Fact CheckedNerdWallet’s editorial team collected data on 23 auto insurers in Ohio and scored them for a variety of factors, including customer experience, online features and discounts. GEICO is our pick for the best car insurance company in Ohio, but we also rated other companies in the state highly.
Our March 2026 picks for the best car insurance companies in Ohio are:
Category winner | NerdWallet star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall car insurance company: GEICO | |
Best for budgeting drivers: State Farm | |
Best if you need to make a claim: NJM | |
Best for coverage add-ons: Progressive | |
Best for digital features: Nationwide |
For our list of the best car insurance companies in Ohio, we considered only insurers that achieved a minimum NerdWallet star rating of 4.5. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies may change.
NerdWallet’s editorial team considers these factors when choosing the best auto insurance companies:
Financial strength. We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims.
Consumer experience. These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). We also look at survey data from J.D. Power’s yearly national and regional studies.
Digital ease of use. This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes the quality of information offered online, mobile app scores based on Apple and Google Play store ratings, and whether a user can start and track a claim, or get a quote online.
Ways to save. We look at the kinds of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
You can read our full auto insurance methodology to learn more.
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Thorough rating guidelines for evaluating auto insurance companies.
More than 120 million rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 130 insurance companies analyzed in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
You can trust the prices we show because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which includes rates from every locale in a state 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.
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Best overall car insurance company in Ohio: GEICO
Full coverage
$129 /month
Liability only
$37 /month
With nationwide availability and a raft of discounts, GEICO is a popular, and often affordable, choice for car insurance.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,553 $439 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,195 $539 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,966 $786 One DUI, good credit $3,463 $895 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,306 $594
Best for shopping on a budget: State Farm
Full coverage
$107 /month
Liability only
$24 /month
State Farm is a popular insurer that provides personalized service to its customers.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Close to expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why budget-conscious drivers might like State Farm: We found that State Farm may have some of the cheapest car insurance rates in Ohio for good drivers, as well as those whose records include an accident or driving violation.
State Farm also has a great set of discounts, including the Drive Safe & Save program where safe and low-mileage drivers could earn a discount. Young drivers could earn multiple discounts with State Farm, including a discount of up to 25% for getting good grades.
Don’t pick State Farm if: You want to add lots of optional types of insurance to a basic plan. State Farm offers just a few add-ons, including rideshare insurance. Other insurers may have a greater variety of coverage options.
How much is State Farm car insurance in Ohio? The average cost of car insurance from State Farm for someone in Ohio with a clean driving record is $107 per month, or $1,286 per year in Ohio. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $1,743 per year.
» Read the full review: State Farm auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,286 $290 One speeding ticket, good credit $1,495 $336 One at-fault crash, good credit $1,644 $380 One DUI, good credit $1,888 $450 Clean driving record, poor credit $5,683 $1,268
Best if you need to make a claim: NJM
NJM boasts high customer satisfaction and low complaints, but it is available in only five states.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Far fewer than expected
Available in: CT, MD, NJ, OH, & PA.
Why we rated NJM highly for its claims service: NJM is one of the highest-rated companies for customer experience that we analyzed. In fact, NJM earns far fewer complaints from policyholders than expected for its size. It also ranks near the top of J.D. Power’s Claims Satisfaction Study.
You can personalize a basic policy with a few coverage options from NJM, including gap insurance and rideshare insurance, which could be a must-have if you drive for Uber (or Uber Eats), Lyft or similar companies.
Don’t pick NJM if: You haven’t yet gotten to compare car insurance quotes. This is the best way to find insurers with rates that work for you. While NJM can have better-than-average rates in other states, we don’t have any rates data in Ohio for the insurer.
» Read the full review: NJM auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $2,215 $863 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,904 $1,152 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,402 $942 One DUI, good credit $2,904 $1,152 Clean driving record, poor credit $3,760 $1,681
Best for coverage options: Progressive
Full coverage
$130 /month
Liability only
$26 /month
Progressive offers a variety of discounts and insurance products to cater to most people, though there’s room for improvement when it comes to customer satisfaction.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why Progressive's coverage options stand out: Progressive may give you the choice to upgrade a basic policy with gap insurance, custom parts coverage and new car replacement, plus protection for minor damage and some of your car’s mechanical systems.
Progressive also allows some drivers to get accident forgiveness at no additional cost. Plus, a policy that has collision coverage includes insurance for your pet’s injuries if they happen while they’re a passenger in your car.
Drivers could find ways to lower their insurance costs with Progressive's great set of discounts. Some discounts may be easy to qualify for, including discounts for shopping online, going paperless and switching from another insurer.
Don’t pick Progressive if: Low rates are your highest priority. Progressive often has better rates than average in Ohio, but many drivers may be able to find even cheaper alternatives.
How much is Progressive car insurance in Ohio? The average cost of car insurance from Progressive for someone with a clean driving record is $130 per month, or $1,557 per year in Ohio. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $1,743 per year.
» Read the full review: Progressive auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,557 $312 One speeding ticket, good credit $2,309 $439 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,587 $515 One DUI, good credit $2,121 $418 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,517 $467
Best for digital features: Nationwide
Full coverage
$117 /month
Liability only
$58 /month
Nationwide’s wide variety of coverage options and low number of complaints make it a solid choice for many consumers.
Discounts
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Available in: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, & WY.
Why we like Nationwide's digital experience: We gave Nationwide one of the best scores in our study for its digital features. With Nationwide, you can get quotes, make claims and track existing claims online. This could make Nationwide a good fit for Ohioans who want to avoid speaking with an agent.
Nationwide also stands out for its usage-based insurance plans. In fact, it’s one of the few insurers offering multiple usage-based plans. By participating in the SmartMiles or SmartRide program, you could earn discounted rates for being a safe or low-mileage driver depending on which plan you sign up for.
And, unlike some other insurers that offer usage-based programs, Nationwide doesn’t raise the rates of participating drivers who fail to qualify for a good driver discount.
Don’t pick Nationwide if: You want the absolute cheapest insurance that you can get in Ohio. While Nationwide may offer some drivers coverage for less than the statewide average, other insurers may be better choices for rock-bottom rates.
How much is Nationwide car insurance in Ohio? The average cost of car insurance from Nationwide for someone with a clean driving record is $117 per month, or $1,404 per year in Ohio. That’s compared to the statewide average, which is $1,743 per year.
» Read the full review: Nationwide auto insurance review
Driver profile Full coverage rate Minimum coverage rate Clean driving record, good credit $1,404 $693 One speeding ticket, good credit $1,713 $818 One at-fault crash, good credit $2,021 $943 One DUI, good credit $2,562 $1,115 Clean driving record, poor credit $2,090 $1,024
All of the top-rated insurance companies in Ohio
Your best insurance company depends on factors specific to you. The drivers in your household, your location, your driving history, your vehicle and your insurance needs all affect which insurance companies may be right for you. For this reason, there’s not really one best car insurance company that we would recommend for every person.
That said, there are a few top-rated companies that we believe may be right for certain types of drivers. Here are all of our picks for the best insurance companies in Ohio.
Company | Star rating |
|---|---|
Best overall car insurance company GEICO | |
Best for budgeting shoppers: State Farm | |
Best if you have to make a claim: NJM | |
Best coverage options: Progressive | |
Best for digital features: Nationwide | |
Best small or regional insurer: Central Insurance | |
Best for drivers of new cars: Shelter | |
Best for bundling auto and home: Amica | |
Best for high-risk drivers: Direct Auto | |
Best for military families: USAA* | |
*USAA is only available to military, veterans and their families. | |
What to know about car insurance in Ohio
For the most part, car insurance in Ohio is pretty straightforward. If you’re involved in a crash caused by someone else, the at-fault driver’s insurance may cover the cost of your injuries and damaged property. In Ohio, you may be able to collect damages as long as you weren’t more than 50% at fault for a crash, no matter how many other drivers were involved.
Ohio requires these types of car insurance:
Bodily injury liability insurance. This type of coverage pays up to a set amount when you injure or kill another person in a crash. A basic policy covers up to $50,000 for a single accident, and up to $25,000 per person affected.
Property damage liability insurance: Like bodily injury liability insurance, this coverage helps to cover the damage that you cause to others. In this case, it helps cover up to $25,000 of damaged property per accident.
These limits might look large, but really a minimum policy has serious holes. For one, an accident could cause much higher repair costs (not to mention medical bills) than what a basic policy will cover. You’d also receive no coverage for damage to your own car after causing a crash. You would need to have a policy with comprehensive and collision insurance to get this kind of coverage.
The average cost of car insurance in Ohio is $1,743, but it depends on how much coverage you have and your driving record, as well as other details like your age, where you live, your car and your insurance company.
If you’re interested in estimating what you’ll pay for car insurance in your area of the Buckeye State, check out our calculator below. Just enter some basic information about yourself and see what your rates could be.
Estimate full coverage rates by ZIP codeEnter your ZIP code to find the average monthly car insurance rate for your area. Rates are for policies that include full coverage for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record.
Average monthly car insurance rate in your ZIP code:
$0Some drivers may have a hard time finding car insurance. The Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan (OAIP) was created to help those whose driving records make it impossible for them to find coverage on their own. The OAIP isn’t an insurance company. Instead, it’s an organization that will assign drivers to an insurance company. Insurance rates through the OAIP will be more expensive than average.
How to get the best car insurance in Ohio
There are many more insurance companies in Ohio than the ones we’ve called out here. If you’re still not sure which one is right for you, or you want to do some research on your own, you can follow these steps.
Understand the coverage you need. While NerdWallet recommends getting more insurance than what Ohio requires, you don’t want to get so be stuck paying for insurance you don’t need.
Know the type of company that you’re looking for. Some insurers are best suited to drivers looking for cheap rates; others are better for drivers who want robust coverage options or consistently reliable service. Having a handle on what is important to you can help you decide on the right insurer.
Consider other factors that could affect your choice. One detail can affect which insurer is the best for you. Your list of top companies may change if you work from home and almost never drive, want to bundle policies or need coverage for a new driver in your family.
Shop around at least once a year. The cost of car insurance changes regularly. Before you buy a policy, shop around and compare rates from a few car insurance companies to be sure that yours is still the best choice for your budget.
Don’t shy away from smaller insurers. A small, regional insurance company in Ohio may line up best with your coverage needs and budget. An agent or broker could help you find local insurance companies in your area.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
Learn more about Ohio insurance |
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NerdWallet has many more Ohio insurance guides. For more information, check out our articles below: |
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.J.D. Power. 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. Accessed Mar 3, 2026.
- 2.Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan. Welcome to Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan. Accessed Mar 3, 2026.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
Here’s how we evaluated each car insurance company and the weights we placed on each category:
Financial strength (30%).
Consumer complaints (30%).
Ease of use (20%).
Affordability (20%).
The best auto insurers excel at all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and provide more than one way to buy and manage a policy. They're financially strong and able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Average rates methodology
NerdWallet averaged rates based on public filings obtained by pricing analytics company Quadrant Information Services. We examined rates for men and women for all ZIP codes in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Although it’s one of the largest insurers in the country, Liberty Mutual is not included in our rates analysis due to a lack of publicly available information.
In our analysis, “good drivers” had no moving violations on record; a “good driving” discount was included for this profile. Our “good” credit rates are based on credit score approximations and do not account for proprietary scoring criteria used by insurance providers.
These are median rates, and your rate will vary based on your personal details, state and insurance provider.
Sample drivers had the following coverage limits:
$100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
$300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
$50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
$100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
$300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.
In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. 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 only the minimum coverage required by law in the state.
For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash costing $10,000 in property damage.
For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken-driving violation.
For drivers with a ticket, we added a single speeding violation for driving 16 mph over the speed limit.
We used a 2023 Toyota Camry LE in all cases and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven. We analyzed rates for 35-year-old drivers.
These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
