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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Cig offers significantly less expensive rates than California Casualty
• Cig has more affordable prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Cig tends to be a much cheaper option for residents of urban areas

California Casualty 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've maybe even narrowed it down to California Casualty or Cig for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you more affordable rates?

As you can see, California Casualty has average rates that are about 40% per month more expensive than those from Cig when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

However, that doesn't mean Cig will necessarily be cheaper than California Casualty for every driver. After all, auto insurance companies 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 premiums could change drastically from person to person.

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

California Casualty or Cig: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

California Casualty and Cig only compete against each other in two states, with Cig offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Oregon has the most noticable difference, where Cig rates are over 70% cheaper than car insurance prices at California Casualty.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Cig for their insurance pay nearly $200 less than those who use California Casualty.

But with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. Cig offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. California Casualty's average prices lower almost 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums you'll ever find.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between California Casualty and Cig? Cig gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $86 a month compared to California Casualty's $149.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Cig is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates about $93 a month more affordable than California Casualty, on average. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Cig offers the most affordable average prices.

California Casualty 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 insurance than women.

Women generally pay nearly 10% per month less than men with California Casualty, while with Cig, the difference is closer to 3% a month.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Cig offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $88 per month and women save around $76 with Cig compared to the average California Casualty policyholder.

California Casualty 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.

It's no secret that auto 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.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Cig usually offers significantly less expensive prices of $71 compared to California Casualty's $122. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cig again has the edge, with policies about $100 a month more affordable than California Casualty, on average.

Is California Casualty or Cig Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

California Casualty policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $33 per month if they get a ticket, while Cig normally raises rates around $24 a month, on average.

But Cig is generally the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket -- their rates are around 36% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 34% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

California Casualty drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Cig will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, Cig offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $118 compared to California Casualty's $198.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- typically a lot more than a collision or ticket. California Casualty drivers usually see a 54% raise in their auto insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Cig will generally increase premiums by around 44%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Cig tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $157 per month compared to $300 from California Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact California Casualty and Cig Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several policyholders out there.

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

Looking at California Casualty and Cig specifically, which company has the most affordable premiums 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 California Casualty or Cig Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Cig tends to be the less expensive option. Cig's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $76 more affordable than California Casualty. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $89 less with Cig over California Casualty.

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

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

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both carriers, but Cig comes out on top with average premiums about $106 monthly. Cig also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $90 and $98 per month respective difference when compared to California Casualty policyholders in similar areas.

California Casualty vs. Cig Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts California Casualty and Cig offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Cig knocks California Casualty out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 25 different discounts to California Casualty's 25.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Cig also offers advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, company car discounts, and more that California Casualty does not.

On the flip side, California Casualty has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training, education discounts, full coverage discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is California Casualty or Cig Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right one for you and your specific driver profile?

Cig might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You have above-average credit.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

California Casualty might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between California Casualty 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 California Casualty and Cig. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

California Casualty vs. Cig FAQs

Is California Casualty or Cig cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cig is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $119 a month compared to $201 for California Casualty. That being said, Cig won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, California Casualty or Cig?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do California Casualty and Cig offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both California Casualty and Cig use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be California Casualty 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.