
On average, full coverage in Ohio costs $117 monthly and minimum coverage is $42 monthly.
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As an at-fault state, Ohio requires that the responsible driver pay for damages and injuries in an accident. Good news for drivers: Ohio car insurance is much more affordable compared to other states. As the state that ranks fourth for cheapest premiums, Ohio’s rates are 42 percent lower than the national average. When it comes to determining your auto insurance premium, Ohio providers consider your age, gender, driving history, location, and credit score. Keep reading to find out about the cost of car insurance in Ohio and ways to make premiums even more affordable.
In the Buckeye State, car insurance is $1,401 for full coverage and $504 for minimum coverage.
Coverage level | Average annual rate in Ohio | Average annual rate in the U.S. | Ohio difference from national average |
---|---|---|---|
Full | $1,401 | $2,399 | -42% |
Minimum | $504 | $635 | -21% |
You’ll pay less on average in Ohio due to lower population density and a larger number of providers offering car insurance.
The largest cities in Ohio have the highest premiums, including Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Smaller, less dense cities, like Canton and Lorrain, have lower car insurance rates. Even if you live in a metropolitan area like Cleveland, which has the highest rates of any Ohio city, you’ll still pay 25 percent less than the national average.
City | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Cleveland | $1,785 |
Cincinnati | $1,730 |
Columbus | $1,645 |
Toledo | $1,605 |
Akron | $1,540 |
Youngstown | $1,532 |
Hamilton | $1,470 |
Dayton | $1,454 |
Canton | $1,424 |
Lorain | $1,322 |
Like most states, policies for teen drivers in Ohio cost compared to other age groups.
Age | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
16 | $4,666 |
18 | $4,626 |
20s | $3,010 |
30s | $1,607 |
40s | $1,510 |
50s | $1,396 |
60s | $1,353 |
70s | $1,552 |
In Ohio, insurers can determine car insurance rates based on sex. The difference is most apparent with teen drivers:
Gender | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Male teen | $4,879 |
Female teen | $4,332 |
Drivers who are considered high-risk (due to traffic violations or poor credit) tend to pay more for their car insurance than drivers with a clean record.
Violation | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Clean driving record | $1,401 |
At-fault accident | $1,756 |
Speeding ticket | $1,771 |
DUI | $2,388 |
Poor credit | $2,471 |
If you have had a recent accident or a DUI, explore high-risk insurance options to find protective policies at affordable rates.
Insurance rates vary widely among providers. Here are the average costs we found from several major insurance companies in Ohio:
Company | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|
Allstate | $2,033 |
Erie | $1,141 |
GEICO | $1,101 |
Nationwide | $1,249 |
Progressive | $1,244 |
State Farm | $1,602 |
USAA | $980 |
GEICO, Erie, and USAA tend to have the cheapest average rates in Ohio. USAA is only available to military members, veterans, and their families; below, an asterisk denotes categories in which USAA is cheaper.
Demographic | Cheapest company | Average annual cost of car insurance |
---|---|---|
Full coverage | GEICO* | $1,101 |
Minimum coverage | Erie* | $312 |
Poor credit | GEICO | $1,512 |
Teens | Erie | $3,018 |
Speeding ticket | Erie* | $1,174 |
Accident | Erie | $1,411 |
DUI | Erie | $1,450 |
Good drivers | GEICO* | $1,101 |
*USAA has the cheapest rates, but is only offered to military families
You can save on your annual premium by opting for Ohio’s required liability coverage only. Explore some other ways to save money each month on your auto insurance below:
According to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the minimum mandatory car insurance coverages are the following:1
As an at-fault state, Ohio mandates that the driver who causes an accident pay for resulting damages and injuries to the other party. This system differs from no-fault states like Florida, where each party’s insurance covers their own losses, regardless of fault. Ohio drivers must have liability insurance to cover damages they might cause. This is crucial since liability insurance pays for the other party’s expenses, not your own.
Ohio legislation requires drivers to have an SR-22 form following a severe accident, traffic violation, or license suspension. An SR-22 is a certificate of responsibility verifying a driver has liability insurance. Drivers must also carry an SR-22 if they fail to show proof of insurance at a traffic stop or accident in Ohio.2
To reinstate your driver’s license after failing to show proof of insurance, you must carry an SR-22 form for a specific period, depending on your offense number. You must also pay a reinstatement fee.
Ohio drivers generally pay less than the national average, boasting one of the lowest premiums in the country. Car insurance policies for men and women fall around the same averages. Meanwhile, teens and drivers with a DUI can expect to pay the most. While car insurance is cheaper in the Buckeye State, shop around and compare quotes to get the best rates.
We review average rates in Ohio for full and minimum coverage for good drivers with good credit as well as other driver profiles. Full coverage averages use the following limits:
Car insurance rates in Ohio are actually significantly lower than countrywide rates. The average full coverage policy in Ohio is $1,401 per year, while the nationwide average is $2,399 per year. For minimum coverage policies, Ohio drivers pay about $504 per year, while the national average is $635 per year.
Our research shows that USAA offers the cheapest rates in Ohio, at $980 per year on average for full coverage. For those not affiliated with the military, GEICO’s rates are comparable, at $1,101 per year for full coverage.
Yes, $500 per month is considered expensive for car insurance. In Ohio, drivers pay an average of $117 monthly for full coverage and $42 monthly for minimum coverage. $500 per month translates to $6,000 per year, which is 328 percent more expensive than the average full coverage policy in the Buckeye State.
No. Ohio is an at-fault state. Instead, Ohio operates under an at-fault system, meaning the driver found to be at fault for an accident is liable for the damages and medical costs sustained by the other party.
Driving without auto insurance in Ohio can lead to serious consequences, including a noncompliance license suspension for up to two years, depending on the number of offenses.
Personal injury protection, or PIP, insurance is neither required nor offered in Ohio. Instead, auto insurance providers in Ohio offer MedPay, or medical payments insurance, as optional coverage to cover the expenses from injuries and medical bills after an accident.
Mandatory Insurance. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. (2024).
https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-mandatory-insurance.aspx
Suspensions & Reinstatements. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. (2024).
https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/susp-ins-noncomply.aspx