Ohio auto insurance

Maintaining insurance coverage that meets or exceeds state requirements is the best way to protect yourself from liability and other financial consequences on the road.
Compare, shop and customize quotes from top-rated insurance carriers.

Find the right Ohio auto insurance policy

Ohio is a dangerous state for auto accidents. Maintaining Ohio auto insurance is the best way to manage risk when driving in a state where one in 10 drivers have an at-fault accident on their record. VIU by HUB makes it easy to compare car insurance policies that meet and exceed state requirements for liability coverage and provide additional coverage to limit the financial impact of a car accident.

Why Ohioans need auto insurance

As of 2020, there were over 8 million licensed drivers in Ohio. The state has the seventh-highest total number of licensed drivers and the fifth-largest interstate system. In addition to the number of people on the road and widespread reliance on private passenger vehicles for transportation, these statistics indicate the importance of having a sufficient level of car insurance coverage in Ohio:

•       Ohio ranks in the top 10 states for drivers with driving violations.

•       About 15 in 100 licensed Ohio drivers have speeding tickets.

•       The of three largest cities in Ohio rank among the cities with the worst drivers.

The most dangerous stretch of road in Ohio is located in Columbus on I-71 between Exit 110B and Exit 116. Although the number of traffic fatalities per mile driven in Ohio is slightly below the national average, the risk of bodily injuries and property damage justifies state requirements for liability coverage. Additional coverage can also reduce out-of-pocket costs to repair or replace a vehicle.

Minimum requirements for Ohio car insurance

Ohio requires that all drivers maintain at least a minimum level of liability coverage for bodily injuries and property damage. Find out more about mandatory requirements and learn about the benefits of higher policy limits and more comprehensive coverage.

Coverage for injuries and damage to property

Basic liability coverage is a requirement for all drivers in Ohio. The state mandates 25/50/25 liability coverage, which includes:

•       $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person.

•       $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident.

•       $25,000 of property damage liability coverage.

These are the minimum limits for liability coverage that meets state requirements in Ohio. Vehicle owners should consider policies that offer higher bodily injury and property damage liability limits, and more complete policies that cover costs associated with damage to your vehicle even if you are at fault.

The average cost of Ohio auto insurance 

Ohio is the among the least expensive states for car insurance. The average cost of car insurance in Ohio is $150 a month, which is $90 less than the national average of $240 per month.

Considerations for Ohio car insurance rates

Several factors impact rates across insurers. The age and record of a driver are key factors among the factors that impact premium costs. Here are a few data points that insurers use to calculate the monthly and yearly pricing of car insurance:

•       Age of drivers.

•       Credit score.

•       Driving accident and citation record.

•       City and ZIP code where the car is garaged and driven.

•       Vehicle age, make and model.

Premiums for policies that cover teen drivers are the most expensive. Adult drivers have lower premiums up until the age of 70 when premiums start rising again based on age. Credit scores also factor into premiums. Policies for drivers who have poor credit can cost up to twice as much as policies for drivers with excellent credit. Policies for city residents can also cost more than coverage for rural drivers.

Additional optional auto insurance coverages

Liability-only Ohio auto insurance policies do not cover the cost of repairing or replacing a vehicle. For this reason, many drivers opt for Collision or Comprehensive Coverage. Find out more about these policy types, and options to cover uninsured or underinsured motorists and medical expenses associated with car accidents.

Collision Coverage

Collision Coverage can help you repair your car after a collision with another car or object. Lenders and leasing companies usually require full coverage that includes collision for financed vehicles. The VIU by HUB comparison tool makes it easy to compare costs for policies that cover collision.

Comprehensive Coverage

Damage to a vehicle caused by natural disasters or theft is excluded from liability and collision policies. On average, Ohio receives up to 2 inches of monthly snowfall in December and 3 inches of monthly snowfall in January and February. Snow and ice can cause tree limbs to fall on vehicles. Comprehensive Coverage can cover the expenses of repairing damage to your vehicle by causes other than collision.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist

Although the state of Ohio does not require drivers to purchase coverage for uninsured and underinsured motorists, this coverage is useful in the event an at-fault driver causes you bodily injury or property damage in an accident who does not have insurance or had policies with low limits that do not cover all of the costs associated with an accident.

Medical Payments

Medical Payments coverage pays for some of the policyholder driver and passenger medical costs resulting from an accident. However, Medical Payments is not health insurance and does not include compensation for lost wages or other non-medical benefits.

This information is intended for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.

Sources:

ODOT Facts Book

Statista

Ohio BMV

Ohio Department of Public Safety

Auto insurance in Ohio by city

Understand risks, minimum state coverage requirements, average costs and other specifics that can impact auto insurance policies and premium rates in your city.