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

You've probably seen ads offering big savings on auto insurance, but are Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto right for you? Which company offers the lowest premiums, or the most discounts? Read on to see how Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto compare, and to find out which carrier is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your budget.
Newly insured car driving down the road
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Quick Facts

  • Based on national averages for car insurance, Cincinatti Financial offers cheaper rates than Safe Auto
  • Cincinatti Financial has more affordable prices for couples purchasing insurance together
  • Safe Auto offers less expensive average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record


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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper rates?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
$200$223

Looking at nationwide averages, Safe Auto has average rates that are about 10% per month more expensive than those from Cincinatti Financial.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Cincinatti Financial will be the less expensive option for every driver. Auto insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto 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.

Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

State Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
KY$218$317
TN$194$152

Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Cincinatti Financial offering more affordable prices to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Kentucky, Cincinatti Financial is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates. Safe Auto is the more affordable option in Tennessee.

But there's more to car insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies determine your prices. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.


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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
18-year-old drivers$496$443
25-year-old drivers$193$211

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Safe Auto save nearly $55 a month compared to those who use Cincinatti Financial.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Cincinatti Financial policyholders drop more than 60% and Safe Auto's prices lower over 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
65+-year-old drivers$122$179

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums out there.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto? Cincinatti Financial gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $57 cheaper than the national average for Safe Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Single$242$259
Married$143$175

You may not be aware, but car insurance rates tend to be less expensive for married couples than they are for those who are single. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover multiple cars, which several companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single drivers, with premiums only differing around $17 per month, on average. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Cincinatti Financial offers the most affordable average rates.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Safe Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Male$206$231
Female$193$214

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will tend to offer men more expensive premiums.

Usually, women see prices almost $15 a month more affordable with Cincinatti Financial, and more than $15 cheaper with Safe Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Cincinatti Financial comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $21 per month and men save about $25 with Cincinatti Financial compared to the average Safe Auto policyholder.


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Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
State Minimum*$106$126
Full Coverage**$293$320

*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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages 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 (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Cincinatti Financial typically offers cheaper premiums of $106 compared to Safe Auto's $126. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cincinatti Financial again has the edge, with policies around $25 a month less expensive than Safe Auto, on average.

Is Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 accidents and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto -- has the cheapest prices for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Clean Record$122$180
1 Speeding Ticket$143$220

Cincinatti Financial policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $21 per month if they get a ticket, while Safe Auto normally raises prices about $40 a month, on average.

However, Cincinatti Financial is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering rates that are 32% and 35% more affordable, respectively, compared to Safe Auto.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Clean Record$122$180
1 At-Fault Accident$214$246

Cincinatti Financial drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through Safe Auto will see around a 25% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Cincinatti Financial end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $214 compared to Safe Auto's $246.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Clean Record$122$180
1 DUI$320$245

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. On average, Cincinatti Financial will raise your rates about 62% after a DUI, while Safe Auto's average premiums increase by over 25%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Safe Auto tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $245 monthly compared to $320 from Cincinatti Financial.


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How does Credit Score Impact Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly car insurance premiums. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto, which company has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Excellent Credit Score$147$187
Good Credit Score$172$222

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Cincinatti Financial. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 20% compared to Safe Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $50 or 23% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Fair Credit Score$198$230
Poor Credit Score$281$252

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $32 less with Cincinatti Financial than Safe Auto, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $29 per month with Safe Auto.


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

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
6,000 Annual Miles$200$223
12,000 Annual Miles$200$223

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on your monthly rates? Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Cincinatti Financial comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average rates of $200 a month for both.

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

Where you call home can play a considerable role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Urban Areas$220$271
Suburban Areas$197$200
Rural Areas$182$197

Cincinatti Financial tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Cincinatti Financial offers premiums about $220 a month compared to Safe Auto's $271. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $197 per month for Cincinatti Financial and $200 for Safe Auto. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $182 and $197 for Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto respectively.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Safe Auto 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Cincinatti Financial Safe Auto
Advance Quote Discount 
Agency Transfer Discount 
Anti-Theft Discount
Claim Free Discount 
Covid-19 Relief Discount 
Defensive Driver Discount
Driver Training Discount 
Good Student Discount 
Group Discount 
Homeowner Discount
Military Discount 
Multi-Car Discount 
Multi-Policy Discount 
Non-Owner Discount 
Occupation Discount 
Paid In Full Discount
Passive Restraint Discount 
Renewal Discount 
Special Large Ded Discount 
Vin Etching Discount 

Looking at the total number of discounts, Safe Auto comes out ahead with 14 discounts to Cincinatti Financial's 10.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Safe Auto also offers agency transfer discounts, claim free discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Cincinatti Financial does not.

On the flip side, Cincinatti Financial has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for being a good student, and more.


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Final Thoughts: Is Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

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

  • You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
  • You have a short commute.


Safe Auto might be best for you if...

  • You have a DUI charge on your record.
  • You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.
  • You're buying auto insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car 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 several carriers, not just Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.


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Cincinatti Financial vs. Safe Auto FAQs

Is Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cincinatti Financial is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $200 a month compared to $223 for Safe Auto. Even so, Cincinatti Financial won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are multiple different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Safe Auto offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Cincinatti Financial is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as where your home is, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Cincinatti Financial and Safe Auto calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies 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 ZIP code 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 rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Cincinatti Financial or Safe Auto 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.

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