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

Quick Facts

• In general, Cincinatti Financial offers slightly less expensive rates than Shelter
• Cincinatti Financial offers cheaper average prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Shelter tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Cincinatti Financial vs. Shelter: 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 big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Cincinatti Financial or Shelter, but which company will offer you cheaper premiums?

As you can see, Cincinatti Financial is about $8 per month less expensive than Shelter when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, Cincinatti Financial may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, where you live, and all sorts of other factors, so prices could change drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Cincinatti Financial and Shelter by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Cincinatti Financial or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Cincinatti Financial and Shelter only compete against each other in one states, with Cincinatti Financial offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Kentucky has the most noticable difference, where Cincinatti Financial prices are over 60% cheaper than insurance rates at Shelter.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance prices of any group out there on the road. That's typically because 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.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Shelter save more than $50 a month compared to those who use Cincinatti Financial.

Even so, both carriers will decrease premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Cincinatti Financial policyholders reduce over $300 and Shelter's prices lower nearly $250 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 most affordable premiums you'll ever find.

When looking at Cincinatti Financial and Shelter specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Cincinatti Financial gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $19 more affordable than the national average for Shelter.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance prices than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married policyholders having more than one car on their policy -- something many insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single drivers, with premiums only differing around $2 per month, on average. But for married couples, the advantage is clear - Cincinatti Financial has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Shelter: 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 normally end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

Typically, men see prices about $15 a month higher with Cincinatti Financial, and around $25 more with Shelter.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Cincinatti Financial comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices $15 less for men and $3 cheaper for women.

Cincinatti Financial or Shelter: 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers 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).

In this case, Cincinatti Financial offers the most affordable average rates for state minimum limits for liability insurance, while Shelter has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with Cincinatti Financial, while full coverage comes out to be about $5 more affordable with Shelter Insurance.

Is Cincinatti Financial or Shelter 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.

It's no secret secret that accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Cincinatti Financial or Shelter -- has the lowest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Shelter usually raises premiums around $39 a month, on average.

But Cincinatti Financial is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 14% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 21% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Cincinatti Financial policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by just under 45%, while those who have insurance through Shelter will see about a 40% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Cincinatti Financial end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $214 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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. Cincinatti Financial drivers usually see a 62% raise in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Shelter will typically increase premiums by around 49%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Shelter tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $277 per month compared to $320 from Cincinatti Financial.

How does Credit Score Impact Cincinatti Financial and Shelter Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to calculate your monthly insurance premiums. This isn't always the case (for example, California and Hawaii are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

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

Looking specifically at Cincinatti Financial and Shelter, which one has the cheapest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Cincinatti Financial. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 10% compared to Shelter, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $15 or 8% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $23 less with Cincinatti Financial than Shelter, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $20 per month with Shelter.

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

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on your monthly rates. That's because the more miles you put on your car each year, 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 prices for Shelter, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $11 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Cincinatti Financial is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Cincinatti Financial tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in rural and urban areas, while Shelter wins in suburban areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about 10% with Cincinatti Financial compared to Shelter. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around 5% less with Shelter compared to Cincinatti Financial. In urban areas, Cincinatti Financial's average prices are about 6% less than Shelter Insurance.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Shelter Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? 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 difficult to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Cincinatti Financial and Shelter offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and discounts for being a good student are offered by both companies.

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

You've seen the role 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, is Cincinatti Financial or Shelter the best company for you and your specific needs?

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

• You're single and purchasing insurance by yourself.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Cincinatti Financial and Shelter and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Cincinatti Financial and Shelter. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Cincinatti Financial vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Cincinatti Financial or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cincinatti Financial is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $200 a month compared to $208 for Shelter. However, Cincinatti Financial won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are lots of different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Cincinatti Financial or Shelter?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Shelter offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Cincinatti Financial is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Cincinatti Financial and Shelter offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things such as age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Cincinatti Financial and Shelter calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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 do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Cincinatti Financial or Shelter 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.