Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio (October 2024)


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Nationwide is the cheapest auto insurer in Ohio for minimum coverage. American Family is the most affordable for full coverage and certain types of drivers.

For those seeking a balance of cost and quality service, MoneyGeek evaluated the best car insurance in Ohio.

Why Trust MoneyGeek? We gathered data from the Ohio Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services to find the cheapest auto insurance for different types of drivers in the state.

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These rates reflect the cheapest car insurance quotes in Ohio as of October 2024.

60,776Quotes Analyzed
 
14Companies Compared
 
106ZIP Codes

Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Ohio

The cheapest auto insurance companies that offer a minimum coverage policy in Ohio are:

  • Nationwide: $226 per year
  • American Family: $249 per year

Allstate has the most expensive minimum coverage premium at around $598 annually.

Ohio's minimum car insurance includes only bodily injury liability, property damage liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Minimum Coverage
Nationwide$226$19
American Family$249$21
Westfield$279$23
Erie$282$23
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$305$25
Progressive$319$27
GEICO$357$30
Travelers$383$32
Grange Insurance$408$34
Cincinnati Insurance$436$36
Farmers$462$38
Allstate$598$50

A minimum coverage policy covers only damage or injuries you inflict on others. A full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision insurance covers the cost of damage to your car, providing you with much greater financial protection of an at-fault accident.

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Find the Best Car Insurance in Ohio for You

 

The amount of coverage you need depends on your preferences and insurance requirements.

The table above shows premiums for minimum coverage policies in Ohio.

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We researched the best auto insurance companies in Ohio that balance service and cost.

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We analyzed the average cost of car insurance for various driver profiles and other factors in Ohio.

Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Ohio

In Ohio, the cheapest car insurers for full coverage policies are:

  • American Family: $486 per year
  • Nationwide: $490 per year

Westfield is the most expensive option at $1,040 per year.

Full coverage car insurance is typically more expensive than minimum coverage. For instance, American Family’s full coverage policy costs about $237 more per year than its minimum coverage option. However, full coverage provides broader protection against both on-road and off-road incidents.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
American Family$486$40
Nationwide$490$41
GEICO$708$59
Erie$737$61
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$769$64
Travelers$815$68
Grange Insurance$819$68
Farmers$906$76
Cincinnati Insurance$969$81
Allstate$988$82
Progressive$1,018$85
Westfield$1,040$87

The amount of car insurance you need determines your rates. MoneyGeek’s sample full coverage policy includes $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability per accident.

If you want to save money, you can lower your liability limits, raise your deductible or drop comprehensive and collision coverage. However, this can lead to insufficient coverage in case of an accident.

How to Compare Cheap Ohio Car Insurance Quotes Online

Getting a car insurance quote online is easy, but it takes about 15 minutes to complete the process. You also have to compare quotes across multiple websites to find the one that suits your needs and budget, which makes it more time-consuming.

MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator quickly gives you an estimate without asking for sensitive information. This can be helpful if you’re not sure how much car insurance will cost, and it gives you a starting point for your research.

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Rates updated:

Nov 01, 2024

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Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio by Age

Nationwide offers the most affordable auto insurance for teens in Ohio. For young adults and seniors, American Family provides the cheapest full coverage insurance in the state.

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CHEAPEST CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES BY AGE

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for Teens and Their Families

The most affordable car insurance companies for teens on their parent’s policy are:

  • Nationwide: $895 per year for female teens and $1,042 per year for male teens
  • GEICO: $1,534 per year for female teens and $1,640 per year for male teens

State Farm has the most expensive coverage for teens on their parent’s policy, at around $7,736 for female teens and $9,901 for male teens.

Car insurance rates decrease as teens age. Nineteen-year-olds generally pay lower premiums than younger teens due to more driving experience. For instance, males aged 19 get the lowest rates from Nationwide at $961 annually.

It's usually cheaper for teens to be added to their parent's policy than having their own. In Ohio, male teens save about $2,527 annually by being added to their parent's policy. Most teens under 18 cannot buy insurance without a parent or guardian's co-signature.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Gender:
Gender:Female
Age:
Age:16
Nationwide$895$1,858
GEICO$1,534$3,279
Travelers$1,708$3,490
Allstate$1,740$5,442
Farmers$1,844$6,730
Progressive$1,873$3,830
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$1,949$1,808
State Farm$7,736$10,588
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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

On average, car insurance rates for male teens are significantly more expensive than for female teens. This rate difference isn't as notable when drivers reach their 20s and beyond.Mark Friedlander, Director, Corporate Communications, Insurance Information Institute

Families can save on car insurance by taking advantage of special discounts some companies offer teenagers. Allstate, Auto-Owners, Farmers, Progressive, State Farm and Travelers offer good student and distant student discounts. Nationwide and GEICO offer good student discounts.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for Young Adults

In Ohio, the lowest car insurance rates for drivers in their 20s are from:

  • American Family: $505 per year
  • Nationwide: $588 per year

Westfield has the highest average cost for young drivers, at $1,331 annually.

Young drivers often face higher premiums due to increased accident rates, costing about $212 more per year than middle-aged drivers.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:22-29
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
American Family$505$42
Nationwide$588$49
Erie$925$77
Travelers$979$82
GEICO$1,007$84
Grange Insurance$1,012$84
Farmers$1,088$91
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$1,108$92
Cincinnati Insurance$1,177$98
Allstate$1,248$104
Progressive$1,318$110
Westfield$1,331$111

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for Seniors

Senior drivers in Ohio can save the most money on car insurance from these companies:

  • American Family: $453 per year
  • Nationwide: $453 per year

Allstate customers aged 60+ generally pay the highest average policy cost at $980 annually.

Senior drivers may pay slightly less or more for car insurance than middle-aged drivers. On average, seniors in Ohio spend about $27 less for insurance. However, as drivers reach their 70s and 80s, rates typically increase due to higher accident rates.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:60 +
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
American Family$453$38
Nationwide$453$38
Erie$719$60
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$732$61
GEICO$781$65
Travelers$813$68
Grange Insurance$840$70
Farmers$862$72
Cincinnati Insurance$891$74
Progressive$926$77
Westfield$972$81
Allstate$980$82

Seniors can save on car insurance by comparing rates from different insurers, as rates vary beyond age. Additionally, they may qualify for discounts. Allstate, American Family, Farmers and GEICO offer discounts specifically for senior drivers.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Higher Risk Drivers

American Family provides the cheapest car insurance for drivers with speeding tickets, at-fault accidents or DUIs. It's also the cheapest for those with sports cars. Nationwide is the cheapest insurer for drivers with poor credit.

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CHEAPEST CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR HIGHER RISK DRIVERS

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio After a Ticket

In Ohio, drivers with a speeding ticket can find the lowest premiums with the following auto insurance companies:

  • American Family: $604 per year
  • Nationwide: $624 per year

Progressive is the most expensive provider after a speeding ticket, with an average annual premium of $1,326.

Auto insurance in Ohio can cost around $215 more for drivers with a ticket.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
American Family$604$50
Nationwide$624$52
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$775$65
Erie$800$67
GEICO$928$77
Cincinnati Insurance$1,145$95
Travelers$1,167$97
Farmers$1,172$98
Westfield$1,228$102
Allstate$1,243$104
Grange Insurance$1,312$109
Progressive$1,326$110

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio After an Accident

Drivers with an at-fault accident in Ohio can find the cheapest average rates for car insurance from these companies:

  • American Family: $624 per year
  • Nationwide: $774 per year

Cincinnati Insurance is the most expensive insurance provider, costing drivers with at-fault accidents an average of $1,804 per year.

You likely have to pay around $449 more for car insurance than the average driver with a clean record if you're at fault in an accident.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
American Family$624$52
Nationwide$774$64
Erie$1,006$84
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$1,134$94
Grange Insurance$1,180$98
Travelers$1,218$102
GEICO$1,234$103
Farmers$1,422$119
Allstate$1,468$122
Westfield$1,493$124
Progressive$1,776$148
Cincinnati Insurance$1,804$150
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MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Adding accident forgiveness to your car insurance policy may help you avoid a premium increase after your first at-fault accident. And with some companies, like GEICO, you may not have to pay extra for this coverage if you maintain a clean driving record — it is awarded for free.Mark Friedlander, Director, Corporate Communications, Insurance Information Institute

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio After a DUI

Ohio drivers with a DUI on their record can consider the following companies for the most affordable car insurance:

  • American Family: $604 per year
  • Nationwide: $948 per year

Westfield is the most expensive option at $2,573 per year.

The average premium for drivers with a DUI is $659 more than for drivers with clean records.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
American Family$604$50
Nationwide$948$79
Erie$1,213$101
Progressive$1,229$102
Farmers$1,274$106
Travelers$1,349$112
Allstate$1,357$113
Grange Insurance$1,466$122
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$1,577$131
GEICO$1,692$141
Cincinnati Insurance$2,367$197
Westfield$2,573$214

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for Drivers With Poor Credit

In Ohio, the cheapest insurance companies for drivers with credit scores under 580 are:

  • Nationwide: $654 per year
  • American Family: $811 per year

The most expensive option is Auto-Owners Insurance Co at $2,172 per year.

On average, drivers with poor credit scores pay $594 more than those with good credit above 750.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
Nationwide$654$55
American Family$811$68
GEICO$1,116$93
Grange Insurance$1,150$96
Travelers$1,278$107
Farmers$1,432$119
Cincinnati Insurance$1,461$122
Allstate$1,531$128
Erie$1,635$136
Progressive$1,793$149
Westfield$1,838$153
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$2,172$181

Insurers use credit-based insurance scores to determine car insurance premiums. Although some states prohibit this, Ohio allows it.

By improving your credit score over time, you might qualify for lower rates. Comparing different providers and asking about special car insurance discounts also saves you money.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for Sports Cars

The cheapest car insurance companies for sports car drivers in Ohio are:

  • American Family: $446 per year
  • Nationwide: $668 per year

Progressive offers the highest-priced option at around $1,321 per year.

A sports car owner in Ohio pays about $44 more for car insurance than a Toyota Camry driver.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage Level:
Coverage Level:Full Coverage
American Family$446$37
Nationwide$668$56
Auto-Owners Insurance Co$784$65
Travelers$811$68
Farmers$847$71
GEICO$908$76
Allstate$1,062$89
Progressive$1,321$110

MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car in this study, but costs may differ depending on your particular car model. Sports, electric and luxury cars are generally more expensive to insure; otherwise, the model may not be a significant factor. However, this may not be true for all states.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for Military Drivers

American Family is the cheapest car insurance company for active-duty or military veterans, costing around $486 per year.

USAA is also among the cheapest insurers for military personnel in Ohio at around $632 per year. It tailors its car insurance policies to the needs of military personnel and their families across the U.S.

You could also consider GEICO, which offers military discounts that might lower the cost of auto insurance.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
American Family Insurance
  • Annual premium: $486
  • Cheapest rank: First out of 13 companies
  • No military discount, but still the most affordable in Ohio

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio by City

Car insurance rates vary significantly by location. Drivers in cities with higher crime or accident rates usually face higher premiums.

In Ohio, Akron offers the cheapest full coverage policy with Nationwide, at about $550 per year. Cincinnati and Toledo have the most expensive rates, with Nationwide charging around $667 annually.

AkronNationwide$550
CincinnatiNationwide$667
ClevelandNationwide$659
ColumbusNationwide$563
DaytonNationwide$608
ToledoNationwide$667

Car Insurance in Ohio: What You Need to Know

Most states require drivers to have bodily injury liability (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL) coverage. Ohio is no exception, and drivers are required to meet minimum limits to drive.

Ohio Car Insurance Requirements

Ohio law only requires you to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability. However, if you’re in an accident and don’t have enough insurance coverage to pay for the damage, you could be liable for those costs. To mitigate this financial burden, we suggest purchasing more liability coverage.

Furthermore, those required to secure an SR-22 because of significant violations may have to get more coverage.

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    Bodily injury liability

    Bodily injury liability covers you if you cause an accident. Ohio requires drivers to have $25,000 per person and $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident. Getting only the minimum bodily injury coverage may result in larger out-of-pocket expenses for medical bills, lost wages and other damage.

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    Property damage liability

    Property damage liability covers the costs of damage to other people's property caused by your car. The coverage limit is $25,000 per accident. Although purchasing a minimum coverage policy can save you money, it may not completely cover the damage if you're at fault in an accident. If this happens, you have to pay out of pocket.

MoneyGeek recommends getting $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident and $100,000 in property damage insurance per accident.

If you're financing or leasing your car, the company might require that you purchase comprehensive and collision insurance.

Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car from non-collision-related incidents, such as weather hazards, fire, theft and vandalism. Collision insurance covers damage when you collide with another vehicle or object.

Even if you think you don’t need these coverages, it’s still wise to get them if you have a valuable car.

Car Insurance Alternatives in Ohio

In Ohio, everyone who drives a motor vehicle must have insurance. If you're pulled over for speeding or any other reason, police officers will check the proof of insurance on your car. The same goes for accidents and inspections. Thus, there's no alternative to car insurance as of now.

However, for drivers who don’t own cars, non-owner car insurance might be worth looking into.

FAQ: Car Insurance in Ohio

When shopping for car insurance, consider both cost and quality. Here are answers to some common questions about car insurance in Ohio.

Which company offers the cheapest car insurance in Ohio?
Should you buy the cheapest car insurance available in Ohio?
Should you get uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in Ohio?
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About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.