The five best car insurance companies in Ohio are State Farm, Erie Insurance, Nationwide, Geico and Auto-Owners Insurance
Updated:
Mar 17, 2024
Written by:
Daniel Robinson
Daniel Robinson
Writer
Edited by:
Rashawn Mitchner
Rashawn Mitchner
Senior Editor
With 8.2 million licensed drivers in 2021, Ohio has become a competitive market for car insurance and offers many companies to choose from. To help Ohio drivers find the best car insurance, we at the MarketWatch Guides team conducted extensive research of top auto insurers in the state, scoring companies based on five categories:
- Industry standing
- Availability
- Coverage
- Cost and discounts
- Customer experience
We also took a look at each company’s financial strength rating and analyzed customer reviews on sites the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot to understand what policyholders liked — and didn’t like — about top insurers.
Key Takeaways:
- State Farm is the best car insurance company in Ohio for its affordable rates, versatile coverage options and customer experience.
- Minimum car insurance costs $45 monthly or $536 annually in Ohio. A full-coverage policy costs $133 monthly or $1,599 a year.
- To legally drive, Ohio drivers must have liability insurance — $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident and $25,000 property damage per accident.
- You can save on car insurance by looking for discounts, choosing minimum coverage, increasing your deductible and comparing quotes.
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What Is the Best Car Insurance in Ohio?
Based on our research, we recommend State Farm as the No. 1 insurance company for Ohio drivers. Erie, Nationwide, Geico and Auto-Owners Insurance also earned top marks in the Buckeye State.
Compare Ohio Auto Insurance
To compare Ohio auto insurance, we looked at industry standing, availability, coverage, costs and discounts and, of course, customer experience. By analyzing performance in these areas, we were able to give each insurer a score and a ranking.
State Farm tops the list as the No.1 recommended auto insurer in Ohio, earning the high marks across all five categories. However, the ratings themselves reflect the companies’ performances across the entire nation, which is why Erie ties with State Farm overall but is still ranked in second place for Ohio.
Nationwide and Geico ranked third and fourth respectively, with Geico scoring higher than all five providers in availability. Auto-Owners Insurance rounds out the list with high scores in industry standing and coverage.
| Best Car Insurance in Ohio | Our Score | Industry Standing | Availability | Coverage | Cost and Discounts | Customer Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 9.4 | 10 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Erie Insurance | 9.4 | 8.9 | 8.1 | 10 | 9.9 | 9.1 |
| Nationwide | 9.1 | 8.5 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 8.9 |
| Geico | 9.1 | 9.7 | 10 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 8.8 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 8.9 | 9.1 | 8.3 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 8.3 |
Customer Experience
Customer experience is a critical factor when it comes to determining the best car insurance companies, but it can be challenging to assess because individual customer experiences vary. For example, one policyholder may rave about the speed with which their claim was processed. Another may report a processing delay.
To score companies on the overall customer experience, we read and analyzed dozens of reviews and comments and considered each company’s overall reputation within the industry (using BBB ratings) to gain a sense of their customers’ experiences over time. The BBB rates companies from A+ to F based on how likely their representatives are to interact with customers and customer complaints.
Best Car Insurance Companies in Ohio
Based on its consistently high ratings and positive customer sentiment, we at the MarketWatch Guides team recognized State Farm as not only the best Ohio car insurance provider but also the nation’s second-best car insurance carrier in 2024. All J.D. Power ratings are in overall customer satisfaction and come from the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠.
Read below to see why we also chose Erie Insurance, Nationwide, Geico and Auto-Owners Insurance as the top car insurance companies in Ohio.
#1: State Farm: Best Customer Experience
J.D. Power rating: 877 out of 1,000
AM Best financial strength rating: A++
BBB rating: C-
Pros
A++ financial strength rating from AM Best
Good discount opportunities for students and teens
Usage-based insurance discount
Many local insurance agents across the U.S.
Cons
Mixed reviews from customers
C- rating from the BBB
Read more: State Farm Insurance Review
State Farm Car Insurance Coverage
State Farm auto insurance in Ohio includes the following standard coverages:
- Liability coverages to include bodily injury and property damage
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) coverage
- Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance
- Medical payments (MedPay) coverage
In addition to these standard coverages, State Farm offers a number of optional coverages that drivers can add to their policies:
- Emergency road service coverage
- Rental car reimbursement
- Travel expenses coverage
- Rideshare driver coverage
State Farm Insurance Company Reputation
In business since 1922, State Farm had over a century to perfect its business model. Today, it’s the most popular auto insurance company in the United States, with 16.8% of the market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
On top of this, State Farm ranks the highest for large insurers in the J.D. Power Insurance Shopping Study, showing its effectiveness in overall customer satisfaction. The company also has an A++ rating from AM Best, denoting the insurance company’s superior financial strength and ability to pay claims.
State Farm typically has an A+ rating from the BBB, though currently occupies a C-. This is likely because the company hasn’t yet responded to the customer complaints on the site. While State Farm appears to have many customer complaints, it wrote $46.6 billion in premiums in 2023, so these opinions make up a very small percentage of the company’s policyholders, and won’t all apply to car insurance, anyway.
#2 Erie Insurance: Best for Basic Insurance Coverage
J.D. Power rating: 878 out of 1,000
AM Best financial strength rating: A+
BBB rating: A+
Pros
Strong industry ratings
Wide selection of add-on coverages
Many discount options
Cons
No usage-based insurance option
Read more: Erie Insurance Review
Compare: Erie Insurance vs. State Farm
Erie Insurance Coverage
Erie offers all the standard car insurance coverages as well as a wide selection of add-on coverages, including the following:
- Windshield repair: Have your windshield repaired instead of replaced and Erie will waive your comprehensive deductible.
- Pet injury coverage: If your pet gets hurt in a covered accident, Erie will reimburse $500 in vet bills per pet (or $1,000 total).
- Roadside assistance: If your car breaks down, roadside assistance covers towing, fuel delivery, jump-starts, lockout assistance and spare tire replacements.
- Travel expenses: If your car breaks down far from home, you can recover expenses for meals and lodging.
- Erie Auto Plus®: You can boost your coverage with this package, which includes a diminishing deductible, a $10,000 death benefit and increased limits for transportation expenses.
- Erie Rate Lock®: This feature allows you to lock in your rate for one year, even if you have a claim — as long as you don’t change your address or add/remove cars and people from your policy.
- New car replacement: If your car is less than two years old at the time of a total loss accident, you can replace it with a new model.
- Rental car coverage: After a covered accident, this option helps to cover the cost of a rental car.
- Roadside and rentals bundle: This boosted-protection package includes roadside assistance and rental car coverage.
Erie Insurance Company Reputation
With A+ ratings from the BBB and AM Best, Erie Insurance has a stellar reputation within the industry for customer service and financial strength. As the 13th-largest auto insurance company in the nation (according to the NAIC), commanding slightly more than 1% of the market, the company doesn’t operate in every state but is a solid option in states where it does business, such as Ohio.
Our team recently conducted a nationwide car insurance satisfaction survey in which Erie Insurance ranked above the industry average in all categories, including:
- Overall customer satisfaction
- Affordability
- Discounts and savings programs
- Selection of coverage and add-ons
- Car insurance shopping process
- Company website
#3 Nationwide: Best for Usage-Based Insurance
J.D. Power rating: 861 out of 1,000
AM Best financial strength rating: A
BBB rating: A+
Pros
Many standard and add-on coverage options
Usage-based insurance
Some of the cheapest car insurance in Ohio
Cons
Mixed customer reviews
Read more: Nationwide Insurance Review
Compare: State Farm vs. Nationwide
Nationwide Car Insurance Coverage
Like most major insurance companies, Nationwide offers the six standard types of coverage to protect you and your car as well other drivers and their vehicles in the event of an accident. Like most insurers, Nationwide has optional coverages for increased protection.
Add-on coverages from Nationwide include:
- Roadside assistance: If your car breaks down or you’re stranded on the side of the road, this coverage provides towing, fuel delivery, a tire change or a jump-start.
- Rental reimbursement coverage: This option helps to cover the cost of a rental car or alternate transportation if your vehicle is in the shop after a covered accident.
- Gap coverage: If you’re financing and have a total-loss accident, this covers the difference between the actual cash value of your vehicle and what you still owe on your loan.
- Accident forgiveness: If you add this to your policy, your rate won’t increase after your first at-fault accident or minor violation, such as a speeding ticket.
- Vanishing deductible: You can take $100 off your deductible for each year of safe driving — up to $500.
- Total loss deductible waiver: This benefit waives your physical damage deductible in the event of a total loss.
Nationwide Insurance Company Reputation
In business for nearly 100 years, Nationwide has proven to be a reliable insurance company that consistently maintains a good standing within the industry. Its A+ rating from AM Best indicates superior financial strength and the ability to pay claims. Its A+ rating from the BBB emphasizes the company’s dedication to customer service and complaint resolution.
#4 Geico: Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers
J.D. Power rating: 857 out of 1,000
AM Best financial strength rating: A++
BBB rating: A+
Pros
A++ financial strength rating from AM Best and A+ from BBB
Low car insurance rates for most drivers
High policy limits
Cons
Average J.D. Power claims ratings
Not always the cheapest for people with poor credit or recent accidents
Fewer local agents than other companies
Read more: Geico Insurance Review
Compare: State Farm vs. Geico
Geico Car Insurance Coverage
Whether you’re looking for a minimum-liability basic policy or a full-coverage policy with higher limits, Geico has you covered. The insurer offers all the standard car insurance coverages plus optional coverages, such as:
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Rideshare insurance
- Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI)
Geico Insurance Company Reputation
Founded in 1936, Geico is now the third-largest car insurance provider in the nation, controlling 13.8% of the market, according to the NAIC. With an A++, Geico boasts the highest rating a company can receive from AM Best, indicating exceptional financial strength and a steady ability to pay out claims.
Geico’s A+ rating from the BBB indicates its strength as a company as well, and its diligence in adhering to customer concerns and comments on the site. These ratings and customer reviews have helped Geico establish a solid reputation as a company that pays out claims and protects customers.
#5 Auto-Owners Insurance: Best for Young Drivers
J.D. Power rating: 862 out of 1,000
AM Best financial strength rating: A++
BBB rating: A+
Pros
Positive customer reviews
Various insurance products
Excellent financial health
Cons
Limited availability
Below-average claims process
Limited online presence
Read more: Auto-Owners Insurance Review
Auto-Owners Insurance Coverage
In addition to the standard car insurance coverages, Auto-Owners Insurance has a substantial selection of optional coverages. Among them:
- Road trouble service: This option provides roadside assistance if your car breaks down on the side of the road.
- Additional expense: Additional expense coverage pays for a rental car if your car’s in the shop following a covered accident and covers food and lodging if you’re traveling far from home when the accident occurs.
- Loan/lease gap: If you’re financing your vehicle and have a total-loss accident, this optional coverage pays for any difference between what your car’s actually worth vs. what you still owe on it.
- Diminished value: With this, you’ll get compensated for any reduction in your car’s value resulting from a covered accident.
- Rental auto gap: This option provides coverage for your liability as defined by the rental agreement.
Auto-Owners Insurance Company Reputation
Although not as well known as other carriers on our list, Auto-Owners Insurance has more than 100 years of industry experience and enjoys stellar ratings from AM Best (A++) and the BBB (A+). Auto-Owners Insurance employs 48,000 agents and has multiple other product lines, including home, life and business in 26 states. The company focuses on “friendly service from a real person.”
How To Find the Best Car Insurance in Ohio
You can take several steps to save money on your Ohio car insurance.
- Shop for discounts. Car insurance companies offer discounts as a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. When shopping for providers, compare discounts from each to maximize your savings.
- Enroll in a usage-based insurance (UBI) program. Available from most major insurers, UBI programs customize your rate based on how often and how safely you drive. These programs could save you significantly on your monthly premium.
- Maintain a clean driving record. A single accident or ticket can cause a spike in your premium cost at the time of renewal. The simplest way to keep premiums low is to drive safely and avoid moving violations.
- Keep your car insurance policy active. Even a short lapse in coverage can cause your rates to increase by as much as 25% when you reinstate your policy. The best way to avoid an accidental lapse is to sign up for autopay or pay your premium all at once — both of which can also earn you a discount.
- Bundle your policies. If you have multiple things to insure (your car, home and motorcycle, for example), bundling your policies with one insurer could save you money on your monthly premiums for each product within the bundle.
You can also increase your deductible and minimize your coverage to pay less for premium costs. However, you may end up paying more out of pocket if you get into an accident.
Check Ohio Car Insurance Requirements
Ohio mandates that drivers maintain certain minimum coverages. They are:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability coverage per accident
In most states, including Ohio, state law requires car owners carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. Liability insurance protects other drivers and passengers. Insurers break down the coverage into two parts.
- Bodily injury liability (per person and per accident) pays for medical expenses and hospital bills if you injure another driver or their passengers.
- Property damage liability covers the damage you cause to someone else’s property from a covered accident.
Insurers usually list liability requirements as three side-by-side numbers. When getting car insurance quotes in Ohio, for instance, you’ll see them spelled out as 25/50/25 — indicating the minimum required insurance coverage for each component. You can always choose to increase these limits if you like.
Consider How Much Car Insurance Coverage You Need
How much car insurance you need depends on:
| Requirements in your state | If you live in any state except Virginia or New Hampshire, you’ll need to have the minimum amount of required liability coverage to drive legally. In Ohio, that means having liability insurance. |
| Requirements from your lender | If you’re financing your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to carry comprehensive and collision coverage to protect their investment. Comp and collision protect your car, unlike liability insurance, which only protects other parties after an accident. |
| Your finances and the average costs to repair your car | If you own your car outright and can afford to pay for damages out of pocket, you can opt to buy a minimum-coverage policy instead of full coverage. If you choose to go this route, however, just make sure that you have enough in the bank to cover worst-case scenarios, including a total loss. A minimum-coverage policy is cheaper than full coverage, but that’s because it offers less protection. You can check the average car repair cost for your make and model by going to sources like RepairPal. |
When deciding how much car insurance you need, you should understand the basic coverage options and what each provides. We’ve already talked about the one required coverage in Ohio — liability insurance — but here’s what Ohio drivers should know about the other standard car insurance coverages:
- Collision coverage: This covers damage to your vehicle as the result of a covered accident or collision on the road.
- Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive insurance pays for damages to your vehicle that come from something other than a collision. This is usually vandalism, theft, or damages from fire, hail, floods or other acts of nature like earthquakes.
- Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage (UIM/UM) coverage: UIM/UM protects your finances if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver or a motorist who doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your accident-related expenses.
- Medical payments coverage (MedPay): This optional benefit in Ohio compensates you and your passengers for medical bills resulting from the accident, regardless of who was at fault.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP covers medical expenses and related costs for you and your passengers, regardless of who’s at fault for an accident. As an at-fault state, Ohio doesn’t offer PIP coverage. You can, however, add MedPay coverage to your car insurance policy, which functions like PIP coverage.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Ohio
The average cost of a full-coverage policy in Ohio is $1,599 annually, which is below the national average of $2,008 per year. Ohio’s average for minimum coverage is also below the national annual average of $728.
| Minimum Annual | Minimum Monthly | Full Annual | Full Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $536 | $45 | $1,599 | $133 |
Ohio Car Insurance Costs by Provider
For a full-coverage policy in Ohio, Nationwide is the cheapest, with an average cost of $825 per year. When it comes to minimum coverage, on the other hand, Erie Insurance offers the best average rate at $237 annually.
| Car Insurance Provider | Minimum-Coverage Annual Average Cost | Full-Coverage Annual Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Erie Insurance | $237 | $1,044 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $285 | $1,231 |
| Progressive | $316 | $1,291 |
| Nationwide | $333 | $825 |
| Geico | $370 | $1,115 |
| Cincinnati Financial | $532 | $1,757 |
| Allstate | $675 | $2,211 |
| State Farm | $1,824 | $3,258 |
Average Ohio Car Insurance Costs by Age Group
Ohio drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 are typically less experienced behind the wheel compared to older drivers, so they’re considered more of a risk by insurers and have to pay the most for car insurance. Sixteen-year-olds often have the highest rates in the country, but as drivers get out of their early 20s and move into their 30s and 40s, rates drop exponentially.
| Age | Average Full-Coverage Monthly Cost | Average Full-Coverage Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | $496 | $5,956 |
| 25 | $161 | $1,933 |
| 35 | $133 | $1,599 |
| 45 | $128 | $1,532 |
| 55 | $119 | $1,429 |
Provider Car Insurance Costs by Age in Ohio
A breakdown of statewide age-specific premiums by insurance companies shows that Nationwide offers the cheapest rates for Ohio drivers in every age range.
| Provider | 16 | 25 | 35 | 45 | 55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | $2,934 | $930 | $825 | $787 | $708 |
| Allstate | $9,506 | $2,779 | $2,211 | $2,119 | $2,019 |
| Cincinnati Financial | $5,533 | $2,102 | $1,757 | $1,676 | $1,479 |
| Erie Insurance | $3,173 | $1,267 | $1,044 | $960 | $897 |
| Geico | $4,301 | $1,448 | $1,115 | $1,076 | $1,095 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $3,668 | $1,683 | $1,231 | $1,194 | $1,101 |
| Progressive | $5,662 | $1,423 | $1,291 | $1,167 | $992 |
| State Farm | $12,965 | $3,944 | $3,258 | $3,280 | $3,127 |
Ohio Car Insurance Costs by City
Car insurance rates vary not only by state but also by region, with drivers in big cities and more densely populated areas paying more on average than drivers in smaller towns or more rural areas. That’s because accident, theft and vandalism rates are usually higher in big cities.
As such, drivers in Cleveland (population 361,607)* and Columbus (population 907,971) can expect to pay the highest annual rates in Ohio on average — $1,165 and $1,155, respectively — for full coverage. Brunswick (population 35,196) has the lowest average annual rates for full coverage at $866.
*U.S. Census Bureau population estimates for July 2022
| City in Ohio | Average Full-Coverage Monthly Cost | Average Full-Coverage Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | $85 | $1,027 |
| Avon Lake | $77 | $924 |
| Brunswick | $72 | $866 |
| Cincinnati | $100 | $1,201 |
| Cleveland | $97 | $1,165 |
| Columbus | $96 | $1,155 |
| Dublin | $85 | $1,030 |
| Franklin | $80 | $965 |
| Garfield Heights | $87 | $1,050 |
| Hamilton | $88 | $1,066 |
| Kettering | $81 | $983 |
| Lancaster | $84 | $1,010 |
| Maple Heights | $90 | $1,088 |
| Marysville | $76 | $916 |
| Miamisburg | $81 | $976 |
| North Olmsted | $77 | $928 |
| North Royalton | $77 | $933 |
| Perrysburg | $76 | $923 |
| Sandusky | $74 | $893 |
| Springfield | $81 | $974 |
| Toledo | $94 | $1,130 |
| Troy | $75 | $906 |
| Westerville | $85 | $1,029 |
| Willoughby | $76 | $920 |
| Zanesville | $84 | $1,018 |
Ohio Car Insurance Discounts
When shopping for car insurance, it’s always important to compare discounts from provider to provider. Here are the most common car insurance discounts among insurance carriers:
| Discount | Description |
|---|---|
| Multiple policies | For insuring multiple products (car, home, motorcycle) with the same carrier |
| Multiple vehicles | For insuring more than one vehicle with the same carrier |
| Good student | For full-time students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher |
| Distant student | For parents of students under the age of 22 who are living more than 100 miles from home |
| Safe/accident-free driver | For drivers who have maintained a clean record for the past three years |
| Defensive driving | For drivers who have completed an approved defensive driver course |
| Driver training | For teens who have completed a driver’s ed course |
| Pay in full | For paying your premium all at once vs. monthly |
| Automatic payments | For setting up autopay on your car insurance account |
| Continuous insurance | For drivers who were insured continuously for 6 months or longer |
Best Ohio Car Insurance: The Bottom Line
For the best Ohio car insurance, the MarketWatch Guides team recommends State Farm, Erie Insurance and Nationwide. Drivers can expect quality customer service, reliable coverage, great UBI programs and affordable rates from these top three Ohio insurance companies.
When shopping for insurance, keep in mind that insurance needs will vary among drivers, so it’s important to compare coverages, rates and discounts from at least three companies to ensure you find the best car insurance for your needs.
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Best Auto Insurance in Ohio: FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about car insurance in Ohio.
Nationwide offers the cheapest full-coverage insurance in Ohio at a yearly average of $825.
The average cost of a full-coverage policy in Ohio is $1,599 per year. A minimum-liability policy costs the average driver less than half that amount at only $536 per year.
To save money on car insurance in Ohio, compare rates from at least three different providers, look for discounts and bundle your insurance policies.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have questions about this page, please reach out to our editors at editors@marketwatchguides.com.
