Affordable Car Insurance in Ohio
You're a smart, savvy shopper. We get that. You don't visit the airport when you need to book a trip, you use TripAdvisor.com or Expedia.com. Car insurance is no different. We'll help you quickly figure out who offers the best car insurance in Ohio for your smart, savvy self.
We are carrier-neutral because our customer is you. Have no fear of the unknown after reviewing the data points provided here, especially when purchasing car insurance for the first time. You will be armed and prosperous! And then you can get on with your life.
Carriers look at multiple variables when determining your insurance rate. Your age, location, driving history, and state requirements are all factors in determining the price you pay. We used our in-house reporting to determine the companies that offer the cheapest car insurance rates in Ohio. NatGen PPA came in with the lowest rate currently available in Ohio at $78.20 per month. Followed by Dairyland Broadform at $90.44 per month and Liberty Mutual at $139.00 per month.
Lowest Rate NatGen PPA
$78.20
Highest Rate NatGen Custom 360
$263.31
| Rank | Company | Avg monthly rate |
|---|
| 1 | NatGen PPA | $78.20 / month |
| 2 | Dairyland Broadform | $90.44 / month |
| 3 | Liberty Mutual | $139.00 / month |
| 4 | Safeco | $148.00 / month |
| 5 | Dairyland Auto | $219.64 / month |
| 6 | NatGen Custom 360 | $263.31 / month |
If you are lucky enough to live in one of these cities you are likely paying some of the lowest car insurance rates available in Ohio. According to our data, Fremont comes in at the cheapest at only $74.86 per month. Other cities that made the top 10 list include New Philadelphia at $75.68 per month, Coshocton at $80.53 per month, and Greenville at $80.84 per month.
| Rank | City | Avg monthly rate |
|---|
| 1 | Fremont, OH | $74.86 / month |
| 2 | New Philadelphia, OH | $75.68 / month |
| 3 | Coshocton, OH | $80.53 / month |
| 4 | Greenville, OH | $80.84 / month |
| 5 | Wooster, OH | $81.10 / month |
| 6 | Cambridge, OH | $81.89 / month |
| 7 | Piqua , OH | $81.92 / month |
| 8 | Ashland, OH | $82.01 / month |
| 9 | Portsmouth , OH | $82.07 / month |
| 10 | Marion, OH | $82.52 / month |
These top 10 cities ranked as the most expensive places in Ohio for car insurance. Location is a big factor when determining the price you pay for car insurance and these cities came in at the top. Garfield Heights is the most expensive city in Ohio at $148.13 per month. Second and third place goes to Maple Heights at $134.23 per month and Reynoldsburg at $128.36 per month.
| Rank | City | Avg monthly rate |
|---|
| 1 | Garfield Heights , OH | $148.13 / month |
| 2 | Maple Heights , OH | $134.23 / month |
| 3 | Reynoldsburg , OH | $128.36 / month |
| 4 | Canal Winchester , OH | $125.88 / month |
| 5 | Bedford , OH | $124.89 / month |
| 6 | Cleveland , OH | $121.41 / month |
| 7 | Pickerington , OH | $119.94 / month |
| 8 | Columbus , OH | $119.34 / month |
| 9 | Cincinnati , OH | $119.25 / month |
| 10 | Euclid , OH | $118.86 / month |
Rates can vary wildly from company to company. Here is a quick look at a few rates from some of the top car insurance companies in Ohio.
SmartFinancial helps thousands of drivers every day find and compare the best car insurance rates available. Here is a list of some recent quotes that we recently found for drivers in Ohio.
The statistics listed on this page are from our own in house reporting. We track and record quotes that carriers have provided based on various criteria. The rates and averages shown on this page should only be used as an estimate.
Every state requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability coverage. Ohio drivers are required to carry liability insurance to pay for damages and injuries inflicted on someone else in an auto accident.
$25,000
Maximum payment for serious injury or death to a single person
$50,000
Coverage for multiple people injured in a single accident
$25,000
Maximum payment for all damaged property in an accident caused by you
You like to keep it simple, and so do we! Just don't go too minimalist and skip the auto insurance altogether (see our FAQ for more information). In Ohio, you are legally required to obtain something called liability insurance. This is for your protection if you are deemed "at fault" in an accident that causes injury and lost wages to another driver or passengers in another vehicle. Liability coverage pays up to the amounts listed below. It also pays for damages to the other driver's vehicle. Trust us, you'd want this coverage even if it wasn't legally required!
Since Ohio is a "fault" or "tort" state, your carrier will pay for accident damages only once you are found responsible for causing the accident. You can also be sued by the other driver if found at fault. Consider this: $7,500 is the maximum payment for property damage but you collide with a $20,000 vehicle. If you are found at fault, you are on the hook for any damages beyond $7,500. Between this and the high cost of medical care, we recommend you carry more than the minimum required coverage!
Since you are smart and savvy, you should know that there are instances where your lender will require you to carry one of the optional coverages listed below (typically collision and comprehensive).
- Comprehensive
- Collision
- Loan/Lease Payoff
- Medical and Funeral Services
- Rental Car Reimbursement
- Roadside Assistance
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury
- Uninsured Motorist Property Damage
- Windshield Replacement
Did you know? Some of the lowest insurance rates in the country are found in Ohio! Still, it's important to shop around for the best rate.
- Don't drink or drug and drive
- Don't cell phone and drive
- Don't anything-that-might-cause-distracted-driving and drive
Driving in Ohio with a blood alcohol content (including that from medications) at or below the set limits WILL put you at risk of being arrested for driving under the influence. The consequences are real, and they are as harsh as you would suspect. Visit our FAQ to learn the limits and possible consequences of a DUI conviction or refusal to submit a chemical test.
Texting and driving in Ohio can also have extreme consequences. Watch this video with your family to understand that what we often think is just a safe, quick glance could mean permanent damage, our own death or even homicide. The fact is, a one-second glance away from the road is what the Journal of Adolescent Health has deemed safe, but the average text message takes five seconds. You wouldn't drink and drive, so don't text and drive either.
While it might seem like all of these driving laws go without saying, the statistics tell us otherwise. SmartFinancial encourages you to avoid all non-driving activities while driving. Keep yourself, your passengers and other drivers safe by limiting your road activities strictly to driving while driving.
Until children reach 4 years of age and 40 pounds, Ohio law requires that they are secured in a car seat appropriate for their size. For infants up to 1-year-old or 20 pounds, it should be a rear-facing car seat, which is then followed by a forward-facing car seat.
Children who are over 4 years and 40 pounds may use a booster seat. This is required until the child reaches 8 years of age and a height of 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
Once a child reaches this age and height, he or she may switch over to the vehicle's seat belts. Keep in mind that kids are always safest in the back seat in the event of an accident or airbag deployment.
It's risky to leave young children alone in a car, van, SUV, or truck. In addition to concerns about self-injury or victimization by a stranger, interior temperatures can reach dangerous highs or lows rapidly.
For example, on a warm or hot day (or even a temperate day if the vehicle's in sunlight), temperatures inside can climb as much as 30 degrees in as many minutes, far exceeding the outdoor temperature. This easily leads to heatstroke, brain damage, and death in a young child, as well as a pet. Kids and animals don't regulate their body temperature as effectively or efficiently as teens and adults, and of course, they're unable to remove themselves from dangerous situations.
Ohio doesn't have a specific law for this concern. However, if a young child suffers due to being left unattended in a vehicle, the parent, guardian, or caregiver can be held accountable for negligence and child endangerment.
313
Fatal Accidents Testing Positive for Drug Involvement in Ohio
299,040
Annual Distracted Driving Related Crashes in Ohio
15
Years in Ohio Prison for Vehicular Homicide Caused by a Drunk Driver
With more than 262,851 miles of scenic road to cover, there is a large amount of driving being done in Ohio. Here's how you can do your part to "drive green."
Skip the emissions inspections if your vehicle is powered exclusively by electricity, propane, or natural gas (after your first inspection)! Don't forget to ask your insurance company of choice if they offer any green car discounts.
For more information on Ohio's efforts (and nationwide efforts) to promote hybrid and electric vehicles, visit www.ncsl.org.
Yes and, unfortunately, car insurance companies in your state do not have to reveal to you how they are going about setting your rate. Here are a few life events and other things you can do to keep your rate down.
It is always best to ask your selected car insurance company about good-driver and other discounts to obtain cheap auto insurance in Ohio! Possible discounts include:
- Good student
- Multi-car
- Homeowner's
- Safety features
- Students with good grades
- Ownership/title
- Good driver
- Anti-theft
Yes! Getting pulled over in Ohio is slightly less panicky since you don't have to locate the hard copy of your insurance card for the officer. BUT, be mindful of unlocking your phone to access your digital insurance card before the officer has determined whether you were cell-phoning and driving!
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from damage caused by other drivers without insurance and hit-and-runs. It is an optional coverage in Ohio!
The Ohio Department of Public Safety states possible risks as vehicle registration and license plates impounded, driver's license and registration suspension, and your vehicle may be immobilized or forfeited. Liability insurance is a minimum requirement in Ohio (and most others), so be sure to have coverage at all times!
It is illegal for an individual to operate a motor vehicle in Ohio with the following BAC percentages:
- .08%+ @ 21 years old or older
- .04%+ for commercial vehicle drivers
- .01%+ @ < 21 years old
Your license will be confiscated immediately and suspended for one to five years if you refuse to take a blood-alcohol test.
ou can elect to choose a qualified person of your choice to administer the test again after being conducted by the police officer.
For more information on Ohio's OVI (operating a vehicle while impaired) laws, refer to their Motor Vehicle Laws.
If convicted of an OVI, say goodbye to being financially savvy, and quite possibly, to your freedom. If arrested, you'll face varying degrees of jail time, fines of up to $10,500, driver's license suspensions, community service, OVI school, and reinstatement requirements. The financial obligations extend beyond the OVI ticket to court costs, attorney fees, higher insurance rates, SR-22 filing and the installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) to serve as a breathalyzer test each time you start your vehicle.
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from damage caused by other drivers without insurance and hit-and-runs. It is optional coverage!
