Writing this article would sure be easy if we could simply give you the name of the company that has the best car insurance rates in Ohio. It’s not quite that easy, unfortunately, as there are a whole bunch of unknown aspects like the miles you drive each year, if you have a lapse in coverage, and the vehicle you drive, that help determine the price you have to pay. The content below will cover the best ways to shop for cheaper coverage and educate you enough to have a good start in finding the cheapest insurance in Columbus.
Determining which companies offer the best auto insurance rates for high risk drivers takes more work in order to find a policy that fits your budget. Each insurer has their own guidelines to set policy rates, so let’s look at the rankings for the most competitive auto insurance companies in Columbus, OH.
It’s a good idea to know that Columbus auto insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially decrease or increase the policy premium. Simply turning a year older, buying a new vehicle, or getting a couple of tickets can trigger changes in premium that may make certain companies much cheaper than others.
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| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utica National | $635 |
| 2 | Erie | $661 |
| 3 | Allied | $669 |
| 4 | Frankenmuth | $708 |
| 5 | USAA | $719 |
| 6 | Travelers | $733 |
| 7 | Merchants Insurance Group | $755 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Insurance | $772 |
| 9 | Motorists Mutual | $800 |
| 10 | Grange Mutual | $828 |
| 11 | General Casualty | $829 |
| 12 | State Farm | $867 |
| 13 | Central Mutual | $874 |
| 14 | Hastings Mutual | $893 |
| 15 | Westfield | $908 |
| 16 | Atlantic States | $913 |
| 17 | Western Reserve | $941 |
| 18 | Progressive | $962 |
| 19 | Auto-Owners | $968 |
| 20 | Nationwide | $1,028 |
| Find Your Rate Go | ||
Utica National offers some of the lowest car insurance rates in Columbus at around $635 per year. This is $405 less than the average rate paid by Ohio drivers of $1,040. Erie, Allied, Frankenmuth, and USAA would also make the list of some of the best Columbus, OH car insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you have coverage with Erie and switched to Utica National, you could see an annual savings of upwards of $26. Drivers with Allied may save as much as $34 a year, and Frankenmuth insureds might see rate reductions of $73 a year.
Remember that these estimates are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and and are not figured with an exact vehicle garaging location for high risk drivers. So the car insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the top 33 companies shown above. That helps illustrate why you need to quote rates from many companies using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
For high risk drivers, one of the more important things that are used to help calculate car insurance rates is where you choose to live in Columbus. Regions with larger populations or more claims are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas areas with less crime or weather claims profit from lower rates.
The table below shows the most expensive areas in Ohio for high risk drivers to buy auto insurance in. Columbus ranks #1 with a yearly cost of $1,247 for the average policy, which is around $104 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $1,247 |
| 2 | Youngstown | $1,247 |
| 3 | Cleveland | $1,235 |
| 4 | Toledo | $1,229 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | $1,222 |
| 6 | Cleveland Heights | $1,214 |
| 7 | Hamilton | $1,135 |
| 8 | Euclid | $1,129 |
| 9 | Akron | $1,123 |
| 10 | Dayton | $1,108 |
| 11 | Springfield | $1,105 |
| 12 | Canton | $1,091 |
| 13 | Lakewood | $1,073 |
| 14 | Middletown | $1,066 |
| 15 | Fairfield | $1,063 |
| 16 | Newark | $1,063 |
| 17 | Beavercreek | $1,058 |
| 18 | Strongsville | $1,031 |
| 19 | Cuyahoga Falls | $1,027 |
| 20 | Mansfield | $1,022 |
| Find Cheaper Insurance Go | ||
Price information shown is approximated as zip code location can influence premium rates greatly.
Discount Columbus auto insurance rates
Insurance companies that offer coverage for high risk drivers could also offer special discounts that could potentially reduce rates by as much as 30% if you can meet the requirements. Companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts can be found below.
- GEICO may have discounts that include military active duty, air bags, daytime running lights, multi-policy, and defensive driver.
- Travelers includes discounts for new car, hybrid/electric vehicle, early quote, multi-policy, home ownership, good student, and continuous insurance.
- Nationwide may offer discounts for good student, easy pay, accident-free, defensive driving, family plan, Farm Bureau membership, and anti-theft.
- Farmers Insurance discounts include electronic funds transfer, switch companies, teen driver, mature driver, bundle discounts, and alternative fuel.
- Esurance has discounts for anti-lock brakes, good driver, multi-policy, homeowner, and online quote.
- State Farm offers discounts including student away at school, multiple autos, passive restraint, good driver, anti-theft, and Drive Safe & Save.
- Progressive may include discounts for homeowner, online signing, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, online quote discount, and good student.
- Mercury Insurance has savings for multi-car, age of vehicle, low natural disaster claims, professional/association, ease of repair, and annual mileage.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between insurance premiums with and without discounts applied to the rates. The data is based on a male driver, two accidents and two traffic tickets, Ohio state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $500 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows premium with no discounts. The second shows the rates with paperless filing, passive restraint, multiple policy, marriage, multiple vehicle, and anti-theft discounts applied. When these discounts are applied to the policy premium, theaverage amount saved on auto insurance for high risk drivers is 29% or $787.
Insuring your vehicle with the right car insurance provider can be challenging considering how many choices you have in Columbus. The company ratings shown below can help you decide which car insurance companies to look at when comparing rate quotes.
These rankings are only made up of large nationwide companies, so companies that have a smaller presence are not taken into consideration for this list. To check rates from the most competitive companies in Ohio, click here.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | 99 | 100 | 90 | 92% | A++ | 97.4 |
| 21st Century | 89 | 86 | 100 | 88% | A | 92.7 |
| GEICO | 97 | 91 | 88 | 85% | A++ | 92.5 |
| Nationwide | 88 | 94 | 91 | 88% | A+ | 91.3 |
| AAA Insurance | 93 | 87 | 88 | 87% | A | 90.8 |
| Liberty Mutual | 91 | 91 | 92 | 87% | A | 90.7 |
| Safeco Insurance | 90 | 93 | 88 | 86% | A | 90.2 |
| State Farm | 91 | 94 | 80 | 88% | A++ | 90.2 |
| Travelers | 89 | 91 | 94 | 79% | A++ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 88 | 92 | 83 | 88% | A | 89.4 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | ||||||
Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
Here’s why you should compare rates often
Ohio auto insurance rates are based on many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the cost of a policy. Simply getting older, having a teen driver, or getting a ticket for careless driving may prompt premium changes that can now make some companies cheaper than others.
Not only may your risk profile change, but companies file new Ohio car insurance rates at least once a year in order to maintain liquidity for claims. Heavier than normal losses may cause high rates, while profitable underwriting can produce cheaper Columbus car insurance rates.
For example, the bar chart below demonstrates which company has the cheapest car insurance in Columbus, OH for a 35-year-old female driver with a clean driving record, no accidents, and solid credit. If we estimate rates based on her personal profile, Utica National might offer the best car insurance rates in Columbus at $801 each year. This is $239 less than the average rate paid by Ohio drivers of $1,040. Erie, Allied, Frankenmuth, and Travelers also make the list of the top five cheapest Columbus, OH auto insurance companies.
The chart below compares rates after we give the driver from the first rate comparison a couple of claims, a little lower credit rating, and an imperfect driving record. Because each company has a different process to determining premium rates, analyzing rate quotes could result in a slightly different list of the cheapest companies as shown below.
Merchants Insurance Group now has the cheapest car insurance in Columbus, OH with Cincinnati Insurance, Grange Mutual, General Casualty, and Motorists Mutual now being in the top five. This shows why consumers need to take the time to do a thorough rate comparison to get affordable auto insurance rates for high risk drivers.
Car insurance prices are influenced by many factors and change frequently, so the most economical company the last time you shopped your coverage around may now be an over-priced policy.
The agents shown below can probably help you determine which car insurance company is the best fit, as many people would rather get some help when comparing insurance rates for high risk drivers. It can be complicated to find the cheapest rate yourself, and a licensed agent can bring satisfaction knowing your coverage gives you sufficient protection if you have a claim.
To find a Columbus insurance agent close to where you live, click the button at the bottom of the list.
- State Farm: Matt Simonds
2986 N High St – Columbus, OH 43202 – (614) 262-6700 - American Family Insurance – Yelena Uchiteleva Agency LLC
233 S Hamilton Rd – Columbus, OH 43213 – (614) 235-1702 - W.E. Davis Insurance Agency
29 Frederick St – Columbus, OH 43206 – (614) 443-0533
Find a Columbus, OH insurance agent near you
How to find economical auto insurance for high risk drivers
The list below details some of the better penny-pinching solutions that can help Ohio drivers buy lower-cost auto insurance.
- Home or renters coverage can save on auto insurance
- Higher credit ratings may save you money
- At-fault accidents will increase rates
- Raise your physical damage coverage deductibles
- Try to not file small claims
- Do not get traffic violations
- Comparison shop at least once a year
The last item on the list is notably crucial, as was noted in this piece. Coverage rates can change in a short period of time, so don’t be afraid to switch to a new company if a more affordable rate is found.
Being loyal to a particular company is commendable, but it’s not a great idea if that inflexibility results in costing you hundreds every year. Take a couple minutes and compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for high risk drivers in Columbus.