Chubb vs. Sterling: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Chubb offers slightly cheaper premiums than Sterling
• Chubb has more affordable prices for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years
• Sterling has less expensive premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Chubb vs. Sterling: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Chubb or Sterling for your next policy, but which company will offer you more affordable rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Chubb is about $10 per month cheaper than Sterling.

Even so, Chubb may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. Insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, and tons of other factors, so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Chubb or Sterling is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Chubb or Sterling: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Chubb and Sterling only compete against each other in New York, where Sterling offers the cheaper average prices. For New York residents, Sterling offers car insurance for $301 a month on average. Chubb's average rates come out to be more expensive, at $324 per month.

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any group out there on the road. The reason is that 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. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $95 less a month by choosing Sterling over Chubb.

But both companies will reduce premiums by the time you turn 25. Sterling offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Chubb's average prices drop almost 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Chubb and Sterling specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Chubb gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $40 more affordable than the national average for Sterling.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers. That's generally 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, the two carriers are comparable for those who are single, with rates only differing around $4 per month, on average. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Chubb has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Chubb vs. Sterling: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Women usually pay more than $10 a month less than men with Chubb, while with Sterling, the difference is closer to $25 per month.

Looking at overall affordability, Chubb comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $18 a month and women save about $4 with Chubb compared to the average Sterling policyholder.

Chubb or Sterling: 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 insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

In this case, Sterling offers the lowest average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Chubb has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $20 with Sterling Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $40 less expensive with Chubb.

Is Chubb or Sterling 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.

Collisions and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Chubb or Sterling cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Sterling auto insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Chubb policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about 15%.

If you have a clean record, Chubb tends to offer the best prices at around 10% more affordable, while Sterling has the edge for drivers with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Chubb raising by over $65. Sterling has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay more than $40 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, Sterling offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly rates averaging $289 compared to Chubb's $290.

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. For example, Sterling increases average prices by just under $200 per month -- that's over a 40% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Chubb tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $389 monthly compared to $423 from Sterling.

How does Credit Score Impact Chubb and Sterling Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect many drivers out there.

The reasoning auto 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 less expensive premiums.

So, which company offers the cheapest rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Chubb. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 25% compared to Sterling, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $71 or 26% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $69 less with Chubb than Sterling, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $149 a month with Sterling.

Is Chubb or Sterling 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 insurance payment. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Sterling charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Chubb, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $10 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Chubb is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Chubb vs. Sterling: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Sterling normally comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Chubb wins in urban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 17% with Sterling compared to Chubb. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 2% less with Sterling compared to Chubb. In urban areas, Chubb's average prices are about 18% less than Sterling Insurance.

Chubb vs. Sterling Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Chubb and Sterling so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Chubb knocks Sterling out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 15 different discounts to Sterling's eight.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Chubb also offers distant student discounts, driver-vehicle combination discounts, mature driver discounts, and more that Sterling does not.

Sterling's discounts come through just a few categories, including ABS, Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Chubb or Sterling Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Chubb or Sterling the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Chubb might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" insurance.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Sterling might be best for you if...

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Chubb and Sterling. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Chubb and Sterling. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Chubb vs. Sterling FAQs

Is Chubb or Sterling cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Chubb is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $291 per month compared to $301 for Sterling. However, Chubb won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Chubb or Sterling?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Sterling offers less expensive premiums for single drivers, while Chubb is cheaper for drivers who have already retired.

Why do Chubb and Sterling offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Chubb and Sterling use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

How do I know if Chubb or Sterling is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Chubb or Sterling 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.