The Best Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio for 2023

Shopping for auto insurance in Ohio? We’re here to help. Below is everything Ohio drivers need to know about insuring their cars, including information on car insurance discounts, licensing and insurance options, and Ohio’s minimum insurance requirements.

The good news for Ohio drivers is auto insurance rates in the state tend to be quite affordable, even for full coverage policies. According to recent data, Ohio is the 40th most expensive state for auto insurance, meaning there aren’t many places in the country where you can get cheaper premiums. Furthermore, Ohio auto insurance rates are around 36% lower than the national average across the United States. 

Of course, your individual rate will vary, depending upon factors such as your age, driving record, city of residence, and the type of vehicle you drive. Still, in general, if you maintain a solid driving record, you should be able to find affordable Ohio auto insurance. 

Start comparing Ohio car insurance options and get multiple car insurance quotes for your vehicle, or read the guide below to get you started on locating the cheapest Ohio car insurance. 

Ohio Car Insurance Requirements

It is illegal to drive any motor vehicle in Ohio without proof of insurance.  Each state sets its own insurance minimums, which you must meet to register your car.  In Ohio, the minimums are:

• $25,000 for injury or death to one person through Bodily Injury Liability
• An additional $50,000 for two or more people’s injury or death per accident.
• $25,000 per accident in Property Damage Liability

Uninsured motorist coverage, comprehensive coverage, medical payments, and collision insurance are not required in Ohio; however, there are benefits to having these additional coverages for your vehicle. Check out our car insurance guides if you want to learn more about your options.

If you’re at fault in an accident, the cost of medical bills or possible lawsuits is likely to exceed the minimum coverage levels mandated by law.  Keep this in mind when you’re shopping for car insurance; you may want to choose coverage that’s greater than the minimum. 

You can run into trouble if you only carry the minimum required liability insurance because people who are injured or suffer property damage could come after your assets as compensation for injuries and damages caused. Driving with only liability insurance also becomes problematic when you don’t have any protection for your own vehicle. If you’re at fault for an accident, your Ohio liability insurance may cover all of the damage to the other person’s car, but you’re left responsible for damages to your own vehicle. 

The only alternative to carrying Ohio auto insurance is to post collateral or obtain a security bond, by doing one of the following: 

• depositing $30,000 through the state treasurer and obtaining a certificate from the DMV, 
• showing that you have at least $60,000 in real estate equity, or 
• by obtaining a $30,000 bond through a surety or insurance company. 

Ohio Car Insurance Penalties

Approximately 11% percent of Ohio drivers do not carry liability insurance.  Ohio uses a random selection program to check whether drivers have insurance. Failure to insure your vehicle may lead to:

• License suspensions, which last until you get insurance for the first offense, one year for the second offense, and two years for the third offense and beyond 
• Loss of your license plates and registration, which comes with reinstatement fees of $100 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense, and $600 for the third offense and beyond
• The requirement to file an SR-22 for 3-5 years after reinstatement to maintain your license, meaning you must select high-risk insurance that is likely to be more costly 
• Impounding or forfeiture of your vehicle for 30-60 days.
• The requirement that you pay, out of pocket, any judgments against you for damage to others’ property or injury to other people if you are in an accident and you do not carry insurance 
• Loss of your license until you pay any judgments you owe, as well as the possibility of a two-year security suspension if you’re at fault in an accident when driving without insurance 

Avoid these penalties by selecting an Ohio auto insurance policy that meets your needs. There are plenty of affordable options, and you can find the cheapest company for your unique situation by taking a look at the Ohio auto insurance quotes below or just enter your zip code below to find the best rates for you. 

Cheapest Car Insurance for Teen Drivers in Ohio

Teen drivers are known for having higher than average auto insurance premiums because they don’t have enough experience on the road. Thankfully there are auto insurance companies that offer cheap car insurance for teens in Ohio. 

Clearcover offers the most affordable auto insurance for teens at $113/mo with Gainsco offering a similar rate of $119/mo. Then premiums increase a bit more with Elephant Insurance ($133/mo) followed by another rate jump to $169/mo with SafeAuto. Finally, Liberty Mutual rounds out the list with rates at $171/mo. 

Ultimately, the best way to find cheap car insurance for teen drivers in Ohio is to compare auto insurance rates. You can get started below, just enter your zip code and you’re 5 minutes away from the most affordable premiums available. 

Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Ohio

Young adult drivers can expect to pay higher insurance premiums than older adults, but less than younger teens. Despite paying more for insurance in general, there are some companies that offer lower rates than young drivers in Ohio. 

As seen in the table above, the auto insurance rates for young adult drivers in Ohio are slightly lower than what is seen among teenagers. For instance, the monthly premium at Gainsco is $28 lower for young adults compared to teens, and Clearcover’s monthly premiums are $20 lower. 

Gainsco offers insurance averaging $91/mo, followed by Clearcover at $93/mo and Direct Auto at $106/mo. Elephant ($117/mo), Liberty Mutual ($128/mo) and SafeAuto ($142/mo) round out the list. 

Cheapest Car Insurance for Retired Drivers in Ohio

Retired drivers tend to enjoy lower insurance premiums than younger drivers, given their level of experience on the road. But, keep in mind that some insurance companies will increase rates for retired drivers because they enter a high risk category due to age. These 3 auto insurance companies offer the cheapest car insurance rates. 

At just $51 a month, Liberty Mutual insurance is a steal for retired drivers, but rates at Clearcover ($60/mo) and DirectGeneral ($64/mo) are almost as low. 

To find the best rate for yourself as a retired driver, enter your zip code below to compare insurance rates from 60+ companies. It’s easy!

Cheapest Car Insurance for Married Drivers in Ohio

Married drivers often pay less for auto insurance because they’re seen as lower risk drivers compared to their non-married peers. Rates are also often lower for married couples because they can take advantage of discounts due to having multiple cars on their policy. 

The three cheapest insurance providers for married Ohioans all fall at just over $50 per month with Liberty Mutual ($53/mo), Clearcover ($54/mo) and Saeco ($54/mo). SafeAuto averages a bit more at $69/mo. 

Cheapest Car Insurance for Single Drivers in Ohio

Single drivers usually pay slightly higher premiums for car insurance than married drivers – but that doesn’t mean they can’t secure affordable insurance rates. 

Safeco offers the most affordable rates at $60/mo. Next we have MileAuto averaging $63/mo, Direct Auto at $65/mo and Liberty Mutual at $67/mo. Rates then jump into the $70 range with Clearcover before steadily increasing until it hits the $90 range with Kemper and Nationwide both at $92/mo.

Cheapest Car Insurance for Men vs. Women in Ohio

Men tend to pay more for car insurance. The rule of thumb stands in Ohio where women pay, on average, just $69/mo compared to men’s $75 monthly premium.

5 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for Men in Ohio

Gainsco and Safeco both offer monthly premiums under $60, making these rates significantly more affordable than the average of $75 that men pay per month for auto insurance. Next you have Direct Auto at $68/mo, followed by Liberty Mutual and Clearcover both averaging $70/mo. 

5 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for Women in Ohio

You’ll notice that auto insurance for women is slightly lower starting with Gainsco at $51/mo. Safeco then comes in at $58/mo followed by Mile Auto ($61/mo), Liberty Mutual ($63/mo) and Direct Auto ($63/mo).  

Cheapest Car Insurance for Ohio Drivers with Spotty Records

If you have accidents or tickets on your driving record insurance companies see you as a risky driver. How that will impact your insurance rate depends on the company. Some are more lenient and might not even raise your rates if you have these on your record, while you’ll see a major increase in your premiums with others. 

That’s why you always want to compare auto insurance rates to ensure you’re paying the best rate possible without sacrificing quality coverage. 

Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with a Ticket on their Record

Gainsco offers average rates starting at $50/mo. Rates then increase steadily with Mile Auto ($58/mo), Direct Auto ($70/mo) and Liberty Mutual ($73/mo). Finally, Clearcover rounds out the list at a monthly average premium of $88. 

Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with Multiple Tickets on their Record

If you have multiple tickets on your record, you can expect to pay a bit more for insurance – but that’s not always the case as you can see. Gainsco offers rates averaging $49/mo, which is actually a bit less than what they charge drivers with one ticket. Then you see Mile Auto at $69/mo, Direct Auto at $71/mo and Clearcover at $85/mo. Liberty Mutual rounds out the list with insurance premiums costing $94/mo. 

Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with an Accident on their Record

As with rates for drivers with multiple tickets, the premiums for those with an accident can vary greatly among different providers, ranging from $57 per month at Gainsco to almost double than Clearcover at $93 per month.

Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with Multiple Accidents

Gainsco is a clear winner for drivers with multiple accidents, offering a premium of $68 per month, compared to rates of over $100 per month through other insurance providers including SafeAuto ($109/mo), Liberty Mutual ($112/mo) and Clearcover ($121/mo). 

Cheapest Ohio State Minimum Coverage

Minimum liability insurance allows you to meet the state minimum requirements, per Ohio law. If you want minimum liability, it’s important to understand that you might not have enough coverage to pay for damages if you’re involved in an accident.

Minimum liability insurance rates in Ohio range from $36 per month at Safeco to $74 monthly at Dairyland. As you see rates more than double on our list of affordable state minimum coverage, so be sure to do your research when comparing auto insurance rates to find the best option for you. 

Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Ohio

If you want protection beyond the state minimum then full coverage is the option you need. You might also be required to maintain full coverage auto insurance if you have a lease or loan on your vehicle. 

For full coverage of your vehicle, Gainsco ($83/mo), Clearcover ($83/mo), and Direct General ($85/mo) offer the lowest rates all in the $80 range. Then rates increase to the $100 range with Liberty Mutual at $105/mo and SafeAuto at $123/mo.

The Best Rated Car Insurance Companies in Ohio

We have covered the cheapest Ohio auto insurance companies in Ohio, based upon several factors including age, marital status, and driving record, but the cheapest insurance company isn’t always the best. 

Other factors beyond price that can determine whether an auto insurance company is a solid choice are customer service, consumer ratings, and the ease of communicating with an agent. 

 Based upon these factors, some of the top Ohio auto insurance companies are as follows: 

• Auto-Owners: Ranked 4.6 out of 5, Auto-Owners offers a full coverage premium that runs at $1,035 per year, on average. It is a little more costly than the other top car insurances in Ohio, but it does rank high in customer satisfaction. 

• GEICO: A popular name in the auto insurance industry, Geico offers Ohio insurance with a rank at 4.6 out of 5 points. 

• Erie: While Erie ranks a little lower than the above companies, at 4.4 out of 5 points, it does offer affordable insurance.
• State Farm: Also earning 4.4 out of 5 points, State Farm is among the best-rated car insurance companies in Ohio.

The insurance companies above also score high on J.D. Power customer satisfaction rankings. 

Ohio Auto Insurance Discounts 

To begin with, Ohio car insurance tends to be affordable, but you can cut additional costs by taking advantage of auto insurance discounts. The specific discounts available to you will vary depending upon your insurance company, but here are some common car insurance discounts available for Ohio drivers:

• Good student discounts for full-time students who earn a 3.0 or higher GPA
• Discounts for going several years without filing a claim or being a “safe driver” 
• Programs that require drivers install a device into their vehicle to detect safe driving behaviors, such as soft breaking, which can lower rates 
• Discounts for paperless billing
• Reduced rates for bundling home and auto insurance
• Lower premiums for setting up automatic payments or paying in full

Sometimes, Ohio auto insurance companies may offer discounts that they do not necessarily advertise. For this reason, it is never a bad idea to call your insurance company or local agent to see if there are any auto insurance discounts you qualify for but aren’t currently receiving. In some cases, you may simply have to ask. 

The discounts for which you quality can change year-to-year. For example, you may not have qualified for a safe driving discount last year if you had a claim two years prior, but this year, if three years have passed since your previous claim, you may become eligible for a discount. With this possibility in mind, it is beneficial to call your insurance company once a year to update your policy and determine if any new auto insurance discounts apply to your account.  

Recent Ohio Car Insurance Rate Trends

Auto insurance rates in Ohio have varied drastically over the last 5 years. 

We’ve seen rates drop almost 30% from $101 in 2019 to $76 in 2020 and even more in 2021. This trend is quite impressive considering the state already ranks in the top ten for cheapest states to get car insurance.

Compare Car Insurance Rates by Ohio Cities

Where you live can also have a major impact on your auto insurance rate. Here’s a list of major cities in Ohio and the average monthly car insurance premium. 

Click on the name of each city in the table above to find detailed breakdowns on all the factors that go into calculating your monthly premium. Here, you’ll find all the information you need on how things like driving record, age, gender, vehicle make and model, and more will affect how much you pay for car insurance in each locality.

And if you want to jump right in and see how much you’ll pay, simply enter your ZIP code below and find your best rate in minutes!

Ohio Vehicle Registration Fees and Other Costs

If you’re in the market for a new or used car, you’ll need to budget for more than just the vehicle’s sticker price. You’ll be on the hook for basic DMV fees like title, license plate, and registration fees no matter where and how you purchase your new car, truck, or SUV, as well as buying a new car insurance policy for your car. But some buyers will find themselves with additional fees such as sales tax, documentation fees, personal property tax, emissions and inspection fees, hybrid and electric vehicle fees, lien recording fees, and a slew of other costs.

Check out Compare.com’s comprehensive vehicle costs breakdown to make sure you account for all the added fees you might be on the hook for when buying a car in Ohio.

Ohio Auto Insurance FAQs

What car insurance is required in Ohio?

Ohio law requires drivers to carry both Injury Liability Coverage and Property Damage Liability Coverage. The minimum requirements for liability insurance in Ohio are $25,000 per injury to one person in an accident, $50,000 to cover all people injured in any one accident, and $25,000 to cover property damage or destruction in any one accident, put more simply, Ohio requires 25/50/25 liability coverage, at a minimum, for all drivers in the state. 

How much is car insurance in Ohio?

Fortunately for Ohio automobile owners, the state boasts some of the lowest car insurance rates in the country, which means that it’s pretty easy to find cheap Ohio car insurance quotes. The cost of minimum liability insurance in Ohio averages $328 per month. Keep in mind that these rates can vary based upon the vehicle a person drives, the specific company they choose for Ohio auto insurance, and their driving record. 

What happens if you drive without car insurance in Ohio?

Ohio law requires drivers carry insurance and show proof of insurance when pulled over by a law enforcement officer. If you drive without insurance, you can run into numerous legal and financial problems. For instance, if you are in an accident and do not have insurance coverage, you will be liable for paying any judgments against you for damage to property or to cover medical costs from injury.  Your license will be suspended until you can pay off these judgments, and you may have a security suspension lasting two years or more. 

Does Ohio require full coverage insurance?

Ohio law does not require full coverage insurance. It simply requires drivers to carry liability coverage for injury and property damage in the amounts of $25,000 per injury to any single person, $50,000 for injury in any single accident, and $25,000 to cover property damage or destruction in an accident. While full coverage insurance is not required in Ohio, the state does recommend that drivers consider carrying more than minimum liability insurance because if they cause damage that exceeds the value of their minimum liability coverage, the person at-fault could be required to give up some of their assets to compensate the other party. 

Can you get car insurance without a license in Ohio?

While you can get insurance without a license in Ohio, it is likely more costly than if you have a license. Not having a driver’s license can make you appear rather risky to Ohio insurance companies, especially if you have had your license suspended due to an incident like a DUI or multiple traffic infractions. You may find that some insurance companies even refuse to cover you because you are too much of a risk. 

Methodology

All data referenced in this article comes from a combination of proprietary data — which is aggregated from millions of real customer quotes through Compare.com — and additional data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant.