Which company has the cheapest car insurance in Ohio?

Mile Auto has the cheapest car insurance in Ohio, with an average liability-only rate of $35 per month. Check with local insurers, too, such as Grange and Erie.

What can you do if you can’t afford car insurance in Ohio?

If you can’t afford car insurance in Ohio, shop around. Rates vary widely among insurers, even for policies with state-minimum coverage.Compare prices for liability-only coverage, and check with companies that offer pay-per-mile insurance. Ask about multi-car discounts, multi-policy discounts, and good student discounts. Many insurers also offer payment plans so you can pay monthly rather than all up front and maintain continuous coverage.

What is the Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan (OAIP)?

The Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan is Ohio’s assigned-risk plan.[6] This is a last-resort car insurance option when you can’t get coverage from traditional insurers because insurers consider you a high-risk driver. Policies are typically more expensive.

Are there state programs in Ohio to help low-income people with car insurance costs?

No. Ohio doesn’t have state programs to help low-income people with car insurance costs. You can save money by shopping around and purchasing a policy that only meets Ohio’s minimum-coverage requirements: 25/50/25.

Cheap Car Insurance for Low-Income Drivers in Ohio

Updated July 28, 2026

Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.

Advertiser Disclosure

At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

What is low-income car insurance in Ohio?

Low-income car insurance in Ohio isn’t a type of car insurance policy. Instead, it describes what low-income drivers may want from their coverage: affordability.

You can find low-cost coverage by choosing a liability-only policy that meets Ohio’s minimum insurance requirements.

Liability-only coverage offers limited protection, though. A full-coverage policy, which includes collision, comprehensive, and uninsured motorist coverage, protects against more risks.

Many insurers offer car insurance discounts to reduce your premium, including for maintaining a clean driving record. Ohio insurers also offer a discount to drivers aged 60–70 who pass a defensive driving course.

Shop for Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio

Insurify partners with 120+ top insurers for real-time quotes

Excellent

4.7 out of 5 based on 16,092 reviews

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Cheapest car insurance in Ohio

The cheapest car insurance in Ohio is a liability-only policy from Mile Auto, with an average monthly rate of $35.

This is less than Ohio’s average insurance cost for liability-only coverage, which is $64 per month, according to Insurify data. Overall, Ohio is one of the most affordable states for liability-only insurance and full-coverage auto insurance.

Parts of Ohio are in Tornado Alley, and, in 2024, the state experienced a record number of tornadoes.^[1] Still, it generally avoids many weather risks common in coastal and western states, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires.

Fewer weather risks mean less storm damage to vehicles and fewer insurance claims.

Drivers in rural areas and suburbs, including Newark, Mansfield, and Springfield, tend to pay the lowest premiums in Ohio. Larger cities with denser populations and heavier traffic, including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo, have higher average premiums.

The table below shows the companies with the cheapest monthly car insurance rates in Ohio.

The below rates in Ohio are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, July 9 at 5:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Liability Only
Mile Auto	$35
State Farm	$36
Progressive	$41
Auto-Owners	$42
Erie	$42
Commonwealth Casualty	$46
GEICO	$46
USAA	$46
Safeco	$48
The General	$48
Certainly	$50
American Family	$51
Trexis	$56
Hugo	$57
AssuranceAmerica	$58
Trexis One	$61
First Acceptance	$62
Direct Auto	$66
Elephant	$66
GAINSCO	$66
Clearcover	$70
Bristol West	$71
Dairyland	$74
Root	$76
Allstate	$79
National General	$79
Liberty Mutual	$81
Travelers	$85
Farmers	$88
Insurify Car	$106
State Auto	$122

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time Ohio car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in Ohio may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit in Ohio

Unlike some other states, Ohio allows insurers to consider your credit history when determining your rate. But Ohio law prohibits insurers from making decisions based solely on your credit history.^[2]

Your credit score indicates how well you manage your finances. As such, it’s a strong predictor of your likelihood of filing an insurance claim.

Ohio drivers with poor credit pay an average of $80 per month for liability-only car insurance. Rates for drivers with excellent credit average $57 for the same coverage.

The table below shows average liability-only rates from some of the best car insurance companies in Ohio for drivers with poor credit.

The below rates in Ohio are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, July 9 at 5:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Liability Quote: Poor Credit
Mile Auto	$43
Progressive	$51
State Farm	$52
USAA	$57
Commonwealth Casualty	$57
GEICO	$57
Safeco	$59
The General	$59
American Family	$61
Erie	$62
Certainly	$63
Auto-Owners	$63
Trexis	$70
Hugo	$71
AssuranceAmerica	$72
Trexis One	$76
First Acceptance	$78
Direct Auto	$82
Elephant	$82
GAINSCO	$82
Clearcover	$87
Bristol West	$88
Dairyland	$91
Root	$94
Liberty Mutual	$97
Allstate	$98
National General	$98
Travelers	$105
Farmers	$109
Insurify Car	$133
State Auto	$151

Car insurance options for low-income drivers in Ohio

Ohio doesn’t have a state-sponsored low-income car insurance plan. While it has an assigned-risk policy for high-risk drivers, coverage is expensive.

An assigned-risk policy is a last-resort option if your driving history precludes you from obtaining coverage elsewhere.

Your best bet for low-income car insurance in Ohio is often an insurer that offers a lower-than average-cost liability-only policy. You might find even lower premiums by seeking coverage through a non-standard insurer, with options like pay-per-mile insurance or usage-based insurance.

Consider the following insurers:

Mile Auto: Mile Auto offers policies that let you pay per mile driven. If you work from home or live in a walkable city like Cincinnati, you might save money with a pay-per-mile policy.
Root: Root tracks your driving habits via a smartphone app. After a few weeks, the company sets a rate based on how you drive. Better driving habits mean lower prices.
Hugo: Hugo lets you pay for coverage in increments as short as three days at a time. This lets you make “micropayments” that might help you get the coverage you need until your next payday.
Insurify Car: Insurify Car offers liability-only coverage that you can pay for a week at a time.

If you need full-coverage insurance, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage, you can choose higher deductibles to keep rates down.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Ohio

To meet minimum car insurance requirements in Ohio, you’ll need 25/50/25 coverage:^[3]

Bodily injury liability coverage: Ohio requires $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance for the injury/death of one person and $50,000 for the injury/death of two or more people in an at-fault accident.
Property damage liability coverage: Ohio requires $25,000 in property damage liability insurance.

Purchasing minimum auto insurance coverage lowers your costs, but it could leave you vulnerable if you’re in an accident that causes serious injuries or more damage than your coverage limits will pay for.

Minimum coverage also doesn’t protect you and your vehicle. One accident is all it takes to threaten your finances if you don’t have enough coverage.

Besides harsh Ohio winters, animal collisions are a threat to Ohio drivers. The state reports more than 22,000 deer collisions annually.^[4]

Coverage	Minimum Requirement	What It Covers
Bodily injury (one person)	$25,000	Costs associated with the injury/death of one person
Bodily injury (multiple people)	$50,000	Costs associated with the injury/death of multiple people
Property damage	$25,000	Damage to other vehicles, private property (like fences or mailboxes), and public property (like streetlights and guardrails)

Compare Car Insurance Quotes in Ohio Instantly

Check quotes from 120+ top insurance companies

Excellent

4.7 out of 5 based on 16,092 reviews

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

What affects car insurance rates in Ohio?

The average cost of car insurance in Ohio is $91 per month. Where you live within the state can notably affect how much you actually pay.

Average rates are higher in big cities like Columbus and Toledo, which have denser populations and heavier traffic congestion.

Ohio has some of the cheapest car insurance rates in the country, with the following factors contributing to lower costs:

Fewer pedestrian deaths: Ohio ranks No. 39 in the country for pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people, according to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Lower auto repair costs: Ohio is among the top 10 states with the lowest mean wages for auto mechanics, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This typically means lower vehicle repair costs.
Less extreme weather: Ohio’s geography also means vehicles are less likely to sustain damage from hurricane flooding and wildfires. This helps keep comprehensive coverage costs down.
Fewer traffic fatalities: Ohio ranks No. 32 in the country for traffic fatalities per 100,000 people, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Even though 5.2% of Ohio drivers have an accident on their driving record, according to Insurify data, this data suggests fatal crashes are less common in the Buckeye State.

Like in other states, car insurance rates in Ohio also depend on factors such as:^[5]

Your age and gender
Your coverage limits and deductible
Your driving history
Where you live
The year, make, and model of your car
What discounts you qualify for

Low-income car insurance FAQs

Learn more about low-income car insurance in Ohio and the best companies for affordable Ohio car insurance quotes.

Which company has the cheapest car insurance in Ohio?
Mile Auto has the cheapest car insurance in Ohio, with an average liability-only rate of $35 per month. Check with local insurers, too, such as Grange and Erie.
What can you do if you can’t afford car insurance in Ohio?
If you can’t afford car insurance in Ohio, shop around. Rates vary widely among insurers, even for policies with state-minimum coverage.
Compare prices for liability-only coverage, and check with companies that offer pay-per-mile insurance. Ask about multi-car discounts, multi-policy discounts, and good student discounts. Many insurers also offer payment plans so you can pay monthly rather than all up front and maintain continuous coverage.
What is the Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan (OAIP)?
The Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan is Ohio’s assigned-risk plan.^[6] This is a last-resort car insurance option when you can’t get coverage from traditional insurers because insurers consider you a high-risk driver. Policies are typically more expensive.
Are there state programs in Ohio to help low-income people with car insurance costs?
No. Ohio doesn’t have state programs to help low-income people with car insurance costs. You can save money by shopping around and purchasing a policy that only meets Ohio’s minimum-coverage requirements: 25/50/25.

Sources

State Climate Office of Ohio. "How Climate Change Is Already Impacting Ohio, and What’s Ahead."
Ohio Laws & Administrative Rules. "Rule 3901-1-55 | Use of Credit history and credit scores.."
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "Mandatory Insurance."
Ohio Department of Public Safety. "Rural Driving Safety."
Ohio Department of Insurance. "How Insurance Rates Are Determined."
Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan. "Welcome to Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan."

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
No additional coverage

Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to: