Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
The average car insurance rate for full coverage in Ohio is $1,038 per year. Compared to the nationwide average of $1,652 per year, drivers in the Buckeye State pay $614 less for their car insurance. According to our research, Ohio drivers have some of the lowest rates in the country.
Your car insurance rates are going to be different from what your neighbor pays. Details like your age, credit score, and driving record all determine the rates you pay. Policygenius can help you see quotes from top insurers so you can choose the best coverage at the right price.
Key Takeaways
USAA offers the lowest average car insurance rates at $711 per year for full coverage
A DUI conviction can increase your car insurance rates by more than $900 per year with GEICO
Ohio minimum liability car insurance requirements are $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability per accident
Cheapest car insurance companies in Ohio
If you dream of driving a luxury vehicle, then you should be prepared to pay more to insure it. The more expensive a car is to repair, the higher the insurance will be to keep you legal and on the road.
Other factors that determine your insurance rates include your location, marital status, and driving history. The table below shows the five cheapest car insurance companies in Ohio.
Company
Average cost
JD Power Rating
USAA
$711
890
GEICO
$729
871
State Farm
$759
881
Auto-Owners Insurance
$789
890
Erie
$818
880
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.
Age
Cheapest company
Average cost
16
Erie
$2,454
18
USAA
$1,648
21
USAA
$1,159
25
USAA
$903
30
GEICO
$729
35
USAA
$716
45
USAA
$664
55
USAA
$617
60
USAA
$616
65
USAA
$639
70
USAA
$695
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.
Violation
USAA
GEICO
State Farm
Auto-Owners Insurance
Erie
At-fault accident
$1,099
$1,316
$911
$1,131
$1,182
DUI
$1,140
$1,657
$842
$1,541
$1,407
Suspended license
$1,104
$948
$842
$1,541
$1,407
Open container
$1,030
$1,657
$842
$1,541
$957
Expired registration
$957
$948
$842
$799
$957
Driving without lights
$764
$948
$842
$799
$957
Not showing documents
$957
$948
$842
$799
$957
Running a red light
$957
$948
$842
$799
$957
Failure to yield
$957
$948
$842
$799
$957
Following too closely
$957
$948
$842
$799
$957
Hit and run
$1,174
$1,479
$842
$1,541
$1,407
Illegal turn
$957
$948
$842
$799
$957
Improper passing
$957
$948
$842
$888
$957
Not-at-fault accident
$764
$777
$772
$799
$882
Passing a school bus
$1,030
$948
$842
$888
$957
Racing
$1,140
$1,657
$842
$1,036
$1,407
Reckless driving
$1,030
$1,657
$842
$1,541
$957
Speeding
$957
$1,657
$842
$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.
Company
Rates for drivers with bad credit
GEICO
$1,066
Nationwide
$1,241
Grange Insurance
$1,312
USAA
$1,321
State Farm
$1,728
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: $1,183
Cincinnati: $1,209
Cleveland: $1,227
Toledo: $1,197
Akron: $1,126
Dayton: $962
Parma: $995
Canton: $1,066
Youngstown: $1,213
Lorain: $1,001
Residents in Cincinnati and Columbus pay the highest rates in the state. But, overall, these rates are still $400 less than the national average.
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.
According to our research, USAA has the cheapest rates in the state, at $711 per year, however only drivers who are connected to the U.S. military qualify for coverage with USAA.
How much is car insurance per month in Ohio?
Drivers in Ohio pay an average of $1,038 per year for car insurance, which breaks down to $86.50 per month.
Does Ohio have cheap car insurance?
Yes, with average rates of $1,038 per year, Ohio has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in the country.
Is Ohio a fault or no fault state?
Ohio is an at-fault state. This means a driver who is at fault for an accident is responsible for the bodily injury and property damage expenses caused by the accident, whether or not they have enough insurance to cover those costs.
Methodology
Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:
Bodily injury liability: 50/100
Property damage liability: $50,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100
Comprehensive: $500 deductible
Collision: $500 deductible
In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.
Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.
Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.
