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. Pioneer State Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Meemic still has the most affordable prices at $250 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest rates you'll ever find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Meemic and Pioneer State Mutual? Pioneer State Mutual gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $34 less expensive than the national average for Meemic.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance rates than single drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Meemic is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $43 per month more affordable than Pioneer State Mutual, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Meemic offers the most affordable average rates , but the difference is only $10.

Meemic 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 insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

Everyone gets the same monthly prices regardless of gender with Meemic; men and women end up paying the same monthly rates with Pioneer State Mutual.

Looking at overall affordability, Meemic comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $29 a month and men save about $29 with Meemic compared to the average Pioneer State Mutual policyholder.

Meemic 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

In this case, Pioneer State Mutual offers the cheapest average premiums for state minimum liability insurance, while Meemic has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with Pioneer State Mutual, while full coverage comes out to be around $75 less expensive with Meemic Insurance Company.

Is Meemic 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 accidents and tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Meemic or Pioneer State Mutual -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Meemic policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $100 per month if they get a ticket, while Pioneer State Mutual typically raises premiums about $152 a month, on average.

However, Meemic tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 15% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 23% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Meemic can expect to see around an $74 -- or about 30% -- increase in their car insurance prices. 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, the more affordable premiums come from Pioneer State Mutual, with monthly rates averaging $247 compared to Meemic Insurance Company's $250.

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 -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. Meemic drivers usually see a 58% raise in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Pioneer State Mutual will usually increase prices by about 51%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Meemic tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $421 per month compared to $425 from Pioneer State Mutual.

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

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

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

So, which company offers the most affordable prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Meemic 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 carriers will charge for coverage? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Meemic or Pioneer State Mutual report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Meemic comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average premiums of $281 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Meemic usually comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Pioneer State Mutual wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $231 monthly with Pioneer State Mutual and $248 with Meemic. People in suburban areas pay a monthly price of about $273 with Meemic compared to $304 with Pioneer State Mutual. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Meemic's average rates are around $322 a month compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $395.

Meemic vs. Pioneer State Mutual Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Meemic and Pioneer State Mutual so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Looking at the total number of discounts, Pioneer State Mutual has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Meemic offers a grand total of eight discounts, while Pioneer State Mutual has 12.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts. Pioneer State Mutual also offers ABS discounts, affiliation policy experience discounts, comp only discounts, and more that Meemic does not.

On the flip side, Meemic has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for being a defensive driver, paid in full discounts, and prior carrier discounts.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Meemic or Pioneer State Mutual the right company for you and your specific driver profile?

Meemic might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your premiums increase.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

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

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Meemic 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 car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Meemic 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Meemic vs. Pioneer State Mutual FAQs

Is Meemic or Pioneer State Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Meemic is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $281 per month compared to $310 for Pioneer State Mutual. But Meemic won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Meemic or Pioneer State Mutual?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Meemic offers cheaper premiums for single policyholders, while Pioneer State Mutual is more affordable for drivers who have already retired.

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

Car insurance companies take a look at several different variables when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Factors such as gender, where you call home, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Meemic and Pioneer State Mutual calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto 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 Meemic 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.