Buckeye vs. Cig: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Cig offers slightly cheaper prices than Buckeye
• Buckeye offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a clean record
• Cig offers less expensive average prices for policyholders who have a short commute

Buckeye vs. Cig: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Buckeye or Cig as potential options, but which company will offer you more affordable premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Cig is about $13 per month less expensive than Buckeye.

Even so, that doesn't mean Cig will necessarily be cheaper than Buckeye for each driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Buckeye or Cig is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by several different rate factors.

Buckeye or Cig: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Buckeye and Cig only compete against each other in one states, with Cig offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Cig rates are cheaper than car insurance prices at Buckeye.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you call home. 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 other group of drivers out there on the road. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Cig for their car insurance pay nearly $30 less than those who use Buckeye.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Buckeye policyholders drop more than $150 and Cig's rates reduce around $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest insurance premiums you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Buckeye and Cig specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Cig gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $19 less expensive than the national average for Buckeye.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married couples than they are for single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something lots of insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two companies are comparable for single drivers, with rates only differing about $11 a month, on average. The advantage for married policyholders is more obvious, where drivers who use Cig save over $15 per month.

Buckeye vs. Cig: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into an accident, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Men typically pay more than 10% more a month than women with Buckeye, and around 3% more with Cig.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Cig comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $19 less for men and $8 cheaper for women.

Buckeye or Cig: 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, auto insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Cig normally offers slightly cheaper prices of $71 compared to Buckeye's $73. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cig again has the edge, with policies about $25 per month less expensive than Buckeye, on average.

Is Buckeye or Cig Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Buckeye or Cig -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Buckeye policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $6 a month if they get a ticket, while Cig usually raises premiums around $24 per month, on average.

However, Buckeye tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 8% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 22% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Buckeye can expect to see about an $17 -- or around 17% -- increase in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Cig for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $30 (or 25%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Buckeye, with monthly rates averaging $98 compared to CIG Insurance's $118.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. Buckeye drivers usually see a 69% raise in their car insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Cig will generally climb prices by around 44%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Cig tends to be the much less expensive option with average prices of $157 a month compared to $263 from Buckeye.

How does Credit Score Impact Buckeye and Cig Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect a lot of drivers out there.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable prices.

Looking specifically at Cig and Buckeye, which one has the lowest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Buckeye or Cig 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 auto insurance payment. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Buckeye charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Cig, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle every year paying about $12 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Cig is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Buckeye vs. Cig: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a substantial role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Cig normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but Cig comes out on top with average prices around $106 per month. Cig also has cheaper average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $3 and $36 a month respective difference when compared to Buckeye drivers in similar areas.

Buckeye vs. Cig Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Buckeye and Cig so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Cig blows Buckeye away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 more discounts than Buckeye.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Cig also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, company car discounts, and more that Buckeye does not.

Buckeye's discounts come through just a few categories, including Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, Distant Student, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Buckeye or Cig Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best fit for you?

Cig might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Buckeye might be best for you if...

• You have a clean record.
• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Buckeye and Cig and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

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

Buckeye vs. Cig FAQs

Is Buckeye or Cig cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cig is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $119 per month compared to $132 for Buckeye. But Cig won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Buckeye or Cig?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Buckeye offers less expensive prices for policyholders with an at-fault accident on their record, while Cig is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Buckeye and Cig offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Variables like your driving record, gender, age, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Buckeye and Cig calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Buckeye or Cig is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Buckeye or Cig at all!

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.