Car insurance in Ohio costs between $35 and $148 per month on average, depending on your coverage level. Ohio is one of the most affordable states for car insurance in the United States, ranking 7th cheapest nationally, approximately 30% below the national average. Drivers with the state minimum liability coverage pay roughly $35 to $64 per month, while those with full coverage pay approximately $83 to $148 per month.
Ohio is an at-fault state with no mandatory Personal Injury Protection (PIP) requirement. This structure, where the driver who causes an accident is responsible for the other party’s costs, is one of the primary reasons Ohio rates are well below the national average compared to no-fault states that require PIP coverage.
The cheapest car insurance companies in Ohio include Buckeye Insurance Group, Erie Insurance, State Farm, and Travelers, with rates well below the state average for clean-record drivers. Ohio car insurance rates rose approximately 40% between 2021 and 2025, but are projected to decline in 2026 for the first time in five years, making now an ideal time to re-compare your rates.
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| Coverage Level | Average Monthly Range | Average Annual Range |
|---|---|---|
| Liability Only (State Minimum) | $35 – $64/month | $420 – $768/year |
| Full Coverage (Standard Driver) | $83 – $148/month | $996 – $1,776/year |
| Full Coverage (Teen Driver, 16–19) | $200 – $420+/month | $2,400 – $5,040+/year |
Source: insurify.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
| Coverage Type | Minimum Required |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily Injury Liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property Damage Liability (per accident) | $25,000 |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | Not required — Ohio is an at-fault state |
| Uninsured Motorist Coverage | Not required — but strongly recommended |
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Yes. Ohio is an at-fault state, also called a tort state. This means the driver who causes an accident is legally responsible for covering the other party’s medical bills, lost wages, and property damage through their liability insurance. Unlike no-fault states such as Michigan or Minnesota, Ohio does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, and this is one of the primary reasons Ohio’s premiums rank among the lowest in the country.
Because Ohio operates on an at-fault system, your own insurance will not cover your injuries or vehicle damage unless you carry additional coverage such as collision, comprehensive, and Medical Payments (MedPay). Uninsured Motorist coverage is not mandatory in Ohio but is strongly recommended: an estimated 13 to 16 percent of Ohio drivers are uninsured, meaning there is a meaningful chance the driver who hits you will not have insurance to cover your costs.
| Company | Liability Only (Monthly Range) | Full Coverage (Monthly Range) |
|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Insurance Group | $24 – $40/month | $55 – $90/month |
| Mile Auto | $35 – $45/month | $65 – $100/month |
| Erie Insurance | $33 – $50/month | $75 – $115/month |
| USAA (military only) | $33 – $50/month | $80 – $120/month |
| State Farm | $35 – $55/month | $88 – $130/month |
| Travelers | $40 – $58/month | $86 – $130/month |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $38 – $55/month | $68 – $120/month |
| GEICO | $40 – $60/month | $88 – $135/month |
| Progressive | $45 – $65/month | $95 – $145/month |
| Allstate | $55 – $78/month | $115 – $165/month |
Source: insurify.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
Ohio has several regional insurers that are consistently among the cheapest options in the state and are frequently overlooked by drivers who only compare national brands:
Including regional carriers in your quote comparison can save $50 or more per month compared to the national carrier average.
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| Age Group | Monthly Range (Full Coverage) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 16–19 (Teen) | $200 – $420+/month | Adding to parent's policy is significantly cheaper than a standalone policy |
| 20–24 | $140 – $230/month | Rates drop significantly after age 25 |
| 25–34 | $100 – $165/month | Near or below state average |
| 35–49 | $83 – $130/month | Best rates; state average range |
| 50–64 | $78 – $120/month | Mature driver discounts widely available |
| 65+ | $85 – $130/month | Rates begin rising again after age 70 |
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
| Driving Record / Factor | Avg Monthly Rate (Full Coverage) | vs. Clean Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $83 – $130/month | Baseline |
| 1 speeding ticket | $100 – $160/month | +23% average increase |
| At-fault accident | $115 – $180/month | +25–40%; GEICO cheapest at $88/mo |
| OVI / DUI conviction | $130 – $225/month | +55%; SR-22 required; GEICO cheapest at $104/mo |
| Poor credit | $145 – $280/month | 74% more than good credit; GEICO cheapest for bad credit |
Source: insurify.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
Yes. Ohio allows auto insurers to use credit-based insurance scores as a rating factor. Drivers with poor credit pay approximately 74% more for car insurance than drivers with good credit for identical coverage. Based on 2026 data, a driver with poor credit can pay $145 to $280 per month for full coverage, compared to $83 to $130 per month for a driver with good credit. GEICO is the most competitive option for poor-credit Ohio drivers, with full coverage averaging approximately $104 per month. If your credit score has improved, re-shopping your insurance quotes can produce meaningful savings.
Where you live in Ohio significantly affects your premium. Cleveland is the most expensive major city in the state for car insurance, driven by dense urban traffic, higher vehicle theft rates, and elevated accident frequency. Lorain and Parma are among the most affordable cities in the state, with rates well below the state average.
| City | Avg Monthly Rate (Full Coverage) | vs. OH State Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $104 – $140/month | Highest in state — 25–69% above average |
| Toledo | $102 – $135/month | Above average |
| Columbus | $100 – $135/month | Above average — densest city |
| Cincinnati | $90 – $130/month | Near to above average |
| Dayton | $88 – $120/month | Near state average |
| Akron | $88 – $118/month | Near state average |
| Parma | $86 – $112/month | Near or below average |
| Lorain | $84 – $108/month | Most affordable major city |
Source: insurify.com
Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.
Even Cleveland, Ohio’s most expensive city, is approximately 25% below the national average for full coverage car insurance, making Ohio affordable even in its most expensive urban markets. The gap between Cleveland and Lorain is approximately $20 to $32 per month, or up to $384 per year.
Ohio car insurance rates increased approximately 40% between 2021 and 2025, slightly above the national average increase of 37%, driven by inflation, rising vehicle repair costs, and supply chain disruptions following the pandemic. The largest single-year increase was in 2024, when rates rose more than 19%.
However, Ohio rates are projected to decrease in 2026 for the first time in five years, according to ValuePenguin and Insurify. Insurify projects a modest 0.7% rate increase in Ohio by end of 2026, but many drivers comparing quotes now are finding rates lower than their current policy. Erie and GEICO had the largest rate increases over the past five years (84% and 65% respectively), while Auto-Owners had the smallest increase at 30%. This illustrates why annual re-shopping is essential, the cheapest insurer can change significantly year over year.
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An SR-22 is a certificate filed by your insurer with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) confirming you carry at least the state minimum required coverage. Ohio courts or the BMV require SR-22 filing after:
The SR-22 filing fee is typically $50 to $65, charged by your insurer in addition to your premium. Ohio requires SR-22 maintenance for three years following a first serious offense, or five years for repeat offenses. If your policy lapses during this period, your insurer must notify the BMV, your license will be re-suspended, and the clock on your SR-22 requirement restarts. Not all Ohio insurers offer SR-22 filing, GEICO and Progressive are among the most competitive options for SR-22 drivers in Ohio.
Buckeye Insurance Group, Erie Insurance, Grange Insurance, and Cincinnati Insurance are among Ohio’s most competitive insurers and are frequently the cheapest option for Ohio drivers, yet many drivers never compare them. Adding even one regional carrier to your comparison can save $30 to $60 per month.
Ohio car insurance rates are projected to decline in 2026 for the first time in five years. If you have not compared quotes since 2023 or 2024, when rates were rising steeply, you may find current market rates significantly lower than your current premium. Annual re-shopping takes under 10 minutes and is the most consistent way to capture savings.
If your credit score has improved since you last purchased your policy, re-shopping can produce meaningful savings. Ohio allows credit-based insurance scoring, and the difference between poor and good credit can be $100 or more per month. Even moving from poor to fair credit can reduce your premium noticeably.
Progressive’s Snapshot, State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save, and Erie’s YourTurn telematics programs can save Ohio drivers up to 30% for safe and low-mileage driving. Ohio’s relatively low traffic density outside major metro areas makes telematics programs particularly effective for suburban and rural drivers.
If your vehicle is older than 8 to 10 years and worth less than $4,000 to $5,000, carrying full coverage may cost more per year than the car’s actual value. Dropping collision and comprehensive while retaining liability coverage and Uninsured Motorist protection can save $40 to $80 per month.
Bundling your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance with your auto policy typically saves 10 to 15 percent on both premiums. Erie, State Farm, and Grange Insurance all offer competitive bundle discounts for Ohio drivers.
Yes. Ohio is an at-fault state (also called a tort state). The driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying the other party’s medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage through their liability insurance. Ohio does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which is one of the main reasons Ohio’s car insurance rates are approximately 30% below the national average. If you are injured in an accident and the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage will cover your costs — this coverage is not mandatory in Ohio but is strongly recommended.
Ohio drivers pay between $35 and $64 per month for minimum liability coverage and between $83 and $148 per month for full coverage, based on 2026 data. Ohio ranks 7th cheapest in the nation for full coverage, approximately 30% below the national average. Cleveland is the most expensive major city at $104 to $140 per month for full coverage, while Lorain is the most affordable at $84 to $108 per month. Even Ohio’s most expensive city is significantly below the national average.
Buckeye Insurance Group offers the cheapest full coverage in Ohio based on TheZebra data, at approximately $24 to $40 per month for liability. Erie Insurance has the cheapest minimum liability rate among widely available carriers at approximately $33 per month. For full coverage, Travelers is the most affordable national insurer at approximately $86 to $101 per month. USAA offers the best rates overall but is limited to military members, veterans, and qualifying family members. GEICO is the most competitive option after a DUI or for poor-credit drivers in Ohio.
Ohio requires all drivers to carry: $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability per accident. Ohio does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or Uninsured Motorist coverage, though Uninsured Motorist coverage is strongly recommended given that an estimated 13 to 16 percent of Ohio drivers are uninsured. All drivers must carry proof of insurance and present it at traffic stops and following accidents.
An OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired) conviction in Ohio typically raises full-coverage rates by 55 percent or more. Based on 2026 data, post-DUI full coverage averages $130 to $225 per month, compared to $83 to $130 per month for a clean-record driver. You will be required to file an SR-22 certificate with the Ohio BMV for three years (five years for repeat offenses). GEICO is consistently the most affordable post-DUI insurer in Ohio at approximately $104 per month for full coverage. The SR-22 filing fee is typically $50 to $65, charged separately from your premium.
A first offense for driving without insurance in Ohio results in a 90-day license and registration suspension plus a $100 reinstatement fee. A second offense within five years results in a one-year suspension, a $300 reinstatement fee, and a five-year SR-22 requirement. A third or subsequent offense results in a two-year suspension, a $600 reinstatement fee, and a five-year SR-22 requirement. If you cause an accident while uninsured, you are personally liable for all damages, and your vehicle may be impounded.
Yes. Ohio allows auto insurers to use credit-based insurance scores as a rating factor. Drivers with poor credit pay approximately 74% more for car insurance than those with good credit, a difference of up to $150 per month for full coverage. GEICO is typically the most affordable option for poor-credit Ohio drivers. If your credit has improved since you last compared insurance quotes, re-shopping can unlock meaningful rate reductions.
Yes. Erie Insurance is widely considered one of the best overall insurers in Ohio, combining competitive rates with strong customer service and low complaint rates. Erie consistently offers the cheapest minimum liability coverage in Ohio at approximately $33 per month, and receives high ratings from J.D. Power for claims satisfaction. Erie is not available in all US states, but has a strong presence in Ohio and the Midwest and is worth prioritising when comparing quotes.
Explore state-by-state car insurance trends to understand where drivers pay less on average.
Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
