Automobile insurance is legally mandated in most states, including Ohio. Auto insurance provides financial protection for you against losses resulting from motor vehicle accidents and car theft. It can also provide compensation if someone is injured in an accident that was your fault or if your car damages someone else’s property.
Getting Auto Insurance
You will be asked to choose a car insurance company when you purchase a new car. You can also shop for car insurance online or by phone. The insurer with whom you sign a policy is responsible for sending your first premium payment to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). “Proof of Insurance” cards are distributed from the BMV. These cards must be kept in your car at all times, and you must present them to law enforcement officers if requested.
Driving Without Insurance
Always contact your agent as soon as possible to report a lapse in insurance coverage. Contact your agent immediately if you have been involved in an accident or received a ticket. You can be subject to fines or loss of driving privileges if you drive without insurance.
Determining Coverage and Rates
Ohioans purchase car insurance through private companies or the Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan (the “Plan”), a non-profit cooperative association of insurance companies. The Plan offers competitive rates and maintains a fund to help policyholders whose premiums exceed their losses.
“No-Fault” Insurance
Ohio has two types of car insurance: “no-fault” and tort. Ohio’s no-fault law requires that every insured person in an accident be reimbursed for medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket losses. However, the auto policyholder must pay the first $12,500 of these expenses.
Tort Insurance
Under tort insurance, the person responsible for an accident will be legally responsible for damages to those involved in the accident. If someone is injured in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver with no insurance or insufficient insurance, that party can sue the at-fault driver for damages.
Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
“Collision” and “comprehensive” insurance cover damage to your car that results from a collision with another vehicle or object, or by something falling on your car (such as hail or a falling tree branch). The minimum coverage required by Ohio law is $5,000 for property damage.
Supplemental Insurance
While your car insurance will pay some of the cost of repairs to your car, you will be responsible for the difference between what your insurance covers and the amount it costs to make repairs. You may consider purchasing a warranty that protects against depreciation or a “gap” policy that reimburses some of the difference between your insurance settlement and the value of your car.
Auto Insurance Minimums in Ohio
Ohio has no-fault requirements for basic liability coverage, but you may purchase comprehensive and collision if desired:
- $12,500 – Property damage liability (minimum required by law)
- $25,000 – Personal injury protection
- $50,000 – Bodily injury liability per person
- $25,000 – Property damage liability (per accident)
Ohio also requires that car insurance companies offer comprehensive collision coverage for a vehicle when it is originally offered or leased. If you decline this type of coverage in writing, your liability coverage will apply whenever anyone is injured due to your negligence and you might be considered 100% at fault for an accident.
Auto Insurance Fraud in Ohio
Car insurance companies lose millions of dollars to auto insurance fraud each year. To help combat this problem, Ohio has passed legislation that makes it a felony to obtain or attempt to obtain auto insurance through deceitful means. Ohio insurance companies have also established the Auto Insurance Fraud Prevention Program, which allows them to work together to identify and investigate suspicious claims.
“No-Fault” Claims
In certain situations, a claim may fall under Ohio’s “no-fault” law even though no one is at fault for an accident. This may occur if your vehicle was stolen and you have comprehensive coverage, or if it was vandalized, but only if it wasn’t subject to a “covered collision.” You may also be able to file a no-fault claim if the other party is not insured.
You may consider purchasing additional no-fault insurance through your car insurance company. This will protect you, your family members, and other drivers on your policy involved in an accident. It will also allow you to file a no-fault claim for medical expenses even if the accident was not your fault.
Ohio is known as being one of the worst states when it comes to expensive car insurance rates. Not surprisingly, they also have the worst overall driving records of all 50 states, which means Ohio drivers must be extra attentive on the roads. According to a study from Insure.com, Ohioans pay $1,752 each year for car insurance – more than twice as much as drivers in other parts of the country.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Ohio
Ohio is not an ideal place to live if you want affordable car insurance. The average Ohio driver must pay $1,752 a year for coverage. That’s more than twice as much as the national average and nearly three times the cost of car insurance in other states like Kentucky and West Virginia.
Cheapest Full Coverage in Ohio
Auto insurance rates in Ohio are 13 percent higher than the national average. Our data shows drivers can expect to pay around $3,657 for their yearly premiums. That’s an annual savings of $502 compared to what other consumers spend on car insurance annually (based on a sample of 1,526 quotes).
Best Car Insurance Companies
Ohio’s three best auto insurers are USAA, State Farm, and Nationwide – based on customer service and shopping experience. All three offer affordable policies that protect against accidents and theft. The following table shows the top five companies:
- USAA: 51589 (5/5)
- State Farm: 7382 (4.8/5)
- Nationwide: 4883 (4.8/5)
- Progressive: 1239 (4.7/5)
- Allstate: 1616 (3.9/5)
USAA, State Farm, and Nationwide are the only Ohio-based companies with over 1,000 customer service reviews on J.D. Power’s website. For the past three years, USAA and State Farm have been two of the top insurance companies in America as determined by J.D. Power’s “customer service satisfaction” rankings.
Compare Ohio Quotes Online
The easiest way to find Ohio’s car insurance rates is by comparing quotes online. With just a few clicks, you can receive free quotes from several companies that offer cheap rates for safe drivers. This concept is simple and allows you to reduce your overall costs because you don’t need to drive around to each company’s location(s).
Drivers With a DUI in Ohio
If you’ve been convicted of a DUI, finding the right car insurance policy that can cover your actions will be very difficult. Insurance companies consider DUIs an inherent risk and, therefore charge every customer who’s been arrested for this offense more money. In other words, you won’t find many cheap quotes if you’re a high-risk driver.
Drivers With Tickets in Ohio
One speeding ticket can increase your car insurance rates by as much as 30%. The same applies to other moving violations like running a red light or getting caught using your mobile device behind the wheel. As such, it’s important to avoid any potential violations while you’re driving.
Drivers With Bad Credit in Ohio
If your credit score is below the national average (650), it will be difficult to find affordable car insurance even if you live in a state like Ohio. Insurance companies don’t see poor credit as an immediate “risk” and instead charge all their customers across the board. Seniors in Ohio. Most insurance companies consider seniors low-risk drivers, which means they offer cheap car insurance rates.
But not all seniors are safe drivers, so you must compare quotes and see who can cover your lifestyle best. Student Drivers in Ohio. Insurance companies don’t want teen drivers on the road, so they charge young people more than older motorists. First, you must establish that you’re a safe driver and then shop around for the most affordable policy to help you in case of an accident or theft.
Military Drivers in Ohio
Most insurance companies offer great benefits for military personnel and their families in Ohio and elsewhere in America. They provide special rates and cover all expenses when you’re on active duty (like car registration and replacement services).
Car Insurance in Ohio
The average cost of auto insurance in Ohio is $3,657 per year. To find the most affordable policy, you must compare quotes from various companies and see who can give you the cheapest rate for your car and driving record.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance quotes in Ohio, we hope this guide will help. We reviewed key information like the average cost of car insurance and how to contact individual companies to get a quote. Remember that cheaper is not always better- ensure your coverage includes what you need! Many drivers overlook getting discounts through their employer or credit union because they believe it’s too much trouble. This article has shown that there are many ways to save on auto insurance without sacrificing quality protection (or even if you have bad credit). To learn more about these topics, click on one of our links below! Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck with finding affordable rates today!
