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

Quick Facts

• In general, Progressive offers more affordable premiums than Wolverine Mutual
• Progressive may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Wolverine Mutual
• Wolverine Mutual has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in rural neighborhoods

Progressive or Wolverine 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 huge savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Progressive or Wolverine Mutual as your top options, but which carrier has less expensive prices for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Progressive is around $44 a month cheaper than Wolverine Mutual.

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

So, if you want to find out which of Progressive or Wolverine Mutual is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

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

Progressive and Wolverine Mutual only compete against each other in Michigan, where Progressive offers the cheaper average rates. Progressive drivers tend to pay about $7 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Wolverine Mutual for their auto insurance.

But there's more to insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies calculate your prices. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 4% less a month by choosing Wolverine Mutual over Progressive. It's worth noting that Progressive offers auto insurance in 44 different states compared to Wolverine Mutual's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Progressive policyholders decrease about $300 and Wolverine Mutual's premiums reduce around $150 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 most affordable prices you can find.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Wolverine Mutual gets the slight edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $119 monthly compared to Progressive's $131.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance rates tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders generally cover more than one vehicle, 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 rates coming in at around 10% less than Wolverine Mutual's. The advantage for married drivers with Progressive is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $65 per month.

Progressive or Wolverine Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

On average, men see prices about 3% a month higher with Progressive; men and women get the same monthly premiums with Wolverine Mutual.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates $41 less for men and $46 cheaper for women.

Progressive vs. Wolverine 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a variety of different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Progressive has the slight 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 around $250 per month to Wolverine Mutual's $335.

Is Progressive or Wolverine Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Speeding tickets and collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is Progressive or Wolverine Mutual less expensive for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

Even so, Wolverine Mutual is normally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are 2% and 3% less expensive, respectively, compared to Progressive.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Wolverine Mutual will see about a 20% increase.

At the end of the day, Wolverine Mutual offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $188 compared to Progressive's $214.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Wolverine Mutual drivers usually see a 62% increase in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Progressive will generally raise premiums by around 16%.

Progressive has the overall lowest rates for drivers with a DUI on their records at $177 a month, but it's worth noting that Progressive's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Wolverine Mutual, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Wolverine Mutual Rates?

Did you know many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it might 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 every month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a just a few states that bans auto insurance carriers from using credit scores to determine prices. And since Wolverine Mutual is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts premiums because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Progressive and other companies tend to raise rates 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-stellar credit and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to car insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost Progressive drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is Progressive or Wolverine Mutual 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 prices. Typically, the more milage you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

In this case, neither Progressive or Wolverine Mutual report increasing premiums 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 vehicle annually, with average rates of $180 a month for both.

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

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

Progressive boasts the most affordable average premiums in urban and suburban areas, while Wolverine Mutual wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay about $137 per month with Wolverine Mutual and $154 with Progressive. People in suburban areas pay a monthly premium of around $179 with Progressive compared to $192 with Wolverine Mutual. In urban areas, Progressive's average rates are about $207 while Wolverine Mutual offers prices around $344.

Progressive vs. Wolverine Mutual 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Progressive and Wolverine 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.

Progressive knocks Wolverine Mutual out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 25 more discounts than Wolverine Mutual.

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

On the other hand, Wolverine Mutual has a proprietary discount of their own -- a seat belt discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Wolverine Mutual Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You are purchasing your auto insurance with a spouse.

Wolverine Mutual might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want to save money while purchasing car insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Progressive and Wolverine 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 best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Progressive and Wolverine 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 companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. Wolverine Mutual FAQs

Is Progressive or Wolverine Mutual cheaper?

Progressive is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $180 per month with Progressive and $224 for Wolverine Mutual. However, that doesn't mean Progressive will be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Progressive or Wolverine Mutual?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Wolverine Mutual is more affordable for drivers who have already retired, while Progressive offers cheaper prices for single policyholders.

Why do Progressive and Wolverine Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Things like gender, age, where you park your car, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Progressive and Wolverine Mutual calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Progressive or Wolverine 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.