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

Quick Facts

• In general, Cig offers significantly cheaper prices than Esurance
• Cig has more affordable premiums for residents of rural areas
• Cig offers more affordable prices for couples purchasing auto insurance together

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

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

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Cig or Esurance for your next policy, but which company has less expensive rates for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Cig has average rates that are about 60% per month cheaper than those from Esurance.

However, that doesn't mean Cig will necessarily be more affordable than Esurance for every driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Cig or Esurance: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cig and Esurance only compete against each other in two states, with Cig offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Cig prices are over 60% cheaper than car insurance rates at Esurance.

But there's more to calculating insurance premiums than just where you call home. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older 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.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Cig for their car insurance pay more than $450 less than those who use Esurance.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Cig policyholders lower over $100 and Esurance's premiums decrease nearly $500 over that time.

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 prices you can find.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Cig and Esurance? Cig gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $86 monthly compared to Esurance's $232.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance prices than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Cig is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $222 a month less expensive than Esurance, on average. The advantage for married couples with Cig is also obvious, where drivers save around $100 per month.

Cig vs. Esurance: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they are more likely to file a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for insurance than women.

Normally, women see rates about $4 a month more affordable with Cig, and more than $20 with Esurance.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Cig comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $188 per month and women save around $171 with Cig compared to the average Esurance policyholder.

Cig or Esurance: 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 a range of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

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

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Cig generally offers significantly less expensive rates of $71 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cig again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month more affordable than Esurance, on average.

Is Cig or Esurance Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cig policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $24 per month if they get a ticket, while Esurance typically raises premiums around $45 a month, on average.

Even so, Cig has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 64% and 61% less expensive, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Cig drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by $30, while those who have insurance through Esurance will see about a $100 increase.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from Cig, with monthly rates averaging $118 compared to Esurance's $364.

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 car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Cig drivers usually see a 44% increase in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Esurance will generally raise prices by around 20%.

How does Credit Score Impact Cig and Esurance Rates?

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

The reasoning auto insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking specifically at Esurance and Cig, which one has the lowest premiums 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 Cig or Esurance Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on your monthly prices? That's because the fewer miles you put on your car, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

Cig tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure. Cig's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 62% cheaper than Esurance. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around 58% less with Cig over Esurance.

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

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly insurance bill. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Cig tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Cig offers rates about $128 a month compared to Esurance's $396. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $123 per month for Cig and $288 for Esurance. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest premiums from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $106 and $211 for Cig and Esurance respectively.

Cig vs. Esurance 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.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Cig and Esurance offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, Cig has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Esurance offers a grand total of 24 discounts, while Cig has 25.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and group discounts. Cig also offers company car discounts, distant student discounts, employee discounts, and more that Esurance does not.

On the flip side, Esurance has a couple unique discounts of its own -- agency transfer discounts, DRL discounts, education discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Cig or Esurance Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Cig might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance company.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Cig and Esurance 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 a handful of carriers, not just Cig and Esurance. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cig vs. Esurance FAQs

Is Cig or Esurance cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Cig is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $119 a month compared to $299 for Esurance. However, Cig won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Cig or Esurance?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Cig and Esurance offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different variables when determining the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Cig and Esurance calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company 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 area information 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 best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Cig or Esurance 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.