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

Quick Facts

• In general, Cig offers significantly more affordable rates than Central Mutual
• Cig offers more affordable prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Cig offers more affordable premiums for policyholders who have a clean record

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

So, you're thinking about 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 your search down to Central Mutual or Cig, but which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Central Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than Cig, with prices averaging $340 per month compared to just $119 with Cig.

That being said, that doesn't mean Cig will necessarily be less expensive than Central Mutual for each driver. Insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Central Mutual or Cig is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Central Mutual or Cig: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Central Mutual and Cig only compete against each other in one states, with Central Mutual offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Central Mutual premiums are over 20% more affordable than car insurance prices at Cig.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $350 less a month by choosing Cig over Central Mutual.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Central Mutual policyholders reduce more than $250 and Cig's prices lower about $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Central Mutual and Cig? Cig gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $189 less expensive than the national average for Central Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable insurance rates than those who are single. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something many auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Cig is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $234 per month cheaper than Central Mutual, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Cig has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Central Mutual vs. Cig: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance carriers will tend to charge men more than women.

With Central Mutual, women usually pay about 4% a month less than men, and around 3% less with Cig.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Cig offers the lowest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $216 per month and men save about $226 with Cig compared to the average Central Mutual policyholder.

Central Mutual 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Cig typically offers significantly less expensive premiums of $71 compared to Central Mutual's $174. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cig again has the edge, with policies around $350 a month more affordable than Central Mutual, on average.

Is Central Mutual or Cig Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Central Mutual policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $84 per month if they get a ticket, while Cig usually raises rates about $24 a month, on average.

But Cig is normally the less expensive option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 64% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 66% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Central Mutual can expect to see around an $69 -- or about 22% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Cig for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $30 (or 25%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their insurance company.

Overall, Cig offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $118 compared to Central Mutual Insurance's $311.

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 auto insurance bill. On average, Central Mutual will climb your prices about 50% after a DUI, while Cig's average rates increase by just under 45%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Cig tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $157 monthly compared to $482 from Central Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Central Mutual and Cig Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for lots of drivers.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking specifically at Central Mutual and Cig, which company has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Central Mutual 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 prices. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Cig offers more affordable premiums than Central Mutual. Cig's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 65% less expensive than Central Mutual. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay nearly 65% less with Cig over Central Mutual.

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

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

Cig tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but Cig comes out on top with average prices around $106 per month. Cig also has more affordable average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 76% and 53% per month respective difference when compared to Central Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Central Mutual vs. Cig Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Central Mutual and Cig so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

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

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts -- but Cig also offers advance quote discounts, company car discounts, employee discounts, and more that Central Mutual does not.

On the flip side, Central Mutual has a couple unique discounts of its own -- book transfer policy discounts, discounts for getting driver training, DRL discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Central Mutual or Cig Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is Central Mutual or Cig the right fit for you?

Cig might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You're looking for discounts -- Cig has the most.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Central Mutual 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 better idea of the difference between Central Mutual and Cig and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from several companies, not just Central Mutual and Cig. 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 carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Central Mutual vs. Cig FAQs

Is Central Mutual or Cig cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Cig is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $119 a month compared to $340 for Central Mutual. However, Cig won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are a bunch of different variables that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Central Mutual or Cig?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Central Mutual and Cig offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things like age, your driving record, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Central Mutual 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 variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Central Mutual 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.