The cheapest car insurance company in Ohio is USAA, which costs $59 per month, on average, or $712 per year. But only veterans, members of the military, and their families can get insurance with USAA. This makes State Farm the cheapest insurance for most Ohio drivers, since it’s available to everyone.
GEICO, Auto-Owners, and Erie are also cheap options for car insurance in Ohio. Generally, Ohio is a cheap state for car insurance, but you should still compare rates to avoid paying more than you have to.
Company | Average monthly cost | Average annual cost |
---|---|---|
USAA | $59 | $712 |
State Farm | $60 | $721 |
GEICO | $65 | $783 |
Auto-Owners | $66 | $793 |
Erie | $68 | $818 |
Cheapest car insurance companies in Ohio
USAA is the cheapest car insurance company in Ohio. USAA costs an average of $59 per month, or $712 per year for Ohio drivers. That’s $296 cheaper per year than the statewide average in Ohio (which is already the cheapest in the country).
State Farm is $60 per month for full coverage in Ohio. That’s $721 a year, which is $287 cheaper per year than average.
State Farm also tends to have some of the cheapest rates for high-risk drivers who have an accident, speeding ticket, or a DUI on their records.
GEICO costs $65 per month in Ohio, or $783 per year for a full-coverage car insurance policy. That’s $225 cheaper than the statewide average in Ohio.
We also found that GEICO has the cheapest car insurance rates in Ohio for drivers with bad credit, who usually pay more for coverage.
Auto-Owners is one of the cheapest car insurance companies in Ohio. On average, Auto-Owners in Ohio is $66 per month for a full-coverage policy. That’s $793 per year — $215 cheaper than the Ohio statewide average.
Erie rounds out our list of the cheapest car insurance companies in Ohio. Erie is $68 per month in the Buckeye State. That’s $818 per year, which is $190 cheaper than average.
Best car insurance companies in Ohio
According to the 2022 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, which measures how policyholders feel about their insurance company’s overall price, coverage, and claims service, found that USAA is the best car insurance company in Ohio. [1] It has the best rating in the North Central region (which includes Ohio).
The best-rated car insurance company in Ohio that’s available to most drivers is Erie, a smaller carrier known for top-notch customer service — it earned a score of 876 from J.D. Power (the average for the region was 838).
Rank | Company | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | USAA | 891 |
2 | Erie | 876 |
3 | State Farm | 848 |
4 | Allstate | 847 |
5 | GEICO | 847 |
Cheapest car insurance companies by age in Ohio
It’s no surprise that young drivers pay more for car insurance than any other demographic. Nationwide, statistics show young, inexperienced drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like speeding and texting while driving. Distracted driving can lead to increased accidents and more accident claims, which means increased rates for everyone.
As drivers reach age 25, rates tend to decrease, but this isn’t always the case. A lot depends on the individual driver. The table below shows the company with the lowest rates in every age group. We found that Erie or USAA has the best rates in Ohio for young drivers.
Age | Cheapest company | Average cost |
---|---|---|
16 | Erie | $2,454 |
18 | USAA | $1,632 |
21 | USAA | $1,153 |
25 | State Farm | $863 |
30 | State Farm | $733 |
35 | USAA | $716 |
45 | USAA | $664 |
55 | USAA | $618 |
60 | USAA | $617 |
65 | USAA | $639 |
70 | State Farm | $688 |
Choosing the right car insurance company in Ohio
You’ve probably seen so many advertisements for car insurance that it can be hard to choose a company you can trust. You want a company with a proven track record of reliable customer service and won’t raise your rates if you’re in a wreck.
Here’s what to watch out for when choosing your next insurance company:
Does the company have offices nearby? Or is it strictly online?
Do they make it easy to file a claim?
Do they have an app?
Policygenius can help you compare quotes and choose the best coverage for your insurance needs.
Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Ohio
Getting a ticket for running a red light might not seem like a big deal, but it can raise your insurance rates by several hundred dollars with some companies.
The average car insurance rates for drivers in Ohio with speeding tickets or other moving violations are shown below. We found that State Farm has the best rates in Ohio after a driving violation, as well as when you need an SR-22 in the state.
Violation | USAA | State Farm | GEICO | Auto-Owners Insurance | Erie |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At-fault accident | $1,097 | $865 | $1,416 | $1,131 | $1,182 |
DUI | $1,138 | $799 | $1,792 | $1,541 | $1,407 |
Suspended license | $1,103 | $799 | $1,017 | $1,541 | $1,407 |
Open container | $1,030 | $799 | $1,792 | $799 | $957 |
Expired registration | $957 | $799 | $1,017 | $799 | $957 |
Driving without lights | $764 | $799 | $1,017 | $799 | $957 |
Running a red light | $957 | $799 | $1,017 | $799 | $957 |
Following too closely | $957 | $799 | $1,017 | $799 | $957 |
Hit and run | $1,172 | $799 | $1,792 | $1,541 | $1,407 |
Not-at-fault accident | $764 | $733 | $835 | $799 | $882 |
Passing a school bus | $1,030 | $799 | $1,017 | $888 | $957 |
Reckless driving | $1,030 | $799 | $1,792 | $1,541 | $957 |
Speeding | $957 | $799 | $1,792 | $1,036 | $957 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Ohio
Did you know that if you continually miss a payment deadline, it could cause your car insurance rates to go up? A bad credit score can make it harder to get a new credit card, lease an apartment, or get a car loan. Below are the average rates for drivers in Ohio with bad credit.
We found that GEICO has the best rates for drivers in Ohio with bad credit
Company | Rates for drivers with bad credit |
---|---|
GEICO | $1,148 |
Nationwide | $1,277 |
USAA | $1,323 |
Grange Insurance | $1,337 |
State Farm | $1,640 |
Car insurance costs in Ohio cities
The more people in an area, the more cars on the roads, which means a higher risk of accidents. Below are the average car insurance rates for the ten largest cities in Ohio, based on population.
Columbus: $1,153
Cincinnati: $1,177
Cleveland: $1,191
Toledo: $1,159
Akron: $1,095
Dayton: $1,084
Parma: $965
Canton: $1,032
Youngstown: $1,165
Lorain: $973
While the residents of Ohio's larger cities tend to pay more for insurance, coverage remains relatively cheap throughout the state.
Buying car insurance in Ohio
If your vehicle is registered in Ohio, state law says drivers must have the following minimum liability insurance requirements or other proof of financial responsibility:
Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
Property damage liability coverage: $25,000
Continuous coverage on a vehicle even if it is inoperable or not being driven.
A certificate issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, indicating that money or government bonds in the amount of $30,000 are on deposit with the office of the Treasurer of the State of Ohio.
A certificate of bond issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in the amount of $30,000, signed by two individuals who own real estate having equity of at least $60,000.
A $30,000 bond issued by an insurance company or authorized surety.
These are just the basic required minimum rates. However, if you have a car loan or lease a vehicle, you’ll need to have more than liability insurance.
Ohio is a fault car accident state when it comes to accidents. This means that if you cause an accident, you must fully compensate the other driver for any damages to their property up to the required amounts or personal injuries resulting from the crash.
How to get cheap car insurance in Ohio
Most Ohio insurance companies offer ways to save money on your car insurance. These are some of the discounts available to customers:
Bundling discount: When you get more than one insurance policy (auto and home) from the same insurer
Safe-driver discount: For drivers without any accident claims during a given time frame or for those drivers who take a defensive driving course
Group or association discount: A discount for members of a certain profession or university
Military discount: A discount for active-duty military and their family
Not everyone will qualify for these discounts. Comparing quotes from top companies can help you make the right choice.
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