AutoInsurance.com is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines.
Find Your Perfect Policy:877-817-3636
Last updated: January 16, 2026

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Ohio in 2026

On average, full coverage in Ohio costs $147 monthly and minimum coverage is $47 monthly.

Document with check mark

Get quotes from providers in your area

Zip Code Icon
Car insurance reviews
Piggy bank icon
Maximize savings on your auto insurance
Zip Code Icon

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 has some of the cheapest premiums, Ohio’s rates are 25 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.

How much is car insurance in Ohio?

In the Buckeye State, car insurance is $1,767 for full coverage and $568 for minimum coverage.

Coverage levelAverage annual rate in OhioAverage annual rate in the U.S.Ohio difference from national average
Full$1,767$2,365-25%
Minimum$568$722-21%

You’ll pay less on average in Ohio due to lower population density and a larger number of providers offering car insurance.

By City

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.

CityAverage annual cost of car insurance
Cleveland$1,790
Toledo$1,770
Cincinnati$1,736
Columbus$1,650
Akron$1,545
Youngstown$1,539
Hamilton$1,478
Dayton$1,460
Canton$1,431
Lorain$1,328

By Age

Like most states, policies for teen drivers in Ohio cost compared to other age groups.

AgeAverage annual cost of car insurance
Teens$5,035
Adults$1,767
Seniors$1,353

By Gender

In Ohio, insurers can determine car insurance rates based on sex. The difference is most apparent with teen drivers:

GenderAverage annual cost of car insurance
Male teen$4,899
Female teen$4,354

By Violation

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.

ViolationAverage annual cost of car insurance
Clean driving record$1,767
At-fault accident$2,328
Speeding ticket$1,788
DUI$2,917
Poor credit$2,472

Tip:

If you have had a recent accident or a DUI, explore high-risk insurance options to find protective policies at affordable rates.

By Company

Insurance rates vary widely among providers. Here are the average costs we found from several major insurance companies in Ohio:

CompanyAverage annual cost of car insurance
Allstate$2,200
Erie$1,493
GEICO$1,481
Nationwide$1,920
Progressive$1,572
USAA$1,223

Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio

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.

DemographicCheapest companyAverage annual cost of car insurance
Full coverageGEICO*$1,481
Minimum coverageErie*$405
Poor creditGEICO*$2,012
TeensErie$3,494
Speeding ticketErie$1,560
AccidentGrange$2,028
DUIProgressive$1,814
Good driversGEICO*$1,481

*USAA has the cheapest rates, but is only offered to military families

How to Save on Car Insurance in Ohio

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:

  • Raise your deductible. Increasing your deductible, or the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in, can often lower your monthly premium. We encourage you to review your financial circumstances to ensure you will be able to afford that amount if you need to file a claim.
  • Bundle your coverages. Many insurance providers offer discounts when you bundle auto insurance with other policies, such as homeowners or renters insurance.
  • Benefit from safe driving discounts. Like many states, Ohio rewards those who practice safety behind the wheel and maintain a clean record. Many providers offer a safe driving discount if you remain accident-free for a certain time or if you complete a defensive driving course.

Minimum Car Insurance in Ohio

According to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the minimum mandatory car insurance coverages are the following:1

  • $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
  • $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
  • $25,000 of property damage liability coverage

Fault Law in Ohio

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.

SR-22s

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

Note:

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.

Recap

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.

Methodology

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:

  • Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $100,000 per accident
  • Uninsured/underinsured bodily injury: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident
  • Comprehensive and collision: $500 deductible

Frequently Asked Questions

Car insurance rates in Ohio are actually significantly lower than countrywide rates. The average full coverage policy in Ohio is $1,767 per year, while the nationwide average is $2,356 per year. For minimum coverage policies, Ohio drivers pay about $568 per year, while the national average is $722 per year.

Our research shows that USAA offers the cheapest rates in Ohio, at $1,223 per year on average for full coverage. For those not affiliated with the military, GEICO has the lowest rates, at $1,481 per year for full coverage.

Yes, $500 per month is considered expensive for car insurance. In Ohio, drivers pay an average of $147 monthly for full coverage and $47 monthly for minimum coverage. $500 per month translates to $6,000 per year, which is 240 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.

Sources

  1. Mandatory Insurance. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. (2024).
    https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-mandatory-insurance.aspx

  2. Suspensions & Reinstatements. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. (2024).
    https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/susp-ins-noncomply.aspx