The Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio for March 2024

Hastings Mutual offers the cheapest car insurance in Ohio, with an average annual rate of $750 for full coverage.
Ben Moore
By Ben Moore 
Updated

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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 Hastings Mutual at $750 per year on average, or $63 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 $1,380 per year, or about $115 per month.

Minimum coverage in Ohio is $408 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, Buckeye offers the cheapest rates in Ohio at $221 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:

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 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.

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:

  1. Central Insurance: $1,284 per year, or about $107 per month.
  2. Hastings Mutual: $1,710 per year, or about $143 per month.
  3. Encova: $1,918 per year, or about $160 per month.
  4. Progressive: $2,381 per year, or about $198 per month.
  5. American Family: $2,589 per year, or about $216 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:

  1. Central Insurance: $421 per year, or about $35 per month.
  2. Progressive: $614 per year, or about $51 per month.
  3. Encova: $656 per year, or about $55 per month.
  4. Buckeye: $701 per year, or about $58 per month.
  5. Hastings Mutual: $748 per year, or about $62 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:

  1. Central Insurance: $740 per year, or about $62 per month.
  2. Progressive: $996 per year, or about $83 per month.
  3. Allstate: $1,151 per year, or about $96 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,212 per year, or about $101 per month.
  5. Hastings Mutual: $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:

  1. Central Insurance: $573 per year, or about $48 per month.
  2. Encova: $699 per year, or about $58 per month.
  3. Buckeye: $706 per year, or about $59 per month.
  4. Progressive: $718 per year, or about $60 per month.
  5. Hastings Mutual: $844 per year, or about $70 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:

  1. Central Insurance: $682 per year, or about $57 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $743 per year, or about $62 per month.
  3. Hastings Mutual: $748 per year, or about $62 per month.
  4. Encova: $774 per year, or about $65 per month.
  5. Progressive: $782 per year, or about $65 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.

  1. Progressive: $701 per year, or about $58 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $1,003 per year, or about $84 per month.
  3. Erie: $1,104 per year, or about $92 per month.
  4. Encova: $1,145 per year, or about $95 per month.
  5. State Farm: $1,230 per year, or about $102 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $766 per year, or about $64 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $909 per year, or about $76 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $912 per year, or about $76 per month.
  4. Encova: $936 per year, or about $78 per month.
  5. Auto-Owners: $1,231 per year, or about $103 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:

  1. Buckeye: $221 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $263 per year, or about $22 per month.
  3. Progressive: $305 per year, or about $25 per month.
  4. State Farm: $308 per year, or about $26 per month.
  5. Encova: $308 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $1,210 per year, or about $101 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $1,713 per year, or about $143 per month.
  3. Encova: $1,870 per year, or about $156 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $1,921 per year, or about $160 per month.
  5. Geico: $1,923 per year, or about $160 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:

  1. Buckeye: $236 per year, or about $20 per month.
  2. Encova: $351 per year, or about $29 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $355 per year, or about $30 per month.
  4. State Farm: $359 per year, or about $30 per month.
  5. Erie: $366 per year, or about $30 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $766 per year, or about $64 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $1,152 per year, or about $96 per month.
  3. Encova: $1,258 per year, or about $105 per month.
  4. Central Insurance: $1,338 per year, or about $112 per month.
  5. Erie: $1,593 per year, or about $133 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.

  1. Progressive: $1,593 per year, or about $133 per month.
  2. American Family: $1,753 per year, or about $146 per month.
  3. State Farm: $1,844 per year, or about $154 per month.
  4. Central Insurance: $1,865 per year, or about $155 per month.
  5. Erie: $1,999 per year, or about $167 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $742 per year, or about $62 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $814 per year, or about $68 per month.
  3. Encova: $895 per year, or about $75 per month.
  4. Buckeye: $909 per year, or about $76 per month.
  5. Progressive: $1,129 per year, or about $94 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:

  1. Buckeye: $221 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $235 per year, or about $20 per month.
  3. Progressive: $271 per year, or about $23 per month.
  4. Encova: $294 per year, or about $25 per month.
  5. Hastings Mutual: $300 per year, or about $25 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $1,176 per year, or about $98 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $1,526 per year, or about $127 per month.
  3. Encova: $1,786 per year, or about $149 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $1,863 per year, or about $155 per month.
  5. Geico: $1,892 per year, or about $158 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:

  1. Buckeye: $236 per year, or about $20 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $316 per year, or about $26 per month.
  3. Erie: $336 per year, or about $28 per month.
  4. Encova: $336 per year, or about $28 per month.
  5. Progressive: $361 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $742 per year, or about $62 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $1,152 per year, or about $96 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $1,187 per year, or about $99 per month.
  4. Encova: $1,219 per year, or about $102 per month.
  5. Erie: $1,487 per year, or about $124 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.

  1. Progressive: $1,404 per year, or about $117 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $1,652 per year, or about $138 per month.
  3. American Family: $1,692 per year, or about $141 per month.
  4. State Farm: $1,777 per year, or about $148 per month.
  5. Erie: $1,854 per year, or about $154 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $648 per year, or about $54 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $789 per year, or about $66 per month.
  3. Buckeye: $810 per year, or about $68 per month.
  4. Encova: $936 per year, or about $78 per month.
  5. Progressive: $1,000 per year, or about $83 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:

  1. Buckeye: $195 per year, or about $16 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $230 per year, or about $19 per month.
  3. Progressive: $241 per year, or about $20 per month.
  4. Hastings Mutual: $256 per year, or about $21 per month.
  5. Erie: $302 per year, or about $25 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $1,018 per year, or about $85 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $1,478 per year, or about $123 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $1,712 per year, or about $143 per month.
  4. Progressive: $1,726 per year, or about $144 per month.
  5. Encova: $1,870 per year, or about $156 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:

  1. Buckeye: $208 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $310 per year, or about $26 per month.
  3. Erie: $314 per year, or about $26 per month.
  4. Progressive: $331 per year, or about $28 per month.
  5. Allstate: $343 per year, or about $29 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $648 per year, or about $54 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $1,035 per year, or about $86 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $1,153 per year, or about $96 per month.
  4. Encova: $1,258 per year, or about $105 per month.
  5. Frankenmuth: $1,396 per year, or about $116 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.

  1. Progressive: $1,266 per year, or about $105 per month.
  2. American Family: $1,554 per year, or about $130 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $1,606 per year, or about $134 per month.
  4. State Farm: $1,728 per year, or about $144 per month.
  5. Erie: $1,753 per year, or about $146 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $664 per year, or about $55 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $810 per year, or about $68 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $837 per year, or about $70 per month.
  4. Progressive: $942 per year, or about $79 per month.
  5. Encova: $963 per year, or about $80 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:

  1. Buckeye: $195 per year, or about $16 per month.
  2. Progressive: $231 per year, or about $19 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $248 per year, or about $21 per month.
  4. Hastings Mutual: $264 per year, or about $22 per month.
  5. Frankenmuth: $286 per year, or about $24 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $1,046 per year, or about $87 per month.
  2. Central Insurance: $1,569 per year, or about $131 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $1,572 per year, or about $131 per month.
  4. Progressive: $1,630 per year, or about $136 per month.
  5. Frankenmuth: $1,774 per year, or about $148 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:

  1. Buckeye: $208 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. Erie: $314 per year, or about $26 per month.
  3. Progressive: $320 per year, or about $27 per month.
  4. State Farm: $332 per year, or about $28 per month.
  5. Central Insurance: $334 per year, or about $28 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $664 per year, or about $55 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $1,035 per year, or about $86 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $1,232 per year, or about $103 per month.
  4. Frankenmuth: $1,246 per year, or about $104 per month.
  5. Encova: $1,286 per year, or about $107 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.

  1. Progressive: $1,201 per year, or about $100 per month.
  2. American Family: $1,546 per year, or about $129 per month.
  3. State Farm: $1,599 per year, or about $133 per month.
  4. Central Insurance: $1,722 per year, or about $144 per month.
  5. Erie: $1,734 per year, or about $144 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:

  1. Buckeye: $845 per year, or about $70 per month.
  2. Hastings Mutual: $852 per year, or about $71 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $986 per year, or about $82 per month.
  4. Encova: $1,040 per year, or about $87 per month.
  5. Progressive: $1,048 per year, or about $87 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:

  1. Buckeye: $205 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. Progressive: $279 per year, or about $23 per month.
  3. Central Insurance: $310 per year, or about $26 per month.
  4. State Farm: $312 per year, or about $26 per month.
  5. Erie: $334 per year, or about $28 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $1,358 per year, or about $113 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,835 per year, or about $153 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $1,842 per year, or about $154 per month.
  4. Central Insurance: $1,848 per year, or about $154 per month.
  5. Frankenmuth: $2,010 per year, or about $168 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:

  1. Buckeye: $218 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. Erie: $347 per year, or about $29 per month.
  3. State Farm: $364 per year, or about $30 per month.
  4. Allstate: $380 per year, or about $32 per month.
  5. Encova: $389 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:

  1. Hastings Mutual: $852 per year, or about $71 per month.
  2. Buckeye: $1,077 per year, or about $90 per month.
  3. Encova: $1,363 per year, or about $114 per month.
  4. Frankenmuth: $1,408 per year, or about $117 per month.
  5. State Farm: $1,462 per year, or about $122 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.

  1. Progressive: $1,391 per year, or about $116 per month.
  2. State Farm: $1,697 per year, or about $141 per month.
  3. American Family: $1,700 per year, or about $142 per month.
  4. Erie: $1,912 per year, or about $159 per month.
  5. Central Insurance: $2,075 per year, or about $173 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 56 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.

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.

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