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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Cig offers significantly less expensive premiums than State National
• Cig may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than State National
• Cig offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI

Cig or State National: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Cig or State National as potential options, but between the two, which company will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Cig has average rates that are around 25% a month more affordable than those from State National.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Cig will be the cheaper option for every driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like how good your credit score is, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Cig and State National by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Cig vs. State National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cig and State National only compete against each other in California, where Cig offers the cheaper average rates. Cig drivers tend to pay about $20 per month less on average compared to drivers who use State National for their insurance.

But there's more to car insurance than just where you call home. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance companies determine your prices. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group on the road. Normally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Cig save almost 25% a month compared to those who use State National.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your prices lower significantly by the time drivers turn 25. State National offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Cig still has the lowest rates at $119 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the cheapest insurance premiums you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually decreases their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Cig gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 25% less expensive than the national average for State National.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance rates than single policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one vehicle, which several companies will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Cig rates coming in at a quarter less than State National's. The advantage for married couples with Cig is also obvious, where drivers save about $40 per month.

Cig or State National: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, they are less likely to file a claim with insurance. So, women tend to get cheaper rates than men.

Women typically pay around 3% a month less than men with Cig; men and women get the same monthly premiums with State National.

Looking at overall affordability, Cig comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $38 per month and women save about $42 with Cig compared to the average State National policyholder.

Cig vs. State National: 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

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

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Cig has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $71. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Cig again has the edge, with policies averaging around $166 a month to State National's $240.

Is Cig or State National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Cig for their insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up about 21% after getting a speeding ticket. State National policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 28%.

Even so, Cig tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket. With CIG Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save about $14 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $30 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Cig drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by $30, while those who have insurance through State National will see about a $40 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Cig end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $118 compared to State National's $142.

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 auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, State National increases average rates by $150 per month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Cig tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $157 to State National's $252.

How does Credit Score Impact Cig and State National Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

Looking at Cig and State National specifically, which one has the cheapest premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Normally, if you have stellar credit, you can expect to be rewarded. With CIG Insurance, improving your score from "good" to "excellent" will generally save you about $15. Because undefined, doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit usually means you'll also see higher premiums with CIG Insurance. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at CIG Insurance, you may pay around $55 a month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. Because undefined doesn't have data available for credit scores, they may have better rates for drivers with bad credit over CIG Insurance.

Is Cig or State National Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Cig tends to be the cheaper option. Cig's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 20% less expensive than State National. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay around 30% less with Cig over State National.

Cig or State National: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 26% with Cig compared to State National. People who live in suburban areas pay around 25% less with Cig compared to State National. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, CIG Insurance's average prices are about 26% less than State National.

Cig vs. State National Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Cig and State National offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Cig knocks State National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 15 more discounts than State National.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good driver, group discounts, and passive restraint discounts. Cig also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, company car, and more.

On the other hand, State National has a proprietary discount of their own -- a auto-pilot discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Cig or State National Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

Cig might be best for you if....

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

State National might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Cig and State National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Cig and State National. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Cig vs. State National FAQs

Is Cig or State National cheaper?

Cig is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $119 per month with Cig and $159 for State National. But that doesn't mean Cig will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors that are considered when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Cig or State National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Cig and State National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as age, where you live, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Cig and State National calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Cig or State National at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.