Skip to content
NerdWallet Home Page

The Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for November 2024

Check out the cheapest car insurance companies in Ohio, according to NerdWallet's most recent analysis.

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.Updated Nov 1, 2024 · 5 min read
Profile photo of Ben Moore
Written by Ben Moore
Assistant Assigning Editor
Profile photo of Ben Moore
Written by Ben Moore
Assistant Assigning Editor

Nerdy takeaways

  • Central Insurance offers the cheapest full coverage in Ohio, with an average rate of $867 per year according to NerdWallet's November 2024 analysis.

  • Full coverage in Ohio costs an average of $1,544 per year, or $129 per month.

  • If you want the cheapest policy possible, get minimum coverage. The average cost of minimum coverage in Ohio is $454 per year, or $38 per month.

Auto insurance is an important purchase, but finding cheap car insurance in Ohio isn’t always easy. The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare rates from multiple insurers.

Car with shield on road

See what you could save on car insurance

Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
on NerdWallet

Keep reading to find the cheapest car insurance in Ohio for different driver profiles and coverage types among:

You can also find information on Ohio's minimum insurance requirements, the risks of opting for cheap car insurance as well as alternative car insurance options in the state.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Did your rates go up? Auto insurance prices are on the rise in Ohio. Be sure to get car insurance quotes from three or more companies to find the lowest rate possible.

Cheap car insurance in Ohio

Here's the cheapest full coverage car insurance for Ohio 35-year-old drivers with different driving records.

CategoryCheapest companyMedian annual rate
Clean driving historyCentral Insurance$867
After a DUIAmerican Family$1,710
After an accidentHastings Mutual$948
After a speeding ticketCentral Insurance$1,082
Having poor creditHastings Mutual$1,524

The cheapest car insurance company in Ohio is Central Insurance at $867 per year on average, or $72 per month, according to the most recent NerdWallet analysis of full coverage car insurance rates in Ohio. Meanwhile, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in Ohio is $1,544 per year, or about $129 per month.

Minimum coverage in Ohio is $454 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Central Insurance offers the cheapest rates in Ohio at $211 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance in your area, NerdWallet analyzed rates for some of the largest Ohio cities, including:

  • Below are the cheapest insurers in Cincinnati for a 35-year-old good driver with good credit. To see the full list, read NerdWallet's analysis of car insurance in Cincinnati.

    CategoryCheapest companyMedian annual rate
    Clean driving historyCentral Insurance$954
    After a DUIAmerican Family$1,947
    After an accidentHastings Mutual$1,136
    After a speeding ticketCentral Insurance$1,216
    Having poor creditCentral Insurance$1,783
  • Below are the cheapest insurers in Cleveland for a 35-year-old good driver with good credit. To see the full list, read NerdWallet's analysis of car insurance in Cleveland.

    CategoryCheapest companyMedian annual rate
    Clean driving historyCentral Insurance$978
    After a DUICentral Insurance$2,039
    After an accidentHastings Mutual$1,028
    After a speeding ticketCentral Insurance$1,247
    Having poor creditHastings Mutual$1,654
  • Below are the cheapest insurers in Columbus for a 35-year-old good driver with good credit. To see the full list, read NerdWallet's analysis of car insurance in Columbus.

    CategoryCheapest companyMedian annual rate
    Clean driving historyCentral Insurance$1,032
    After a DUIAmerican Family$1,983
    After an accidentHastings Mutual$1,124
    After a speeding ticketCentral Insurance$1,311
    Having poor creditHastings Mutual$1,814

How we chose the cheapest companies in Ohio

NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 24 auto insurers in Ohio and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2021 Toyota Camry LE. For minimum coverage, we looked at rates that reflect the minimum requirements in Ohio. For full coverage, we used the below coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in Ohio where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

Cheapest for 20-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 20s may have to get a lot of quotes to find the best cheap car insurance. Prices can be sky-high for younger 20-somethings, but tend to come down as drivers get more experience on the road. Still, some companies routinely have better insurance rates for young drivers, so it's best to shop around to find them.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Ohio for 20-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio with clean driving records may want to consider the following companies, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$1,279$107
Hastings Mutual$2,266$189
American Family$2,566$214
Western Reserve$2,651$221
Progressive$2,839$237

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Ohio for 20-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these companies, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$361$30
Progressive$618$51
State Farm$782$65
Buckeye$812$68
Westfield$833$69

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 20-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Ohio should look at the following insurers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$628$52
Progressive$945$79
Allstate$1,205$100
Westfield$1,219$102
Geico$1,309$109

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 20-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$489$41
Progressive$788$66
Westfield$875$73
Western Reserve$911$76
State Farm$912$76

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 20-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$582$49
Progressive$797$66
Westfield$923$77
Western Reserve$1,027$86
State Farm$1,029$86

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 20-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found in Ohio after a DUI is shown here, alongside the insurers' average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$741$62
Central Insurance$856$71
State Farm$1,226$102
American Family$1,278$106
Westfield$1,341$112

Cheapest for 30-year-old drivers

By the time they reach their 30s, most drivers will enjoy cheaper car insurance rates than in their teens and 20s. Still, factors like a person’s driving record and car make and model can increase prices. Drivers in their 30s can get lower rates by shopping around and taking advantage of any car insurance discounts.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Ohio for 30-year-olds

Ohio drivers with clean driving records may want to consider these companies, which had the lowest average rates for full coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$928$77
Hastings Mutual$968$81
Buckeye$1,102$92
State Farm$1,306$109
American Family$1,443$120

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Ohio for 30-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$228$19
Buckeye$255$21
State Farm$306$26
Progressive$309$26
Allstate$346$29

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 30-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Ohio should consider the following companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$389$32
Allstate$459$38
Progressive$476$40
Westfield$525$44
Geico$596$50

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 30-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$306$26
Buckeye$309$26
State Farm$358$30
Westfield$367$31
Allstate$378$32

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 30-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers in Ohio with a recent accident, here are the lowest average rate options for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$364$30
State Farm$400$33
Buckeye$412$34
Hastings Mutual$438$37
Westfield$449$37

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 30-year-old drivers after a DUI

For the cheapest auto insurance in Ohio after a DUI, we found the following options for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$390$33
State Farm$475$40
Central Insurance$533$44
American Family$712$59
Allstate$740$62

Cheapest for 40-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 40s tend to have better insurance rates than their younger counterparts on average, but still pay more than older age groups. Shopping around for cheap car insurance quotes with multiple insurers is the best way to find lower rates. Good drivers who don’t get behind the wheel often might want to consider pay-per-mile insurance, which charges drivers by how many miles they drive.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Ohio for 40-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio with clean driving records may want to think about the following companies, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$832$69
Hastings Mutual$940$78
Buckeye$1,102$92
State Farm$1,265$105
Western Reserve$1,284$107

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Ohio for 40-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio who want just the minimum coverage may want to check prices from these companies, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$203$17
Buckeye$255$21
Progressive$264$22
Western Reserve$307$26
State Farm$312$26

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 40-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Ohio can check out the following insurers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$346$29
Progressive$410$34
Allstate$459$38
Westfield$510$43
Geico$591$49

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 40-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$273$23
Buckeye$309$26
Westfield$353$29
State Farm$363$30
Allstate$378$32

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 40-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$324$27
State Farm$410$34
Buckeye$412$34
Hastings Mutual$422$35
Westfield$440$37

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 40-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance we found for Ohio drivers with a DUI came from the following companies.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$339$28
Central Insurance$476$40
State Farm$487$41
American Family$678$56
Frankenmuth$690$58

Cheapest for 50-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 50s have cheaper car insurance rates than most other age groups on average. Prices will continue to drop as they inch toward their 60s and gain more driving experience. Rates can still vary depending on other factors such as a driver’s gender and location, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best rate. Our list of cheap auto insurance companies is a good place to start.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Ohio for 50-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio with clean driving records may want to get quotes from these insurers, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$804$67
Hastings Mutual$812$68
Buckeye$980$82
Progressive$1,189$99
Western Reserve$1,197$100

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Ohio for 50-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio who opt for the state minimum coverage may want to consider the following companies, with the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$198$17
Buckeye$225$19
Progressive$233$19
Western Reserve$283$24
State Farm$308$26

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 50-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Ohio can check with the following companies, which showed the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$338$28
Progressive$362$30
Allstate$413$34
Westfield$470$39
Buckeye$532$44

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 50-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$267$22
Buckeye$273$23
Westfield$331$28
Allstate$343$29
Progressive$353$29

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 50-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers living in Ohio with a recent accident, here are the insurers with the lowest average minimum coverage rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$317$26
Hastings Mutual$362$30
Buckeye$369$31
State Farm$405$34
Westfield$414$34

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 50-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found for Ohio drivers with a recent DUI comes from the following companies, listed with rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$303$25
Central Insurance$464$39
State Farm$482$40
American Family$627$52
Frankenmuth$640$53

Cheapest for 60-year-old drivers

Although 60-year-olds have cheaper car insurance rates than many other age groups on average, prices will start increasing as they get older. To find cheap car insurance for seniors, drivers in their 60s should make sure to shop around to find the best rate. Drivers in this age group should also take advantage of any available discounts for senior citizens.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Ohio for 60-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Hastings Mutual$832$69
Central Insurance$848$71
Buckeye$980$82
Progressive$1,117$93
State Farm$1,123$94

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Ohio for 60-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$214$18
Progressive$224$19
Buckeye$225$19
State Farm$285$24
Western Reserve$301$25

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 60-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Ohio can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$347$29
Central Insurance$366$31
Allstate$413$34
Westfield$473$39
Buckeye$532$44

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 60-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Buckeye$273$23
Central Insurance$288$24
State Farm$332$28
Westfield$334$28
Progressive$343$29

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 60-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$342$29
Buckeye$369$31
Hastings Mutual$372$31
State Farm$375$31
Westfield$415$35

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 60-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found in Ohio after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$293$24
State Farm$442$37
Central Insurance$502$42
Frankenmuth$596$50
American Family$632$53

Cheapest for 70-year-old drivers

Car insurance costs may start to rise for 70-year-old drivers. To find the cheapest possible coverage, shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Also, look for insurers that offer discounts for seniors. For example, some insurers offer discounts to senior drivers who take a defensive driving course.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Ohio for 70-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Central Insurance$990$83
Buckeye$1,024$85
Hastings Mutual$1,082$90
State Farm$1,179$98
Progressive$1,191$99

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Ohio for 70-year-olds

Drivers in Ohio who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Buckeye$236$20
Progressive$252$21
Central Insurance$269$22
State Farm$308$26
Allstate$348$29

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 70-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Ohio can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$389$32
Central Insurance$459$38
Allstate$460$38
Buckeye$557$46
Westfield$564$47

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 70-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Buckeye$286$24
State Farm$358$30
Central Insurance$362$30
Allstate$380$32
Westfield$388$32

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 70-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Ohio, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Buckeye$384$32
State Farm$404$34
Central Insurance$431$36
Westfield$470$39
Hastings Mutual$490$41

Cheapest auto insurance in Ohio for 70-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI in Ohio came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for minimum coverage.

CompanyMedian annual rateMedian monthly rate
Progressive$325$27
State Farm$481$40
Central Insurance$630$53
Frankenmuth$726$61
Allstate$747$62

Cheapest car insurance for military families

If you're an active member of the military or a veteran — or have an immediate family member who is — chances are you'll get a relatively cheap rate with USAA, a company that isn't available to the general public.

Because of that restriction, USAA isn't ranked with the others, but it was among the cheapest five auto insurance options for 61 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.

Minimum required auto insurance in Ohio

Ohio car insurance policies must include liability coverage, which covers others’ property damage or injury treatment if you’re responsible for a crash.

The minimum liability limits you must purchase are:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $25,000 property damage liability per accident.

Liability car insurance covers the cost of any damage, injuries or deaths you cause in a car accident, up to your policy’s predefined limits.

A serious crash could cause damage that easily surpasses these insurance amounts. To avoid having to pay accident bills out of your own pocket, consider buying more than the bare minimum. You may also want common optional coverages such as collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorist protection.

For more help planning your Ohio auto policy, visit NerdWallet’s guide to car insurance requirements by state.

Risks of getting cheap auto insurance

Getting cheap car insurance usually means getting the barest coverage required by law in your state. But state requirements can be quite low and leave you financially vulnerable if you’re in a serious accident.

Getting the cheapest car insurance possible might also mean missing out on optional coverage types that can help cover your own injuries or property damage — for example, when you’re injured in an accident or if your car is banged up after a bad storm or a hit and run. To find cheap car insurance with more coverage, check out NerdWallet’s list of cheap full coverage insurance.

Alternative car insurance in Ohio

Drivers who can’t get car insurance on Ohio's voluntary market because of a checkered driving record, poor credit or other factors can apply for coverage through the Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan.

Or, you could forgo insurance altogether, if you can prove your financial responsibility to the state. Your options as an individual are:

  • Make a minimum $30,000 deposit with the state treasury in money or bonds.

  • If you and another person own property with equity of at least $60,000, you can purchase a bond from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in the amount of $30,000.

For more help scoring cheap car insurance in Ohio, try NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool.

METHODOLOGY

For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included 5-10 of the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not available.

For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.

We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 70 years old in ten-year increments. For the average cost of full and minimum coverage in each state, we looked at 35-year-old drivers.

We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

  • For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect the minimum required coverage by law in the state.

  • We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit.

  • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.

  • For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.

We looked at 35-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company overall, the cheapest company for minimum coverage and the cheapest company for drivers with poor credit in states where credit history is used to price rates. We looked at 20-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company for young drivers.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different. Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Get more smart money moves – straight to your inboxSign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.