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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Cincinatti Financial offers significantly less expensive prices than State Auto
• Cincinatti Financial tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• State Auto offers more discounts than Cincinatti Financial

Cincinatti Financial vs. State Auto: 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 big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Cincinatti Financial or State Auto for your next policy, but between the two, which one will offer you cheaper rates?

As you can see, Cincinatti Financial is about $59 per month more affordable than State Auto when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Cincinatti Financial will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, your driving record, where you call home, or even your age (among other things), so premiums will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Cincinatti Financial and State Auto by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

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

Cincinatti Financial and State Auto only compete against each other in two states, with Cincinatti Financial offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Ohio has the most noticable difference, where Cincinatti Financial rates are less expensive than auto insurance prices at State Auto.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just where you live. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $250 less a month by choosing Cincinatti Financial over State Auto.

That being said, both carriers will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Cincinatti Financial still has the most affordable prices at $193 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Cincinatti Financial and State Auto? Cincinatti Financial gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $122 monthly compared to State Auto's $167.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are normally more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Cincinatti Financial is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $85 per month cheaper than State Auto, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Cincinatti Financial is also obvious, where drivers save more than $25 a month.

Cincinatti Financial vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Men usually pay almost $15 per month more than women with Cincinatti Financial, while with State Auto, the difference is closer to $24 a month.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, Cincinatti Financial comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $54 per month and men save around $65 with Cincinatti Financial compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Cincinatti Financial or State Auto: 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. There are several different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Cincinatti Financial typically offers significantly more affordable prices of $106 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Cincinatti Financial again has the edge, with policies about $75 a month less expensive than State Auto, on average.

Is Cincinatti Financial or State Auto 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Cincinatti Financial policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $21 per month if they get a ticket, while State Auto normally raises prices around $48 a month, on average.

Even so, Cincinatti Financial is generally the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 28% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 34% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Cincinatti Financial drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates increase by over $90, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see about a $100 increase.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from Cincinatti Financial, with monthly prices averaging $214 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. For example, State Auto increases average premiums by over $200 per month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Cincinatti Financial tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $320 a month compared to $380 from State Auto.

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

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers 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 less expensive premiums.

Looking at Cincinatti Financial and State Auto specifically, which company has the best rates for policyholders 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. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save just under 25% compared to State Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $56 or 25% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Cincinatti Financial typically offers lower premiums than State Auto when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $64 a month less with Cincinatti Financial compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of around $72 per month.

Is Cincinatti Financial or State Auto 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Cincinatti Financial or State Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Cincinatti Financial comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average rates of $200 per month for both.

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

Where your home is can play a substantial role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Cincinatti Financial tends to offer the cheapest prices 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 rates about $220 monthly compared to State Auto's $317. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $197 a month for Cincinatti Financial and $236 for State Auto. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $182 and $225 for Cincinatti Financial and State Auto respectively.

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

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.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Cincinatti Financial and State Auto so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

State Auto blows Cincinatti Financial away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than Cincinatti Financial.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student. State Auto also offers ABS discounts, advantage program discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Cincinatti Financial does not.

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

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

You've seen the effect certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Cincinatti Financial or State Auto the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You have below-average credit.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

State Auto might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Cincinatti Financial and State Auto. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Cincinatti Financial and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Cincinatti Financial vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Cincinatti Financial or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Cincinatti Financial is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $200 per month compared to $259 for State Auto. That being said, Cincinatti Financial won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Cincinatti Financial or State Auto?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

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

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

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies 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 insurance carriers 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 State 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.