Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio 2023

Ohio is the eighth-cheapest state for car insurance in the country, according to our data. Drivers in the Buckeye State pay an average of $146 per month — $87 less than the national average of $233 per month. Notably, Ohio has the fifth-largest interstate system, with more than 8,000 miles of road.^[1] Drivers looking to save on insurance should compare car insurance quotes from multiple providers.

Best cheap car insurance in Ohio: State Farm

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State Farm

Best Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio

If you’re searching for the best car insurance companies in Ohio, the following insurers provide affordable coverage. While some companies offer cheaper car insurance, it’s important to note whether their coverage meets your insurance needs, as well as the type of customer service you might expect. Consider your car insurance needs as well as price when comparing quotes.

Learn More: Best Car Insurance Companies

Insurify Composite Score (ICS)

To calculate the Insurify Composite Score, a proprietary rating, Insurify data scientists weigh multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.

Inputs to the score include J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints, mobile app reviews, user-generated company reviews, and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Ohio

All motor vehicles operated or parked on Ohio roadways are required to be insured. Proof of insurance must be carried in your car at all times and must be available when:

• Requested by law enforcement

• Renewing vehicle registration

• Inspecting a vehicle

• The vehicle is involved in a car accident

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in Ohio^[2] are:

• $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability: As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. Ohio is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is responsible for the collision is also responsible for paying for any resulting expenses, either through their car insurance provider or out of pocket.

• $25,000 per accident for property damage liability: If it’s determined that an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident.

Ohio DMV information

Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is responsible for licensing, as well as car registration. This is also the agency in charge of suspensions and reinstatements. If you need help answering questions about operating your car, you can visit the Ohio BMV online and set up a profile at BMV.Ohio.gov.^[3]

Public transportation in Ohio

Ohio features 61 public transit systems.^[4] In addition to operating in urban areas like Columbus and Cincinnati, 34 of the transit systems are located in rural areas of the state. Even with these transit systems, though, some areas are more walkable than others and there’s a good chance you’ll want a car in Ohio.

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Ohio

When looking for cheap car insurance in Ohio, you’ll get lower quotes if you have a clean driving record, a higher deductible, and live in certain areas. If you want to ensure you find the best rate, compare car insurance quotes online. 

Other tools for finding cheap car insurance include: 

• Utilizing all available discounts

• Bundling two or more insurance policies

• Maintaining a good credit score

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in Ohio

If you live in Ohio, you can opt to carry liability-only auto insurance, which pays for expenses related to injuries and damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident. Each state sets its own minimums for how much liability insurance it requires drivers to carry. Liability-only insurance can make sense if:

• You have a low-value vehicle.

• You can afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket.

• Getting the cheapest insurance possible is your top priority.

For a higher level of protection, you can choose full-coverage insurance, which includes basic liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car, even if you’re at fault for an accident. Comprehensive pays for damages caused by events out of your control, like vandalism, weather, and animals. Auto lenders and leasing companies typically require drivers to carry full coverage on a car they’ve financed.

You may also opt for full coverage if:

• You have a high-value vehicle.

• You wouldn’t be able to afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket.

• Your car’s actual cash value (the payout you’d likely get if your car is totaled) exceeds your annual premium to carry full coverage.

Here’s a look at the cheapest auto insurance in Ohio by policy type.

How your driving history affects Ohio car insurance rates

Your driving history is the factor that most influences your car insurance costs. Good drivers — whose records are free of serious traffic violations like speeding tickets or reckless driving — tend to get the best car insurance rates in Ohio. But infractions like driving under the influence or at-fault accidents can significantly increase insurance costs.

Here’s a look at average monthly quotes for the cheapest car insurance in Ohio based on driving and accident history.

See More: Best Cheap Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

See More: SR-22 Car Insurance Ohio

SR-22 insurance in Ohio

If you have your driver’s license suspended for certain violations, such as driving while uninsured or a DUI, you’re required to file an SR-22 form to have your driving privileges reinstated. You need to get auto insurance that meets the requirements, and your insurer will file the SR-22 with the Ohio BMV. The following list includes insurers that provide an SR-22.

How credit scores affect Ohio car insurance quotes

Depending on the state you live in, your credit score might affect your car insurance premium. Some states ban using a credit-based insurance score, but it’s allowed in Ohio. Generally, people with excellent or good credit scores can qualify for lower car insurance premiums than people with average or poor credit scores.

See More: Bad Credit Car Insurance Ohio

How your city affects Ohio insurance quotes

Car insurance costs in Ohio can vary depending on the city you live in. In general, you can expect to pay more for insurance in areas with a higher population density. Your ZIP code can also make a difference, depending on various statistics. Here are the rates in some of the major cities in Ohio.

How your age affects your Ohio car insurance rates

Because insurers generally equate age with experience level, your age will significantly affect how much you pay for car insurance. New drivers, who tend to be teens or people in their early 20s, typically pay more for insurance than drivers 25 and older.

The following table gives a high-level view of how age can affect insurance rates.

Quotes for younger drivers

Multiple other factors influence how much drivers in each age group will pay for car insurance. Some increase rates for one age group more than another, while others impact all age groups evenly. Like in most of the country, teenagers and drivers under 25 pay the most for car insurance due to a lack of driving experience, which insurers see as a risk.

The following table compares how different insurance factors affect average monthly rates for drivers younger than 30. Travelers offers some of the cheapest rates, with an average of $81 per month for liability-only coverage.

Quotes for middle-aged drivers

The following table compares how different insurance factors affect average monthly rates for drivers between 30 and 59. Drivers in this range typically pay between $108 and $140 per month on average, but quotes for liability coverage start as low as $59 with Travelers.

Quotes for senior drivers

The following table compares how different insurance factors affect average monthly rates for drivers 59 and older. Drivers in this age range pay between $105 and $142 per month on average. Travelers, Progressive, and Liberty Mutual all offer affordable liability rates of $60, $61, and $61, respectively.