Michigan vs. Progressive: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Progressive offers significantly more affordable prices than Michigan
• Progressive tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who drive fewer than 6,000 miles every year
• Progressive offers more affordable premiums for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

Michigan or Progressive: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Michigan or Progressive for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Michigan is quite a bit more expensive than Progressive, with premiums averaging $480 a month compared to just $180 with Progressive.

Even so, Progressive may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, where you live, how old you are, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Michigan or Progressive is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Michigan vs. Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Michigan and Progressive only compete against each other in Michigan, where Progressive offers the cheaper average prices. Progressive drivers tend to pay about $263 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Michigan for their insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 65% less a month by choosing Progressive over Michigan.

But with both companies, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Michigan policyholders lower more than 70% and Progressive's rates drop almost 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $131 per month compared to Michigan's $326.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance premiums are generally more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Progressive prices coming in at about a third of Michigan's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Michigan or Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get speeding tickets. That means when it comes to car insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Men and women get the same monthly prices with Michigan, but with Progressive, the difference is closer to $5 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Progressive offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $302 a month and men save around $297 with Progressive compared to the average Michigan policyholder.

Michigan vs. Progressive: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Progressive has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $111. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies averaging about $250 per month to Michigan's $649.

Is Michigan or Progressive 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 speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Michigan for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 42% after getting a speeding ticket. Progressive policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 17%.

Even so, Progressive tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With Progressive, drivers with a clean record can save around $132 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save about $306 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Michigan raising by around 35%. Progressive has a less extreme raise, but you can still expect to pay more than 30% more than you were prior to your first collision.

At the end of the day, the cheaper premiums come from Progressive, with average prices coming in at $214 compared to Michigan Insurance Company's $431.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Michigan drivers usually see a 61% increase in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Progressive will typically climb premiums by about 16%.

How does Credit Score Impact Michigan and Progressive Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

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

Looking at Michigan and Progressive specifically, which one has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Michigan or Progressive 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 rates. Generally, the more milage you put on your car each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Progressive charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly prices for Michigan, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $59 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, for drivers in both categories, Progressive is the less expensive carrier.

Michigan or Progressive: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Normally, 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.

Progressive tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average premiums are about $207 a month compared to Michigan's $493. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of around $179 with Progressive compared to $488 with Michigan. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $154 monthly with Progressive compared to Michigan's $460.

Michigan vs. Progressive Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Michigan and Progressive so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Progressive blows Michigan away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Michigan's 17.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Progressive also offers discounts for advanced safety feature, agency transfer, continuous insurance, and more.

On the other hand, Michigan has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like family car discounts, family discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Michigan or Progressive Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the insurance policy.
• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• You live in an suburban area.

Michigan might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Michigan and Progressive and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 companies, not just Michigan and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Michigan vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Michigan or Progressive cheaper?

Progressive is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $180 per month with Progressive and $480 for Michigan. That being said, that doesn't mean Progressive will be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are lots of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Michigan or Progressive?

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

Why do Michigan and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like your driving record, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Michigan and Progressive use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if Michigan or Progressive is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Michigan or Progressive 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.