Best Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio for 2019

Cheap car insurance in Ohio isn’t always easy to find. Prices vary quite a bit depending on the insurance company you get a quote from, as well as personal factors such as your age and credit history.

To help Ohioans navigate the car insurance market quickly, NerdWallet looked at rates from the 10 largest insurers in the state and found the three cheapest options for several driver categories.

» FIND YOUR MATCH: Who’s the cheapest carrier for you?

Cheapest for good drivers

Grange had the lowest rates we found for good drivers with good credit in Ohio, at $44 per month, on average. Erie and State Farm were the second and third-cheapest insurers, respectively.

For this calculation, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old men and women with a clean driving record and good credit. With the exception of age, a large portion of drivers are closest to this profile, which carries standard "full coverage" insurance, including state-required coverage.

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

Grange was the cheapest carrier we found for Ohio drivers with blemished credit — and the only one under $100 per month. It had an average rate of $69 per month, with Geico and Nationwide completing the list.

Poor credit can have a bigger effect on car insurance premiums than even a DUI conviction or a recent accident. To calculate these figures, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-olds with a clean driving record, poor credit as reported to their insurer, and standard "full coverage" insurance.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

For Ohio drivers with a recent accident on their records, Erie was the cheapest auto insurer we found, at $83 per month, on average. Grange wasn’t far behind in second place, and State Farm came in third.

To get these figures, we averaged rates for 40-year-olds with one recent at-fault crash and the typical "full coverage" insurance. Your rates will remain high for three to five years after you cause an accident or have a moving violation. If you fall into this category, be sure to shop for new insurance rates just after the three-year and five-year anniversaries of your infraction.

Cheapest for low-mileage drivers

Low-mileage drivers in Ohio may want to get a quote from Grange, which had the lowest rate we found for this group at $43 per month, on average. Erie and State Farm round out the list.

Whether you're retired, work at home or often use public transportation, you may be able to get cheaper car insurance simply because you drive less. The rates above are for 40-year-olds with typical "full coverage" insurance and a clean driving record who drive 5,000 miles per year instead of the standard 12,000.

Cheapest for minimum coverage

Grange had the cheapest rate we found for minimum coverage car insurance — not just in Ohio, but in any state — at just $15 per month, on average. Erie and State Farm were second and third, respectively.

We calculated these numbers by averaging rates for 40-year-old good drivers who have only the minimum mandatory insurance in their state. Such light coverage isn't typically recommended, since it might not cover all the bills resulting from a car accident, but it's better than nothing — especially if you can't afford much more.

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.

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.

Here’s a summary of where you’ll find the cheapest insurance, by category: