Cincinatti Financial vs. Donegal Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Cincinatti Financial offers significantly more affordable premiums than Donegal Mutual
• Cincinatti Financial tends to be a much less expensive option for couples purchasing insurance together
• Donegal Mutual offers more discounts than Cincinatti Financial

Cincinatti Financial vs. Donegal Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual, but between the two, which one has cheaper rates for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Donegal Mutual has average rates that are about 30% per month more expensive than those from Cincinatti Financial.

Even so, Cincinatti Financial may not be the lowest or best option for each driver out there. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your age, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things), so premiums could change drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual 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.

Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

But there's more to calculating insurance rates than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Cincinatti Financial save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Donegal Mutual.

That being said, both carriers will reduce premiums by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Cincinatti Financial policyholders drop more than 60% and Donegal Mutual's rates lower over 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Cincinatti Financial and Donegal Mutual? Cincinatti Financial gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $90 less expensive than the national average for Donegal Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance prices than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples generally cover multiple cars, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Cincinatti Financial is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $102 per month less expensive than Donegal Mutual, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Cincinatti Financial has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Donegal Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll usually end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Women normally pay about 6% a month less than men with Cincinatti Financial, and around 6% less with Donegal Mutual when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Cincinatti Financial comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $93 per month and women save about $88 with Cincinatti Financial compared to the average Donegal Mutual policyholder.

Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual: 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 can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy.

But 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 two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Cincinatti Financial generally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $106 compared to Donegal Mutual's $170. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cincinatti Financial again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month less expensive than Donegal Mutual, on average.

Is Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cincinatti Financial policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $21 per month if they get a ticket, while Donegal Mutual typically raises prices about $47 a month, on average.

Even so, Cincinatti Financial has more affordable premiums for drivers in both categories -- their rates are around 38% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 41% more affordable for those 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 accident with Cincinatti Financial raising by over $90. Donegal Mutual has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay just under $50 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Cincinatti Financial offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $214 compared to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company's $245.

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 speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Donegal Mutual will raise your rates around 58% after a DUI, while Cincinatti Financial's average premiums rise by over 60%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Cincinatti Financial tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $320 a month compared to $472 from Donegal Mutual.

How does Credit Score Impact Cincinatti Financial and Donegal Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance prices. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

Auto insurance carriers argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, policyholders with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Donegal Mutual and Cincinatti Financial, which carrier has the best premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Cincinatti Financial. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 30% compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $68 or 28% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Cincinatti Financial typically offers lower rates than Donegal Mutual when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $79 per month less with Cincinatti Financial compared to Donegal Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $149 per month.

Is Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual 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 premiums. Usually, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident 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 Cincinatti Financial charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly rates for Donegal Mutual, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $36 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Cincinatti Financial is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Donegal Mutual: 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 insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Generally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Cincinatti Financial boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable premiums from both companies, but Cincinatti Financial comes out on top with average prices about $182 monthly. Cincinatti Financial also has cheaper average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 51% and 18% a month respective difference when compared to Donegal Mutual drivers in similar areas.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Donegal Mutual 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, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Cincinatti Financial and Donegal Mutual so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Donegal Mutual blows Cincinatti Financial away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Cincinatti Financial.

Both carriers offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and group discounts -- but Donegal Mutual also offers ABS discounts, driver training discounts, family discounts, and more that Cincinatti Financial does not.

On the flip side, Cincinatti Financial has a couple unique discounts of its own -- COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for being a homeowner, and special large ded discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual the right one for you and your specific needs?

Cincinatti Financial might be best for you if....

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Donegal Mutual might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Cincinatti Financial and Donegal Mutual and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Cincinatti Financial and Donegal Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Donegal Mutual FAQs

Is Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Cincinatti Financial is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $200 per month compared to $290 for Donegal Mutual. But Cincinatti Financial won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Cincinatti Financial and Donegal Mutual offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different variables when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Cincinatti Financial and Donegal Mutual calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual 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 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 auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Cincinatti Financial or Donegal Mutual 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.