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

Quick Facts

• In general, Progressive offers significantly less expensive rates than Pioneer State Mutual
• Progressive may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Pioneer State Mutual
• Progressive offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs

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

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

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

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Progressive is quite a bit cheaper than Pioneer State Mutual, with premiums averaging $180 a month compared to $310 with Pioneer State Mutual.

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

So, if you want to find out which of Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

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

Pioneer State Mutual and Progressive only compete against each other in Michigan, where Progressive offers the cheaper average premiums. Progressive drivers tend to pay about $93 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Pioneer State Mutual for their car insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any other group of drivers. That's because teen 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 20% less a month by choosing Progressive over Pioneer State Mutual.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Pioneer State Mutual policyholders lower nearly 45% and Progressive's rates reduce almost 70% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Pioneer State Mutual and Progressive? Progressive gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $131 a month compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $245.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover several vehicles, which lots of companies will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Progressive premiums coming in at a third less than Pioneer State Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Progressive offers the cheapest average rates.

Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

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

Everyone gets the same monthly prices regardless of gender with Pioneer State Mutual, and about $5 with Progressive.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Progressive offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $127 per month and women save around $132 with Progressive compared to the average Pioneer State Mutual policyholder.

Pioneer State Mutual 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, 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 a month to Pioneer State Mutual's $438.

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

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

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Pioneer State Mutual for their auto insurance can typically 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%.

That being said, Progressive has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 28% and 50% less expensive, respectively, compared to Pioneer State Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Pioneer State Mutual drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by over 15%, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see around a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Progressive end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $214 compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $247.

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 insurance bill. For example, Pioneer State Mutual increases average prices by more than $200 per month -- that's more than a 50% increase.

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

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

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

So, which company offers the best premiums 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 Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Progressive comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $180 a month for both.

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

Where you call home can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Progressive generally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average premiums are about $207 while Pioneer State Mutual offers prices around $395. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $179 with Progressive compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $304 per month. Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $154 monthly with Progressive compared to Pioneer State Mutual's $231.

Pioneer State Mutual vs. Progressive Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Pioneer State Mutual and Progressive so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Progressive knocks Pioneer State Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Pioneer State Mutual's 34.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Progressive also offers discounts for advance quote, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, 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, employee discounts, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive the right fit for you?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You're looking for the best prices on liability only coverage.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.

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

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Pioneer State Mutual and Progressive and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 several companies, not just Pioneer State Mutual and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Pioneer State Mutual vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive cheaper?

Progressive is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $180 per month with Progressive and $310 for Pioneer State Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Progressive will be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Pioneer State Mutual or Progressive?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

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

Insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like age, your driving record, gender, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Pioneer State Mutual and Progressive calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. 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 lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Pioneer State Mutual 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.