What car insurance costs in Ohio

Ohio's bill next to the national average

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adds up what insurers charged in every state. In its most recent state tables, for 2023, Ohio's average expenditure was $947 per insured car. That was 13% more than the $835 of 2022, a slightly smaller rise than the national 14%. The expenditure figure blends liability-only cars with fully covered ones. A car carrying all three main coverages had a combined premium of $1,038.

Each line sits below the U.S. figure. The widest gap is in liability, the part of the bill that pays for damage you cause to others: $485 in Ohio against $737 nationally, about a third less. A full-coverage car came in roughly $400 under the U.S. combined premium. Your own price still turns on your car, your driving record and where the car is kept; our page on how location sets a price explains why two Ohio ZIP codes can be priced differently.

Coverage Ohio law requires

Ohio's financial responsibility law sets the floor at $25,000 for one person's injuries, $50,000 for all injuries in one accident and $25,000 for property damage: 25/50/25. The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) calls these bare minimums and points out that a serious crash can cost far more.

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is optional. A company may include it in a quote, and you can ask for a lower amount or turn it down. UM limits can't be higher than your liability limits.
• Medical payments coverage is optional too. It pays medical bills for you and your passengers up to a set amount, whoever was at fault.
• Collision and comprehensive aren't required by the state, but a lender or lessor usually requires both on a financed car.

With nearly one Ohio driver in five uninsured in 2023, by the Insurance Research Council's estimate, dropping UM/UIM is a real trade-off rather than free money. Driving without proof of insurance can cost you your license and your plates. Our guide to limits and deductibles shows how to weigh higher limits against the premium.

How prices are set in Ohio

ODI regulates car insurance premiums but does not set them. When a company wants to change its rates, it must file its rating plan and supporting data with the department, whose staff review it for compliance with Ohio law. Each insurer builds its own price, which is why the spread between companies can be wide.

Some Ohio insurers use credit scoring, usually through models they build themselves. ODI says you can ask your insurer to recheck your score once a year, and to re-rate your policy after an error on your credit report is corrected. Read more on how credit-based scores move a premium.

When regular insurers say no

A driver no company will cover, usually because of a poor driving record, can turn to the Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan. State law requires the Auto Plan to guarantee access to liability coverage, and an agent submits the application. ODI warns that its rates can be higher than those of companies that specialize in high-risk drivers, so it is worth asking for those quotes first. Our guide to assigned risk plans covers how these plans work.

Lowering an Ohio premium

1. 1 Get several quotes. ODI suggests asking several agents and companies and notes that a price isn't firm until the company checks your background. Compare the same limits and deductibles.
2. 2 Ask about the older driver discount. Drivers aged 60 to 70 can qualify by passing an accident prevention course approved by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, with at least eight classroom hours and a driving test. ODI says most companies give 5% or 10% off the liability premium, and the discount lasts three years.
3. 3 Ask for the common discounts ODI lists: more than one car, good student, home and auto with one company, anti-theft devices and antilock brakes.
4. 4 Weigh your deductible. The deductible break-even calculator shows how long a higher deductible takes to pay for itself.
5. 5 Go to ODI if a dispute stalls. Start with your agent and the company. If that fails, call ODI Consumer Services at 800-686-1526 or file a complaint online.

Questions drivers ask