The Best Ohio Auto Insurance Companies
If you’re shopping for insurance in Ohio, you’re in luck: Auto insurance premiums in the Buckeye State are among the lowest in the country. However, Ohioans still need to make sure they get enough liability insurance in case they do cause a major accident, in addition to uninsured or underinsured driver coverage in case someone else causes an accident but isn’t fully insured.
How We Found the Best Ohio Auto Insurance Companies
We used the same methodology outlined in our review of nationwide providers and started narrowing top picks by checking market shares in Ohio. We checked for basic coverages — liability, comprehensive, and collision — and evaluated supplemental coverage options (endorsements) and discounts. To make sure that each company could reliably pay out your claims, we consulted Moody’s, A.M. Best, and S&P Global for financial stability ratings. Finally, J.D. Power and Consumer Reports gave us insight on the companies’ customer service and claims processes.
All of our top picks received fairly similar scores, so we made distinctions based on how well the companies streamlined our insurance shopping experience. We tested for valuable customer service features, educational resources, ease of navigation, range of discounts and endorsements, and the quality of online quote tools (if available).
The 4 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Ohio
American Family
Like all of our contenders, American Family offers the necessary liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, but it really stood out for its discounts and endorsements. If you’re looking for gap loan coverage, rideshare coverage, umbrella coverage, or personal injury protection, American Family can help you get the customized coverage you need.
In terms of discounts, we were impressed with American Family’s range and transparent descriptions. In addition to fairly common multi-vehicle, safe driving, and loyalty discounts, the company has some unique offerings like family or usage-based plans, as well as a discount for getting a new quote at least seven days before your current insurance expires.
American Family has one of the smaller market share percentages in the state at only 2.6%, and it also has a lower financial stability rating (A) from A.M. Best than some of our other contenders. However, on the customer service front, American Family boasts “excellent” ratings for agent courtesy and timely payment on Consumer Reports and an average three out of five stars for customer satisfaction on J.D. Power.
We also found American Family’s online quote tool relatively simple and easy to use — plus, it automatically included the discounts for which we initially qualified. However, to do any further digging on savings, American Family directs you to contact an agent. The coverage options are neatly outlined by price buckets, and you can either customize the quote yourself, call, or use the live chat feature to consult an agent for specific questions.
State Farm
State Farm holds the largest stake in the Ohio auto insurance market at 19.7%, and it boasts an A++ financial stability rating from A.M. Best, so it’s safe to say that it’ll be able to pay out on any of your claims. State Farm also fared extremely well in J.D. Power’s 2018 Customer Satisfaction Survey for the North Central region, with four out of five stars overall and “excellent” marks for timely payment and agent courtesy.
Alongside standard coverages, you’ll find a number of customizable options like rental car reimbursement, coverage tailored to teen drivers, and rideshare coverage — a must for Uber or Lyft drivers. State Farm offers several of the most common discounts like multi-line, multi-policy, safe driver, and good student. It even offers a discount for newer cars with up-to-date safety features.
State Farm has a stellar website, where you’ll be able to find tons of good information on coverage and discount options, an FAQ section, and even resources with helpful tips about car insurance, car maintenance, and more. The only thing its website lacked in comparison with our other top picks was a live chat customer service option. It’s also the only one of our top picks to require either a license number or a Social Security number for an online quote. So if you’d prefer not to give up that information online, you’ll need to call to get a quote from an agent.
Progressive
Progressive has everything you can ask for in a website: clear explanations of all its coverage options and discounts, live chat customer service via Facebook Messenger, and a comprehensive FAQ section. We particularly liked how customizable and easy to use Progressive’s online quote tool is, making shopping around for the best coverage easy and quick.
Progressive offers a number of discounts, including those for drivers under 18, paperless billing, and being a homeowner. While the company has as many endorsements and coverage options as American Family, it is the only top pick to offer pet injury and custom parts coverage. So if you travel frequently with your furry companion, Progressive is worth considering. It also offers gap loan coverage, which covers everything you owe on your lease if your car is totaled in an accident but its value is less than what you still owe.
Unfortunately, Progressive hasn’t fared too well in customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power’s survey of the North Central region. With a two out of five overall, Progressive is on the lower end of our top picks. That said, Consumer Reports was much more positive, with “very good” ratings across the board and one “excellent” for timely payment. Progressive holds the second-largest market share in the state at 13.5%, and in terms of financial stability, the company retains an A+ rating from A.M. Best.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual doesn’t have the quantity of options that some of our other picks do, but it does offer a lot of unique coverages and discounts. It is the only one to offer a discount for hybrid vehicles, and even though it only has 11 of the 20 endorsements we looked for, it’s the only one of our picks to offer new car replacement and a vanishing deductible. If any of these coverage options are on your must-have list for car insurance, be sure to give Liberty Mutual a look.
As for its customer service reputation, Liberty Mutual has a lower rating from J.D. Power’s analysis in the North Central region than any of our other top picks: two out of five in both overall and claims scores. However, its Consumer Reports ratings are more in-line with our other top picks: 88 out of 100 for overall satisfaction and “very good” for both simplicity of the process and timely claims payments. Liberty Mutual also has the lowest scores of all our top picks from Moody’s, A.M. Best, and S&P Global for financial stability. That said, we’re talking about a pretty minor difference — it’s still considered financially sound.
We were impressed by Liberty Mutual’s website: It clearly lays out coverage options and discounts, offers live chat via Facebook Messenger and Twitter, and has an informative customer service FAQ. We also liked the easy-to-use online quote tool, which made it a breeze to see if they had the right coverage for us. However, its educational resources weren’t quite as strong as those from Progressive, American Family, and State Farm.
The Cheapest Insurance Companies in Ohio
Average Annual Premium by Company
| Car Insurance Companies | Average Annual Premium |
| USAA | $408 |
| GEICO | $497 |
| Erie Insurance | $504 |
| American Family Insurance | $532 |
| State Farm | $590 |
| Esurance | $630 |
| Progressive | $632 |
| Nationwide | $734 |
| Encompass | $788 |
| Metropolitan Insurance | $803 |
| Allstate | $805 |
Quadrant car insurance rate data as of 07/01/2019.
Average Annual Premium by Credit Tier
| Credit Rating Tier | Average Annual Premium |
| Poor | $1,148 |
| Below Fair | $928 |
| Fair | $782 |
| Average | $724 |
| Good | $652 |
| Excellent | $519 |
| Average Across Credit Rating Tiers | $792 |
Quadrant car insurance rate data as of 07/01/2019.
Top 3 Cheapest Companies
- USAA: $408
- GEICO: $497
- Erie Insurance: $504
Top 3 Most Expensive Companies
- Allstate: $805
- Metropolitan Insurance: $803
- Encompass: $788
The three cheapest auto insurance companies in Ohio are USAA, GEICO, and Erie Insurance. Ohio sits well below the national average on cost of insurance premiums annually. With large stretches of land and a relatively low population density, Ohio is suited to have fewer risk factors, and therefore lower insurance premiums. Urban centers like Cleveland will likely have rates a bit higher, but overall Ohio keeps prices low. One potential risk factor however is earthquakes: while many go unnoticed, Ohio has had notable earthquakes in recent years. Weather presents the largest risk, so be mindful of additional coverage options that can keep you safe.
Guide to Ohio Auto Insurance
Make sure you meet Ohio’s minimum requirements
Almost every state has a minimum liability limit for how much auto insurance you need as a driver licensed in that state. Ohio’s minimum liability coverage is 25/50/25, which means:
- $25,000 bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury coverage per accident
- $25,000 property damage coverage per accident
This coverage is about average compared to other states’ requirements, but it’s always wise to buy more than the minimum — especially in an at-fault state like Ohio. For example, if you cause an accident with a luxury vehicle worth $100,000, your $25,000 of property damage may not cover what you owe and you’d be responsible for the rest out of pocket.
Consider additional coverages
You’ll also want to look into optional insurance coverages while trying to find the best rate. Collision insurance helps cover the cost of damages incurred from crashing into another car or object, and comprehensive coverage takes care of everything that doesn’t involve collisions, like thefts. Before purchasing, it’s best to research all of the options available to you to find not only the best rate but also the maximum amount of coverage for your needs. Get started by checking out our quote tool at the top of the page.
Shop around
The right type and amount of coverage for you depends on many factors, from how often you drive and how many cars you’re insuring to where you live — rural and urban drivers encounter different driving risks, which will impact how much you pay. Your rates will also vary based on your marital status, age, and gender. It’s always a good idea to shop around for the best package for your specific needs, as each company weighs these factors a little differently.
Ohio Auto Insurance FAQ
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*Extras: $5,000 medical costs coverage + Emergency roadside service + Car rental reimbursement + $500 comprehensive deductible + $500 collision deductible
The Best Ohio Auto Insurance Companies: Summed Up
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Methodology
We worked with Quadrant Information Services to provide data on auto insurance rates by company and credit score. Quadrant makes this information available using rate data insurers are required to file with state Departments of Insurance. Rates are based on sample profiles created by Reviews.com for comparative purposes.
About the Authors
Brett Benningfield is a staff writer for Reviews.com. He has spent countless hours researching and writing about insurance and financial services. Joining in November of 2018 Brett has helped Reviews by delivering research and expertise on a variety of topics like insurance, finance, and more.
