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The Best Cheap Ohio Car Insurance for 2024

Updated
Kailey Hagen
By: Kailey Hagen

Our Insurance Expert

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Car insurance is a must-have for all drivers, but it gets expensive quickly. While Ohio auto insurance rates typically fall below the national average, it depends on which insurer you go with. Here's a closer look at some of the best car insurance companies in Ohio for various driver profiles.

  • Cheapest for typical drivers: Geico
  • Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets: Geico
  • Cheapest for young drivers: USAA
  • Cheapest for senior drivers: Geico
  • Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage: USAA

Cheapest for typical drivers

Geico offers the cheapest car insurance in Ohio for typical drivers, with an average rate of $864. This is based on the combined profiles of a 35-year-old male and 35-year-old female driver, both with clean driving records.

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Best for Ohio drivers with a clean driving recordGeico
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Other companies that offer low-cost car insurance in Ohio include:

  • Allied Insurance, which charges an average of $927 annually
  • USAA, with an average annual rate of $987

Cheapest for drivers with prior speeding tickets

Drivers with a single speeding ticket can pay about $500 less than the state average by going with Geico. It only charges these drivers about $1,115 per year compared to the state average of $1,626 per year.

Other Ohio auto insurance companies worth a look for drivers with speeding tickets include:

  • State Farm, which offers drivers with speeding tickets an average rate of $1,214 per year
  • Allied P&C, where drivers with a single speeding ticket pay about $1,244 per year on average

Cheapest for young drivers

Young drivers have some of the least affordable car insurance in Ohio, paying about $3,573 annually on average. But USAA's teen and young drivers only pay about $2,002 on average. This is based on the profile of an 18-year-old male driver with a clean driving record.

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Best for Ohio drivers with prior accidentsUSAA
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Teens should also consider the following Ohio auto insurance providers:

  • Geico, which charges teen drivers about $2,693 per year annually
  • American Family, which offers an average annual premium of $2,757 to teen drivers

Cheapest for senior drivers

Senior drivers can get cheap auto insurance in Ohio from Geico, with an average rate of $822.

Drivers 65 and up should also look into these insurers:

  • Allied P&C, which has an average annual premium of $829 for senior drivers
  • USAA, which charges seniors $937 per year on average

Cheapest for drivers looking for minimum coverage

With USAA, it's possible to land cheap liability coverage for an average of $274 per year. Because USAA is available only to members of the military and their families, you may want to take a look at these other companies offering some of the cheapest car insurance in Ohio:

  • Geico, which charges about $325 per year for Ohio minimum car insurance
  • Progressive, which charges about $347 for minimum car insurance in Ohio

Average car insurance cost in Ohio compared to the national average

Ohio drivers are fortunate that their average annual car insurance premium of $1,733 is well below the national average of $2,875. However, as the rates above show, it's possible to score an even lower rate by choosing the best car insurance in Ohio for a driver's situation.

AVERAGE RATE CATEGORY OHIO NATIONAL AVERAGE
Overall $1,733 $2,875
Young drivers $3,643 $6,087
1 accident on driving record $1,958 $3,226
1 speeding ticket on driving record $1,721 $2,840
Data source: Quadrant data.

Ohio auto insurance laws

Here are some Ohio car insurance laws all drivers should be aware of.

Ohio is an at-fault state

Ohio is an at-fault auto insurance state, which means that in an accident, the driver who is found to be at fault is responsible for paying the medical bills for themselves and the other driver. This is why it's crucial to purchase sufficient liability coverage, as accidents can quickly become expensive.

Consequences for driving without insurance in Ohio

Drivers who are unable to present proof of Ohio auto insurance could face the following penalties:

  • Losing their driver's license, possibly for up to two years for repeat offenders
  • Losing their license plates or vehicle registration
  • Fines of up to $600
  • Requirement to maintain high-risk auto insurance, which is more expensive than regular auto insurance

Ohio minimum coverage requirements

All drivers must have at least the following Ohio minimum auto insurance.

Bodily injury liability

Drivers must have at least the following bodily injury liability coverage:

  • $25,000 per person
  • $50,000 per accident

Property damage liability

In addition, drivers must have at least $25,000 of property damage liability coverage to pay for damage to vehicles and other personal property they damage in a crash.

How to get cheap auto insurance in Ohio

Here are a few tips on how to score the cheapest car insurance in Ohio:

  • Compare rates from multiple providers. The answer to the question "How much is car insurance in Ohio?" varies dramatically depending on each driver's record, vehicle, and location, among other factors. Comparing car insurance quotes from multiple providers is the only way to see which can offer the most affordable rate.
  • Raise your deductible. Deductibles are the out-of-pocket cost you pay before the insurer will pay out the rest of your claim. A higher deductible usually translates to a lower premium. As long as you save for that deductible in an emergency fund, a claim shouldn't affect your financial security at all.
  • Claim every discount you can. Each insurer offers its own selection of discounts on car insurance, which can bring qualifying drivers' car insurance rates down quite a bit. Check with the insurer if you're unsure which discounts are available to you.

Other things to consider when looking for car insurance in Ohio

Here are some other things to bear in mind when searching for Ohio auto insurance.

Ohio sees a lot of car thefts each year

There were 18,672 car thefts reported in the state of Ohio in 2019, according to the Insurance Information Institute. That's the 10th-highest rate of auto theft in the country. Theft actually isn't covered under state minimum insurance; you need comprehensive coverage. It's definitely something to consider adding to your policy, especially if you live in an area known for frequent thefts.

13% of Ohio drivers are uninsured

Though illegal, about 13% of Ohio drivers don't have insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. While this percentage isn't that high compared to some other states, it's still not unreasonable to think you could wind up in an accident with an uninsured driver. That's why it's wise to have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This protects drivers if they're hit by a driver who doesn't have insurance or doesn't have enough car insurance coverage to pay the full cost of the accident.

FAQs

  • With an average annual rate of $1,733, the cost of Ohio auto insurance is approximately 40% lower than the national average.

  • Basic, minimum coverage (liability only) can be purchased by military members and their families for less than $300 a year. For all others with a clean driving record, a policy can be purchased for as little as $325 per year ($27 per month).

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