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

Quick Facts

• In general, Cincinatti Financial offers significantly more affordable prices than Esurance
• Cincinatti Financial offers more affordable rates for policyholders who have a short commute
• Esurance tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Cincinatti Financial or Esurance, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Esurance has average rates that are about 35% per month more expensive than those from Cincinatti Financial.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Cincinatti Financial will be the less expensive option for each driver. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Cincinatti Financial or Esurance: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cincinatti Financial and Esurance only compete against each other in one states, with Cincinatti Financial offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Cincinatti Financial rates are over 40% less expensive than insurance premiums at Esurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group on the road. 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 car insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Cincinatti Financial for their auto insurance pay more than $200 less than those who use Esurance.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Cincinatti Financial policyholders reduce over 60% and Esurance's prices decrease more than 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

When looking at Cincinatti Financial and Esurance specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Cincinatti Financial gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $110 cheaper than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are normally less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single? This usually boils down to married drivers having several cars on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Cincinatti Financial is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices around $119 a month cheaper than Esurance, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Cincinatti Financial has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Esurance: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men typically pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get tickets and get into collisions, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

Men usually pay nearly $15 per month more than women with Cincinatti Financial, and about $21 more with Esurance.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Cincinatti Financial offers the cheapest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums $103 less for men and $95 cheaper for women.

Cincinatti Financial 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Cincinatti Financial typically offers significantly more affordable rates of $106 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cincinatti Financial again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month cheaper than Esurance, on average.

Is Cincinatti Financial or Esurance 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Cincinatti Financial or Esurance -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cincinatti Financial policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $21 per month if they get a ticket, while Esurance generally raises rates about $45 a month, on average.

Even so, Cincinatti Financial tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save around $120 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $144 a month with Cincinatti Financial.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Esurance climbing by over $100. Cincinatti Financial has a less extreme rise, but you can still expect to pay more than $90 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, Cincinatti Financial offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $214 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 auto insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Cincinatti Financial will raise your rates around 62% after a DUI, while Esurance's average premiums climb by just under 20%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Esurance tends to be the much more affordable option with average rates of $301 a month compared to $320 from Cincinatti Financial.

How does Credit Score Impact Cincinatti Financial and Esurance Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for several drivers.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will generally be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest prices 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 Cincinatti Financial. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 30% compared to Esurance, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $94 or 35% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Cincinatti Financial typically offers lower premiums than Esurance when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $107 per month less with Cincinatti Financial compared to Esurance, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $143 monthly.

Is Cincinatti Financial or Esurance Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a substantial impact on your monthly prices. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause 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 small difference in monthly rates for Esurance, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $1 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Cincinatti Financial is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where your home is can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, 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 companies side-by-side, Cincinatti Financial normally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Cincinatti Financial offers premiums about $220 per month compared to Esurance's $396. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $197 a month for Cincinatti Financial and $288 for Esurance. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly rates coming in at $182 and $211 for Cincinatti Financial and Esurance respectively.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Esurance Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

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

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Cincinatti Financial and Esurance so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Esurance knocks Cincinatti Financial out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 14 more discounts than Cincinatti Financial.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, agency transfer discounts, DRL 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 and special large ded discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Cincinatti Financial or Esurance Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Cincinatti Financial or Esurance the right company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have a clean record.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Cincinatti Financial is only available in five states.
• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Cincinatti Financial and Esurance 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 several carriers, not just Cincinatti Financial and Esurance. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Esurance FAQs

Is Cincinatti Financial or Esurance cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cincinatti Financial is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $200 per month compared to $299 for Esurance. However, Cincinatti Financial won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Cincinatti Financial or Esurance?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Esurance offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Cincinatti Financial is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Cincinatti Financial and Esurance offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the car 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers 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 Cincinatti Financial 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.