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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, CSE offers significantly more affordable prices than Esurance
• CSE offers less expensive average premiums for policyholders who have a short commute
• Esurance has cheaper prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. 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 your search down to CSE or Esurance as your top options, but between the two, which company has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

As you can see, CSE is quite a bit cheaper than Esurance, with rates averaging $175 per month compared to $299 with Esurance when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean CSE will be the more affordable option for every driver. Car insurance companies use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a whole bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Wanting to know if CSE or Esurance is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average premiums can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

CSE or Esurance: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

CSE and Esurance only compete against each other in California, where Esurance offers the cheaper average prices. For California residents, Esurance offers auto insurance for $148 a month on average. CSE's average rates come out to be over 15% more expensive, at $175 monthly.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's usually 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $350 less a month by choosing CSE over Esurance.

Even so, both carriers will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. Esurance offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, CSE still has the most affordable rates at $173 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? CSE gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 45% less expensive than the national average for Esurance.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance prices than single policyholders. That's because policies for married policyholders usually cover several cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, CSE is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $157 per month cheaper than Esurance, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - CSE has the edge when it comes to average rates.

CSE vs. Esurance: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Men and women get the same monthly premiums with CSE, and over $20 cheaper with Esurance when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, CSE offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 43% less for men and 39% cheaper for women.

CSE 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are a bunch of different coverages that account for multiple 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.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- 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 two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, CSE typically offers significantly less expensive prices of $81 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, CSE again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month cheaper than Esurance, on average.

Is CSE or Esurance Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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.

Tickets and collisions will most likely raise your prices, but is CSE or Esurance more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

CSE policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $38 per month if they get a ticket, while Esurance normally raises premiums about $45 a month, on average.

But CSE has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $119 and $126 cheaper, respectively, compared to Esurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

CSE drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices increase by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Esurance will see around a 35% increase.

Overall, CSE offers the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly prices averaging $176 compared to Esurance's $364.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, CSE will raise your premiums about 49% after a DUI, while Esurance's average prices rise by just under 20%.

How does Credit Score Impact CSE and Esurance Rates?

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

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

Looking at CSE and Esurance specifically, which carrier has the most affordable rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Usually, if you have fantastic credit, you can expect to be rewarded. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will typically save Esurance customers around $50. On the other hand, CSE doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit usually means you'll also see higher rates with Esurance. For drivers with less-than-stellar credit, at Esurance, you may pay about 30% per month more if you have "poor" credit compared to those with "fair" scores. It's an even larger difference when compared to drivers with "good" or "excellent" scores. On the other hand, because CSE doesn't have data available for credit scores, they could have better premiums for drivers with bad credit over Esurance.

Is CSE or Esurance 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 prices. Generally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, CSE offers more affordable rates than Esurance. Esurance's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 45% more expensive than CSE. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay more than 35% more with Esurance over CSE.

CSE vs. Esurance: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a pretty big impact as well. Normally, 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, CSE generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both companies, but CSE comes out on top with average premiums around $161 monthly. CSE also has less expensive average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $210 and $110 a month respective difference when compared to Esurance drivers in similar areas.

CSE 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both CSE and Esurance so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Esurance blows CSE away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 19 more discounts than CSE.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that CSE does not.

On the flip side, CSE has a couple unique discounts of its own -- employee discounts and goverment employee discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is CSE or Esurance Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

CSE might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• Your credit is below-average.
• Your credit score is high.
• You care about discounts (Esurance offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between CSE and Esurance 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just CSE and Esurance. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

CSE vs. Esurance FAQs

Is CSE or Esurance cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, CSE is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $175 per month compared to $299 for Esurance. However, CSE won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are several different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, CSE or Esurance?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, CSE offers more affordable prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Esurance is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do CSE and Esurance offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as your driving record, age, where you call home, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both CSE and Esurance calculate rates differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

How do I know if CSE or Esurance 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be CSE 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.