Michigan 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 cheaper premiums than Michigan
• Michigan may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Pioneer State Mutual
• Pioneer State Mutual offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles annually

Michigan 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 large savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Michigan or Pioneer State Mutual as potential options, but which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Pioneer State Mutual has average rates that are around 35% a month less expensive than those from Michigan when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Pioneer State Mutual may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Car insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Michigan vs. Pioneer State Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Both Michigan 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. Pioneer State Mutual drivers tend to pay about $170 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Michigan for their car insurance.

Typically, where you live will play a huge role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but since both companies only do business in Michigan, multiple other variables will come into play when you compare Michigan and Pioneer State Mutual. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

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 over 60% less a month by choosing Pioneer State Mutual over Michigan.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Michigan policyholders lower more than 70% and Pioneer State Mutual's prices drop almost 45% 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 rates you'll ever find.

When looking at Michigan 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 $81 cheaper than the national average for Michigan.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married drivers than they are for single drivers. That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Pioneer State Mutual rates coming in at about half of Michigan's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Pioneer State Mutual offers the most affordable average premiums.

Michigan or Pioneer State Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men tend to pay more for insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Everyone gets the same monthly premiums regardless of gender with Michigan; women and men get the same monthly rates with Pioneer State Mutual.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Pioneer State Mutual comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $170 less for men and $170 cheaper for women.

Michigan 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits 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 (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, 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 per month to Michigan's $649.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Michigan for their insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 42% after getting a speeding ticket. Pioneer State Mutual policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 42%.

However, Pioneer State Mutual tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Pioneer State Mutual, drivers with a clean record can save about $73 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $126 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Michigan drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by $150, while those who have insurance through Pioneer State Mutual will see about a $40 increase.

At the end of the day, the less expensive rates come from Pioneer State Mutual, with average premiums coming in at $247 compared to Michigan Insurance Company's $431.

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 -- typically a lot more than an accident or ticket. Michigan drivers usually see a 61% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Pioneer State Mutual will generally raise rates by around 51%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Pioneer State Mutual tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $425 to Michigan's $723.

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

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in a collision and file 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 pretty significant difference in monthly premiums for Michigan, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $59 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, for drivers in both categories, Pioneer State Mutual is the more affordable company.

Michigan or Pioneer State Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can have a big impact on your monthly insurance payment. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road where they live, which lowers the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Pioneer State Mutual usually comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Pioneer State Mutual's average rates are about $98 less than Michigan Insurance Company. People who live in suburban areas pay around $184 less with Pioneer State Mutual compared to Michigan. Those in rural areas can expect to save about $229 with Pioneer State Mutual compared to Michigan.

Michigan vs. Pioneer State Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? 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 hard to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Michigan and Pioneer State Mutual offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Michigan comes out ahead with 17 discounts to Pioneer State Mutual's 12.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Michigan also offers discounts for advance quote, COVID-19 relief, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Pioneer State Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like affiliation policy experience discounts, comp only discounts, distant student discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables auto insurance companies 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, which company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

Michigan might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Michigan and Pioneer State Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Michigan and Pioneer State Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Michigan vs. Pioneer State Mutual FAQs

Is Michigan or Pioneer State Mutual cheaper?

Pioneer State Mutual is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $310 a month with Pioneer State Mutual and $480 for Michigan. But that doesn't mean Pioneer State Mutual will be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Michigan or Pioneer State Mutual?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

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

Auto insurance companies use lots of different variables when determining the premiums they charge. Things like your driving record, age, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Michigan and Pioneer State Mutual calculate prices using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if Michigan 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 multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Michigan 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.