Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Review

  • With 2.8/5 stars in 2024, Pioneer State Mutual is an average insurance company.
  • Read Pioneer State Mutual reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
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Renata Balasco

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Renata joined The Zebra in 2020 as a Customer Experience Agent. Since 2021, she has worked as licensed insurance professional and content strategist.…

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Pioneer State Mutual insurance: Ratings and reviews

2.8 100% filled Star icon 100% filled Star icon 79.99999999999999% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon

Rating from The Zebra Question mark icon

Formed in 1908, Pioneer State Mutual's initial purpose was to protect farmers from bearing losses alone. They provide insurance for individuals, businesses and farms though independent agents. While Pioneer is only available in the state of Michigan, it boasts a low complaint average and good financial scores. This review will explore Pioneer State Mutual's coverage options, discounts, rates, and more.

100% filled Star icon 100% filled Star icon 79.99999999999999% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon 0% filled Star icon
2.8 stars Rating from The Zebra
Ratings based on price, customer service, coverage, and financial strength.
Pioneer State Mutual Quotes
Pros
  • Offers a broad spectrum of auto insurance coverage options.

  • Robust customer service with a personal touch.

  • Strong financial stability.

Cons
  • Limited geographic coverage, as it only serves Michigan.

  • Less digitized customer experience compared to larger, national providers.

  • Certain coverages or discounts might not be as comprehensive as those offered by larger competitors.


Is Pioneer State Mutual a good insurance company?

The majority of The Zebra's review incorporates how well Pioneer State Mutual scores in terms of customer service. In order to determine that we looked at the following third-party ratings.

BBB Customer Reviews: 1.33/5

  • Pioneer State Mutual has a 1.33/5 rating from Better Business Bureau customers[1]

Complaint Index: Below average

  • The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) receives customer complaints for Pioneer State Mutual[2]

Financial Strength: Superior

  • Pioneer State Mutual received an Superior financial strength rating from A.M. Best for its ability to pay out claims[3]

The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey

In addition to third-party ratings, we like to incorporate the results from our own consumer survey where we ranked which auto insurance companies are the best based on feedback from real customers. However, we did not collect a sufficient amount of data on Pioneer State Mutual for it to be included.


How much does Pioneer State Mutual Insurance cost?

Currently, the national average for a 6 month car insurance policy is $880, whereas Pioneer State Mutual is about $966 or roughly 10% more expensive than a typical policy, making it a pricier option on average.

The table below shows how Pioneer State Mutual auto insurance compares against other top insurers. 

Average Monthly Cost by Insurance Carrier
Company Avg. Monthly Premium
Allstate $201
Pioneer State Mutual Ins Co $161
Progressive $157
State Farm $131
GEICO $129
Nationwide $123
USAA $114

Similar to any insurance company, pricing for Pioneer State Mutual auto insurance does vary based on your age and generally will get cheaper the older you get. 

The table below shows Pioneer State Mutual's car insurance premiums for different age brackets.

Pioneer State Mutual Costs by Age Group
Age Group Avg. Monthly Premium
Teens $372
20s $222
30s $144
40s $139
50s $128
60s $125

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology

The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.

The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.

For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.

Discounts offered

Pioneer State Mutual does not list available discounts on its website. They provide a disclaimer that discounts may vary based on specific requirements, but do not expand further. Customers must contact an insurance agent for more information on discounts.

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What types of coverage does Pioneer State Mutual offer?

Pioneer State Mutual provides a wide range of standard auto insurance coverages such as liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Additional coverages can be found in the Pioneer Advantage package:

  • New car replacement - If you purchased a car in the last six months and it has less than 15,000 miles on it, this coverage will replace it with the same make, model, and equipment if totaled.
  • Trip interruption - If you get in an accident on a road trip, Pioneer will give you $100 per day for food and lodging if you're over 100 miles from home. 
  • Roadside assistance - Emergency roadside services, like towing, gas delivery and battery services, are available for disabled vehicles.
  • Transportation expense - Also known as rental reimbursement, the cost of a rental car will be covered if your vehicle is rendered temporarily inoperable by a covered loss.
  • Customized equipment -  This coverage helps pay for the customizations you've made to your car. 

Read more about Pioneer State Mutual's additional coverages here.

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Additional lines of insurance

Pioneer State Mutual offers more insurance products for individuals and businesses in Michigan: 


Pioneer State Mutual insurance review: Summary

To summarize, Pioneer State Mutual is a solid choice for those residing in Michigan looking for a locally focused provider with a personal touch in customer service. While it may not offer the broadest range of discounts or the most digitized customer experience, the company provides a good range of coverage options and shows a commitment to its policyholders. As always, prospective customers should compare quotes and coverage options from various insurers to ensure Pioneer State Mutual meets their unique needs.

Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies

The team of insurance experts at The Zebra considers the company's standing in five main categories to come up with an overall rating. These metrics are weighted according to importance and are detailed below:

  • Price (20%): Using the base profile detailed below, we compared the company's average rate with the national average. If it surpassed this average, we gave a lower rating; if it fell below, we awarded a higher rating.
  • Coverage (20%): The highest-scoring companies offer a variety of coverage options, including bundling options, roadside assistance, telematics, beyond-basic coverage levels, and a variety of other coverage types.
  • Customer service (30%): We averaged ratings from JD Power, the NAIC complaint index to come up with a rating for the company's customer service. In instances when a company is not rated, we may use alternative rating agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot.
  • Financial strength (10%): We use AM Best to determine a company's financial standing. In some cases when a company is not rated by AM Best, we may use an alternative measure such as Demotech.
  • The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey (20%): The Zebra conducts an annual survey measuring customer satisfaction for many of the top insurance companies with the goal of ranking both the best auto insurance companies and best home insurance companies. Read more below.

For our auto insurance review, we analyzed more than 83 million insurance rates spanning every U.S. ZIP code using a sample user profile: a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord, good credit and full coverage at these levels:

  • $50,000 per person/$100,000 per incident for bodily injury liability
  • $50,000 per incident for property damage liability
  • $500 deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage

For our home insurance review, rates are based on a sample user profile: a 45-year-old married homeowner living in a 2,500-square-foot single-story home built in 2011 with these coverage levels:

  • $200,000 for the dwelling
  • $20,000 for other structures
  • $100,000 for personal property
  • $100,000 for personal liability
  • $1,000 deductible

These sample premiums are dynamic and automatically refresh whenever the newest data is made available.

To generate pricing for particular rating factors, we adjusted this profile based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies. These factors include credit score, coverage level and others.

For The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey, findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,134 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2023.


Pioneer State Mutual insurance: Frequently asked questions

Pioneer State Mutual is a good option for Michigan residents seeking a locally focused insurance provider with a personal approach to customer service, a good range of coverage options and strong financial stability. Those outside of Michigan or who prioritize a highly digitized and tech-savvy customer experience will find other national insurers more suitable.

Yes, Pioneer State Mutual Insurance is a legitimate insurance company that provides various insurance products, including auto, home, and business insurance, primarily serving customers in Michigan.

A.M. Best gave Pioneer State Mutual a Superior financial strength, a positive indicator for its ability to pay out claims as well as its overall financial health.

Pioneer State Mutual only sells policies in Michigan.

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About The Zebra

The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.

  • The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
  • The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
  • The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
  • The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.