Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio for September 2023

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.

The cheapest car insurance company in Ohio is Central Insurance at $614 per year on average, or $51 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 $1,425 per year, or about $119 per month.

Minimum coverage in Ohio is $501 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 $193 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

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

How we chose the cheapest companies in Ohio

NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 28 auto insurers in Ohio and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2020 Toyota Camry L. 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.

Why you can trust NerdWallet

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:

Central Insurance: $950 per year, or about $79 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $1,415 per year, or about $118 per month.
American Family: $1,735 per year, or about $145 per month.
Erie: $2,107 per year, or about $176 per month.
Travelers: $2,115 per year, or about $176 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $344 per year, or about $29 per month.
Erie: $604 per year, or about $50 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $669 per year, or about $56 per month.
Travelers: $690 per year, or about $58 per month.
Buckeye: $729 per year, or about $61 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $615 per year, or about $51 per month.
Travelers: $1,059 per year, or about $88 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $1,106 per year, or about $92 per month.
Progressive: $1,152 per year, or about $96 per month.
Erie: $1,236 per year, or about $103 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $469 per year, or about $39 per month.
Erie: $670 per year, or about $56 per month.
Buckeye: $729 per year, or about $61 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $748 per year, or about $62 per month.
Progressive: $848 per year, or about $71 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $561 per year, or about $47 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $669 per year, or about $56 per month.
Buckeye: $765 per year, or about $64 per month.
Erie: $772 per year, or about $64 per month.
Frankenmuth: $883 per year, or about $74 per month.

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

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

Central Insurance: $828 per year, or about $69 per month.
Progressive: $829 per year, or about $69 per month.
Erie: $874 per year, or about $73 per month.
American Family: $1,033 per year, or about $86 per month.
Travelers: $1,037 per year, or about $86 per month.

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

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

Hastings Mutual: $646 per year, or about $54 per month.
Central Insurance: $661 per year, or about $55 per month.
Buckeye: $689 per year, or about $57 per month.
Nationwide: $907 per year, or about $76 per month.
Erie: $1,005 per year, or about $84 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $210 per year, or about $18 per month.
Buckeye: $211 per year, or about $18 per month.
Erie: $285 per year, or about $24 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $287 per year, or about $24 per month.
Auto-Owners: $307 per year, or about $26 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $1,025 per year, or about $85 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,246 per year, or about $104 per month.
Nationwide: $1,290 per year, or about $108 per month.
Encompass: $1,771 per year, or about $148 per month.
American Family: $1,830 per year, or about $152 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $224 per year, or about $19 per month.
Central Insurance: $285 per year, or about $24 per month.
Erie: $297 per year, or about $25 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $366 per year, or about $30 per month.
Encova: $415 per year, or about $35 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $646 per year, or about $54 per month.
Buckeye: $868 per year, or about $72 per month.
Central Insurance: $983 per year, or about $82 per month.
Erie: $1,317 per year, or about $110 per month.
Frankenmuth: $1,359 per year, or about $113 per month.

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

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

American Family: $1,306 per year, or about $109 per month.
Progressive: $1,363 per year, or about $114 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,386 per year, or about $115 per month.
Erie: $1,596 per year, or about $133 per month.
Travelers: $1,792 per year, or about $149 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $588 per year, or about $49 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $623 per year, or about $52 per month.
Buckeye: $689 per year, or about $57 per month.
Nationwide: $886 per year, or about $74 per month.
Erie: $936 per year, or about $78 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $187 per year, or about $16 per month.
Buckeye: $211 per year, or about $18 per month.
Erie: $264 per year, or about $22 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $276 per year, or about $23 per month.
Western Reserve: $280 per year, or about $23 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $986 per year, or about $82 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,107 per year, or about $92 per month.
Nationwide: $1,260 per year, or about $105 per month.
American Family: $1,643 per year, or about $137 per month.
Travelers: $1,755 per year, or about $146 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $224 per year, or about $19 per month.
Central Insurance: $253 per year, or about $21 per month.
Erie: $275 per year, or about $23 per month.
Western Reserve: $352 per year, or about $29 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $354 per year, or about $30 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $623 per year, or about $52 per month.
Buckeye: $868 per year, or about $72 per month.
Central Insurance: $870 per year, or about $72 per month.
Erie: $1,224 per year, or about $102 per month.
American Family: $1,238 per year, or about $103 per month.

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

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

American Family: $1,188 per year, or about $99 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,223 per year, or about $102 per month.
Progressive: $1,248 per year, or about $104 per month.
Erie: $1,482 per year, or about $123 per month.
Travelers: $1,696 per year, or about $141 per month.

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:

Hastings Mutual: $523 per year, or about $44 per month.
Central Insurance: $571 per year, or about $48 per month.
Buckeye: $615 per year, or about $51 per month.
Nationwide: $826 per year, or about $69 per month.
American Family: $864 per year, or about $72 per month.

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:

Central Insurance: $183 per year, or about $15 per month.
Buckeye: $186 per year, or about $16 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $227 per year, or about $19 per month.
Erie: $249 per year, or about $21 per month.
Western Reserve: $253 per year, or about $21 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $821 per year, or about $68 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,074 per year, or about $89 per month.
Nationwide: $1,173 per year, or about $98 per month.
American Family: $1,519 per year, or about $127 per month.
Encompass: $1,607 per year, or about $134 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $198 per year, or about $17 per month.
Central Insurance: $247 per year, or about $21 per month.
Erie: $259 per year, or about $22 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $305 per year, or about $25 per month.
Western Reserve: $325 per year, or about $27 per month.

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 full coverage rates:

Hastings Mutual: $523 per year, or about $44 per month.
Buckeye: $783 per year, or about $65 per month.
Central Insurance: $846 per year, or about $70 per month.
American Family: $1,134 per year, or about $95 per month.
Erie: $1,156 per year, or about $96 per month.

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

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

American Family: $1,089 per year, or about $91 per month.
Progressive: $1,150 per year, or about $96 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,190 per year, or about $99 per month.
Erie: $1,399 per year, or about $117 per month.
Travelers: $1,670 per year, or about $139 per month.

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:

Hastings Mutual: $535 per year, or about $45 per month.
Central Insurance: $607 per year, or about $51 per month.
Buckeye: $615 per year, or about $51 per month.
Nationwide: $761 per year, or about $63 per month.
American Family: $853 per year, or about $71 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $186 per year, or about $16 per month.
Central Insurance: $197 per year, or about $16 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $232 per year, or about $19 per month.
Erie: $239 per year, or about $20 per month.
Frankenmuth: $256 per year, or about $21 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $840 per year, or about $70 per month.
Nationwide: $1,078 per year, or about $90 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,143 per year, or about $95 per month.
Frankenmuth: $1,496 per year, or about $125 per month.
American Family: $1,503 per year, or about $125 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $198 per year, or about $17 per month.
Erie: $249 per year, or about $21 per month.
Central Insurance: $267 per year, or about $22 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $311 per year, or about $26 per month.
Frankenmuth: $328 per year, or about $27 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $535 per year, or about $45 per month.
Buckeye: $783 per year, or about $65 per month.
Central Insurance: $906 per year, or about $76 per month.
Frankenmuth: $1,040 per year, or about $87 per month.
American Family: $1,125 per year, or about $94 per month.

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

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

American Family: $1,077 per year, or about $90 per month.
Progressive: $1,113 per year, or about $93 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,281 per year, or about $107 per month.
Erie: $1,367 per year, or about $114 per month.
Frankenmuth: $1,578 per year, or about $131 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $643 per year, or about $54 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $681 per year, or about $57 per month.
Central Insurance: $721 per year, or about $60 per month.
Nationwide: $894 per year, or about $74 per month.
Erie: $937 per year, or about $78 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $195 per year, or about $16 per month.
Central Insurance: $247 per year, or about $21 per month.
Erie: $264 per year, or about $22 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $305 per year, or about $25 per month.
Frankenmuth: $312 per year, or about $26 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $1,082 per year, or about $90 per month.
Nationwide: $1,270 per year, or about $106 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,356 per year, or about $113 per month.
American Family: $1,656 per year, or about $138 per month.
Encompass: $1,670 per year, or about $139 per month.

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:

Buckeye: $208 per year, or about $17 per month.
Erie: $275 per year, or about $23 per month.
Central Insurance: $335 per year, or about $28 per month.
Encova: $374 per year, or about $31 per month.
Hastings Mutual: $383 per year, or about $32 per month.

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 full coverage:

Hastings Mutual: $681 per year, or about $57 per month.
Buckeye: $814 per year, or about $68 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,091 per year, or about $91 per month.
Frankenmuth: $1,181 per year, or about $98 per month.
Erie: $1,236 per year, or about $103 per month.

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

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

American Family: $1,200 per year, or about $100 per month.
Progressive: $1,328 per year, or about $111 per month.
Erie: $1,504 per year, or about $125 per month.
Central Insurance: $1,555 per year, or about $130 per month.
Frankenmuth: $1,788 per year, or about $149 per month.

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 66 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.

» MORE: Best car insurance for veterans and military

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.

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 $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 2020 Toyota Camry L 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.