Best Car Insurance in Ohio
Last Updated on September 8, 2023
Drivers in Ohio must have car insurance to legally drive on public roads. Fortunately, Ohio has some of the cheapest car insurance premiums in the United States.
In fact, Ohio often has one of the top five cheapest average car insurance prices in the country. In some years, Ohio is the cheapest state in America for car insurance.
The average driver in Ohio pays roughly $993 per year for full coverage car insurance. However, rates vary widely based on several factors. Drivers in Ohio’s biggest cities tend to pay the highest rates for car insurance, while drivers in rural areas of the state pay less.
Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about car insurance in Ohio.
Table of Contents
- Best Auto Insurance Companies in Ohio
- Ohio Auto Insurance Requirements
- Driving Without Insurance in Ohio
- Car Insurance in Ohio with a DUI
- Car Insurance in Ohio with At-Fault Accidents
- Car Insurance in Ohio with Speeding Tickets
- Car Insurance in Ohio for Young Drivers
- Car Insurance in Ohio with Poor Credit
- SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Ohio
Some car insurance companies offer better coverage at a lower price in Ohio than others. Below, we’ve ranked the best car insurance companies in Ohio in terms of price, claims satisfaction, and overall value.
1) USAA
If you qualify for membership, USAA is one of the top-rated car insurance companies in Ohio for both price and claims satisfaction. It’s one of the few car insurance companies in Ohio that offers low prices without sacrificing customer service or claims satisfaction. The average driver in Ohio pays just $678 per year for full coverage car insurance with USAA.
| USAA | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288 |
| Phone Number | 1-210-531-USAA |
| Website URL | http://www.usaa.com/ |
2) GEICO
GEICO tends to offer the cheapest car insurance premiums in most states, and Ohio is no exception. GEICO combines decent claims satisfaction with some of the lowest prices in the state. Expect to pay approximately $748 per year for car insurance with GEICO in Ohio.
| GEICO | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 5260 Western Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-861-8380 |
| Website URL | https://www.geico.com/ |
3) Erie Insurance
Although not available nationwide, Erie Insurance is well-rated throughout its covered states, including Ohio. Erie Insurance combines good claims satisfaction with low to average pricing, making it a good-value option for drivers across Ohio. Expect to pay approximately $821 per year with Erie Insurance in Ohio.
| Erie | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 100 Erie Insurance Place Erie, PA 16530 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-458-0811 |
| Website URL | https://www.erieinsurance.com/ |
4) Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners isn’t among the top 10 biggest car insurance companies in the United States, although the company does have a particularly strong presence in the north-central region, including Ohio. Auto-Owners offers competitive pricing and great coverage throughout Ohio, with drivers paying approximately $1,098 per year for full coverage car insurance.
| Auto-Owners | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 6101 Anacapri Blvd. Lansing MI, 48917 |
| Phone Number | 1-517-323-1200 |
| Website URL | https://www.auto-owners.com/ |
5) Westfield
Westfield is an Ohio-headquartered insurance company that offers popular coverage throughout the state. Westfield doesn’t offer the extremely low prices of car insurance providers ranked higher on this list, but the company emphasizes car insurance policies packed with bonuses (like roadside assistance) and strong claims satisfaction. Expect to pay approximately $1,091 per year.
| Westfield Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | P.O.Box 5001 Westfield Center, OH 44251 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-243-0210 |
| Website URL | https://www.westfieldinsurance.com/ |
6) Grange Insurance:
Grange Insurance, like Westfield, is an Ohio-based company. The company isn’t well-known outside the North Central region, although it’s particularly popular for drivers across Ohio. Grange is known for offering powerful full coverage plans with full glass repair, rental car reimbursement, gap coverage, and other bonuses – something not all Ohio insurers offer. The average driver pays approximately $1,102 per year with Grange Insurance.
| Grange Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 671 South High Street Columbus, Ohio 43206 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-399-3797 |
| Website URL | https://www.grangeinsurance.com/ |
7) Cincinnati Insurance:
Appropriately, Cincinnati Insurance is one of the best-rated and most popular car insurance companies in Ohio. The locally-based company has a strong presence across the state while offering some of the cheapest prices available. The average driver in Ohio pays $997 per year for car insurance with Cincinnati Insurance.
| Cincinnati Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 6200 S. Gilmore Road Fairfield, OH 45014 |
| Phone Number | 1-888-242-0888 |
| Website URL | https://www.cinfin.com/ |
8) State Farm:
As one of America’s largest and best-known insurance companies, State Farm is a popular option in most states. Ohio drivers pay roughly $1,049 per year for full coverage car insurance with State Farm, making it a relatively affordable option for urban and rural drivers in Ohio.
| State Farm | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 1 State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Phone Number | 1-309-766-2311 |
| Website URL | https://www.statefarm.com/ |
9) Allstate:
Allstate, like State Farm, is a nationwide car insurance provider with millions of policies across the country. Allstate offers good claims satisfaction to drivers across Ohio, and the company is particularly popular among older and more experienced drivers willing to pay a little more for better coverage. The average Ohio driver pays roughly $1,125 per year with Allstate.
| Allstate | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, IL 60062 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-255-7828 |
| Website URL | https://www.allstate.com/ |
10) Nationwide:
Nationwide is a large and well-known insurance company that beats many competing insurance companies in Ohio for price and value. The insurance company offers particularly competitive rates to drivers with bad credit or bad accident history. Nationwide charges drivers roughly $1,297 per year for car insurance across Ohio.
| Nationwide | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | One Nationwide Plaza Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Phone Number | 1-877-669-6877 |
| Website URL | https://www.nationwide.com/ |
Ohio Insurance Requirements
The state of Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires drivers to have insurance to legally drive on public roads anywhere in the state.
In Ohio, it’s illegal to drive any motor vehicle without insurance, and it’s illegal for a vehicle owner to allow someone else to drive their vehicle without insurance. You must present proof of insurance at a traffic stop, accident scene, or vehicle inspection.
Overall, Ohio’s minimum car insurance requirements are similar to other states, with drivers requiring $25,000 of $50,000 of liability coverage or more:
- $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage for the injury/death of one person
- $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage for the injury/death of two or more people
- $25,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident
Typically, a minimum insurance policy in Ohio would be expressed as a 25/50/25 policy.
Driving without Insurance in Ohio
It is illegal to drive without insurance in Ohio. If you are caught driving without insurance, then you could face a license suspension, fees, and vehicle impoundment, among other penalties.
There are two ways to get caught driving without insurance in Ohio. If you can’t provide proof of insurance at the request of a police officer, or if the Ohio BMV flags you in the system, then you could be charged with driving without insurance.
If you have insurance at the time of the ticket but were unable to prove it, then the state should dismiss the charge. If you did not have insurance at the time of conviction, however, then you will face further penalties based on whether it’s your first, second, or third and subsequent offense.
First Offense: You must pay a $160 restoration fee to reinstate vehicle registration and license plates, and your registration and license plates are confiscated for 30 days. Your license is suspended until all requirements are met, and the court can impose additional penalties.
Second Offense: You must pay a $360 restoration fee to reinstate vehicle registration and license plates, and your registration and license plates are confiscated for 60 days. Your license is suspended for one full year, although the court may grant limited driving privileges after a 15 day period. The court may impose additional fines.
Third Offenses and Beyond: You must pay a $660 restoration fee to reinstate vehicle registration and license plates. Your license is suspended for two years, although the court may grant limited driving privileges after 30 days. The court may impose additional fines.
Car Insurance in Ohio with DUI
Getting a DUI in Ohio will raise car insurance rates. Drivers with DUI or DWI convictions in Ohio are considered high-risk drivers to insure.
Fortunately, some car insurance companies welcome drivers with DUIs, while others charge excessively high rates. The best car insurance companies in Ohio for drivers with a DUI include:
- Grange: $978 per year
- Erie: $1,059 per year
- GEICO: $1,066 per year
- Cincinnati: $1,126 per year
- Auto-Owners: $1,201 per year
The typical car insurance company in Ohio raises rates by 40 to 60% after your first DUI. For second and subsequent offenses, you might pay 80% higher insurance premiums – or even have your policy canceled.
Car Insurance in Ohio with At-Fault Accidents
If you cause an at-fault accident in Ohio, then you will pay higher rates for car insurance. A single at-fault accident in Ohio will raise rates by 30% to 50%. For second at-fault accidents within a 3 to 7 year period, you could pay 80% or higher rates for car insurance – or even have your policy canceled entirely.
Some insurance companies treat at-fault accidents differently than others. The best car insurance companies in Ohio for drivers with an at-fault accident include:
- USAA: $989 per year
- Erie: $1,021 per year
- GEICO: $1,035 per year
- State Farm: $1,049 per year
- Auto-Owners: $1,121 per year
Car Insurance in Ohio with Speeding Tickets
Most insurance companies in Ohio treat speeding tickets like other violations: you will pay higher insurance premiums after a speeding ticket because it’s considered an at-fault incident. You were caught speeding, and you are considered a higher-risk driver than someone who was not caught speeding.
Fortunately, not all insurance companies treat your first speeding ticket as a serious offense. If you have one or more speeding tickets in Ohio, consider requesting a quote from one of the following insurers:
- USAA: $891 per year
- Grange: $891 per year
- Cincinnati Insurance: $989 per year
- GEICO: $991 per year
- Auto Owners: $1,001 per year
Car Insurance in Ohio for Young Drivers
Young drivers in Ohio pay higher rates for car insurance than older, more experienced drivers. Some insurance companies welcome young drivers in Ohio, while other insurers charge exorbitantly high rates.
The best car insurance providers for young drivers in Ohio include:
- Grange: $901 per year
- GEICO: $923 per year
- Erie: $1,069 per year
- Safeco: $1,201 per year
- Auto-Owners: $1,321 per year
All prices above are based on minimum liability coverage in Ohio – not full coverage. Full coverage policies cost $2,500 per year or more for young drivers in Ohio, which is why many young drivers opt for minimum liability coverage.
Car Insurance in Ohio with Poor Credit
Ohio insurance companies are permitted to consider your credit score when calculating premiums. Drivers with a low credit score are statistically riskier to insure than drivers with a high credit score.
However, insurance companies weigh credit scores differently, with some insurance companies putting less of an emphasis on credit scores than others:
- Grange: $421 per year
- GEICO: $598 per year
- Cincinnati: $702 per year
- Erie: $801 per year
- Allstate: $912 per year
All prices above are based on minimum liability coverage (not full coverage). As a driver with low credit, full coverage car insurance policies could be prohibitively expensive, with some Ohio drivers paying $3,000 or more per year for full coverage car insurance in Ohio.
SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
Drivers in Ohio may need to obtain SR-22 insurance or SR-22 bonds in various situations. If you were caught driving without insurance in Ohio, or if you were convicted of driving under the influence, then you may need to obtain SR-22 insurance.
SR-22 insurance in Ohio is not technically insurance; it’s a certificate from your insurance company verifying you have insurance.
Most Ohio insurance companies offer SR-22 insurance certificates. Contact your insurer or compare SR-22 insurance quotes online. You need to pay a one-time fee of $20 to file the SR-22 certificate. As a higher-risk driver, you may pay higher rates than a lower-risk driver. However, you should be able to obtain reasonably-priced SR-22 insurance even as a higher-risk driver.
To qualify for SR-22 insurance, the Ohio BMV requires you to carry car insurance that meets or exceeds the state’s minimum liability insurance requirements. You must also have a financial responsibility bond.
Typically, drivers in Ohio must carry an SR-22 certificate for 3 to 5 years. Beyond that window, you can obtain normal car insurance.
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Ohio
The best way to find good car insurance in Ohio is to compare quotes online today. Enter your ZIP code online, then check prices from insurance companies in your area.
Some Ohio insurance companies specialize in insuring drivers in cities like Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Others focus on drivers in rural areas of the state. By comparing quotes from multiple Ohio car insurance companies, you can ensure you’re paying the lowest possible rates for car insurance in Ohio.
