BestCar InsuranceColumbusThe Best Car Insurance in Columbus, OH, for 2023
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Ensure you're getting the best rate. Review quotes from a top insurance company.
Erie is the top car insurance provider in Columbus, Ohio, according to MoneyGeek's study. But the best insurance for you will depend on your circumstances. MoneyGeek determined the best alternatives for young and older drivers, persons with a military background and people with traffic offenses. We also compared the cheapest car insurance options in the city for those on a budget.
BestCar InsuranceColumbusThe Best Car Insurance in Columbus
Overall - Erie
Minimum Coverage - Erie
Young Drivers - Erie
Senior Drivers - Erie
Driving Violations - Erie
Military - USAA
Best Car Insurance Companies in Columbus: Overall
To select the top auto insurance carriers, MoneyGeek scored companies based on claims rates, customer satisfaction rankings and average premium costs for various driver profiles. The best auto insurance companies in Columbus are:
- Erie: 93 out of 100
- American Family: 87 out of 100
It's worth mentioning that USAA has the highest MoneyGeek score in Columbus, at 97 out of 100. However, the company caters only to military personnel, excluding it from this ranking.
The Top Car Insurance Companies in Columbus
1
ErieOverall
Score:93
Erie has excellent scores across the board in terms of stability, claims and affordability and gets a perfect MoneyGeek score for customer satisfaction. A full coverage policy in Columbus costs around $593. Erie offers better car replacement coverage, which is beneficial for new car owners.
More About Erie
If your new car (up to two years old) is totaled, Erie's better car replacement coverage will replace it with the most recent model year. You can also add on an accident forgiveness policy and new car replacement coverage.
Read MoneyGeek's Erie auto Insurance Review2
American Family
Score:87
American Family consistently scores well in areas like customer satisfaction and affordability. A full coverage policy costs around $648 in Columbus. The company provides unique and rare coverages, like original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage and gap insurance.
More About American Family
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage from American Family is an optional automobile coverage that helps ensure aftermarket components aren’t utilized to repair your damaged vehicle. The company also provides accident forgiveness coverage, which prevents your rates from rising if you have an accident.
Read MoneyGeek's American Family auto Insurance ReviewRESOURCES ON CAR INSURANCE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO
Drivers in Ohio eager to save money on their car insurance can utilize the following MoneyGeek tools to locate the best and cheapest options:
Best Cheap Car Insurance for Minimum Coverage in Columbus
All Columbus drivers must carry insurance that fulfills Ohio’s minimum requirements. According to MoneyGeek statistics, the top car insurance companies in the city for minimal coverage policies are:
- Erie: 96 out of 100
- State Farm: 86 out of 100
We arrived at this conclusion after examining policies for drivers with various histories, including those with traffic offenses, young drivers and older drivers.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
A minimum coverage policy costs $266 per year
MoneyGeek claims ratings of 4.50 out of 5
MoneyGeek satisfaction ratings of 5 out of 5
Discounts include bundling, paying in full and anti-lock brakes
cons
Doesn’t offer multiple car discounts
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Discounts may be available if you insure several automobiles or have multiple policies with Erie (life, home and auto insurance).
Unmarried young drivers who have been insured under a parent’s or guardian’s Erie policy may be eligible for a credit. Airbags, anti-theft devices and anti-lock brakes are just a few safety features that will also get you a discount.
Best Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Columbus
MoneyGeek examined the ratings across different coverages and driving records for 18-year-old drivers to determine the top insurers for young drivers. The top-rated auto insurance providers for young drivers in Columbus, according to our research, are:
- Erie: 94 out of 100
- American Family: 91 out of 100
Auto insurance premiums for young and student drivers are generally higher due to these drivers’ inexperience behind the wheel.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
An affordable full coverage policy for a safe driver costs $1,655 per year
Discounts for distant students and driver's education
MoneyGeek claims rating of 4.5 out of 5
MoneyGeek user satisfaction rating of 5 out of 5
cons
No good student discount
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Car insurance for young drivers is typically expensive, but Erie offers the best mix of low prices and excellent customer service for this age group.
Erie also provides discounts to students who have completed a driver's education program or college students who reside far away from the vehicle they drive. Erie also offers discounts for young drivers, like a discount for unmarried drivers under 21 who reside with their parents.
Best Car Insurance for Senior Drivers in Columbus
Seniors pay significantly higher car insurance premiums than middle-aged drivers. The following two companies offer the best policies for senior drivers in Columbus:
- Erie: 96 out of 100
- State Farm: 89 out of 100
MoneyGeek calculated these scores by using a combination of insurance coverages and driving records for 70-year-old drivers.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
An affordable full coverage policy for a safe driver costs $611 per year
MoneyGeek claims rating of 4.5 out of 5
MoneyGeek user satisfaction rating of 5 out of 5
cons
Doesn’t offer senior driving and defensive driving class discounts
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Insurance for senior drivers offers the same coverage as regular auto insurance but tends to cost more. However, Erie is a cost-effective insurer with additional benefits.
Erie offers bundling savings for insuring several automobiles or having numerous policies — life, home or car insurance — with the company. Erie also offers special deals. Installing anti-theft systems in your car, for example, improves overall theft prevention and lowers your insurance costs.
Best Car Insurance With a Driving Violation in Columbus
Finding auto insurance after getting a traffic infraction might be difficult. To assist you, MoneyGeek evaluated the top auto insurance providers in Columbus for drivers involved in an at-fault accident:
- Erie: 95 out of 100
- American Family: 92 out of 100
MoneyGeek compiled these rankings using various driver ages and coverage levels. Individuals with bad driving records pay extra for car insurance since they are deemed high-risk.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: Erie
pros
An affordable full coverage policy for a 40-year-old driver with an accident on their record costs $770 per year
Offers four common discounts
MoneyGeek claims rating of 4.5 out of 5
MoneyGeek customer satisfaction rating of 5 out of 5
cons
Doesn’t offer accident forgiveness
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Drivers with accidents or violations might benefit from firms like Erie, which lets customers save money while providing excellent service and proper coverage. Erie offers various unique savings opportunities, like a safe young driver discount, legacy discount and a discount for installing anti-lock brakes.
Erie also offers four common discounts for bundling policies, installing anti-theft systems, paying in full and having airbags.
Best Car Insurance With a Military Background in Columbus
USAA, with a MoneyGeek score of 95 out of 100, provides the best combination of pricing and customer satisfaction when it comes to car insurance for military members in Columbus. Our score is based on a combination of driver histories and coverage levels, including young and older drivers and those with traffic offenses. USAA's policies are solely available to military members and their families.
MoneyGeek’s Pick: USAA
pros
An affordable full coverage policy costs $508 per year for a 40-year-old driver
Offers five common discounts, including bundling, multiple cars and good student
MoneyGeek claims rating of 5 out of 5
MoneyGeek customer satisfaction rating of 5 out of 5
cons
Only offers three out of seven common coverages; no deductible modification and better car replacement coverage
Only available to military members and veterans
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
USAA is a great option for military drivers because it’s consistently affordable and provides high-quality service.
USAA covers towing, unlocking your car, jumpstarting your battery, replacing a flat tire and supplying gasoline. It also covers the cost of a rental car while your automobile is being repaired following a covered loss and provides accident forgiveness coverage.
USAA offers five out of the nine common discounts, including safe driving and discounts for good students.
Methodology
MoneyGeek ranked car insurance companies based on quotes from Columbus providers and reviews from industry experts, including J.D. Power, AM Best and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
MoneyGeek weighted each criterion to determine the best auto insurance in Columbus, Ohio, for various driver profiles, as follows:
- Affordability (70%): MoneyGeek gathered rates from Columbus insurers and scored them based on cost. The supplier with the city's lowest rate received a perfect score.
- Customer and claims satisfaction (20%): MoneyGeek used J.D. Power surveys to determine customer satisfaction with each company’s service and claims processing. Each sub-category weighted 10%.
- Financial Stability (10%): MoneyGeek utilized AM Best ratings to evaluate an insurance company's capacity to meet financial obligations despite economic volatility.
MoneyGeek assigned a five-point scale to each area, then a 100-point scale to the overall result. We used a variety of parameters to compute the overall affordability score, including age, driving record and coverage levels, which were adjusted as needed based on various driver profiles.
Except for the best minimum coverage category, we utilized full coverage policies with the following limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $100,000 property damage liability
- Comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
To better understand how we collect and compare data, you can refer to MoneyGeek's car insurance methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
