The words “economical” and “auto insurance” probably shouldn’t be used in the same sentence, in particular when you are trying to find the best price on coverage for infrequent drivers. Because it’s not cheap, let’s take a look at some things that help determine car insurance prices, and come up with some ideas to lower the price of the next policy you buy.
The make and model of vehicle to be insured is probably the largest consideration when comparison shopping for cheaper insurance for infrequent drivers. Vehicles with high performance features, poor safety features, or a high likelihood of having liability claims will cost more to insure than more modest models.
The data below ranks auto insurance costs for a number of the most economical automobiles to insure in Ohio.
| Vehicle Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $1,242 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $1,334 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,347 |
| Ford Escape Limited 2WD | $1,364 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD | $1,439 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $1,445 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD | $1,466 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $1,508 |
| Ford F-150 STX Regular Cab 2WD | $1,518 |
| Toyota Camry XLE | $1,516 |
| Toyota Corolla XLE | $1,523 |
| Nissan Rogue S AWD | $1,541 |
| GMC Sierra SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $1,575 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $1,583 |
| Chevrolet Impala LT | $1,575 |
| Ford Focus S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,583 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,620 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $1,626 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $1,620 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $1,645 |
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Above prices assume single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, homeowner, multi-vehicle, multi-policy, and claim-free. Rate information does not factor in specific location information which can revise premiums considerably.
By looking at the data, you can infer that vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius are most likely going to be a few of the most affordable vehicles to insure for low mileage drivers.
Comparing rates for low-priced insurance is not the easiest thing to accomplish, and finding out which company offers the cheapest car insurance rates for infrequent drivers calls for a bit more work.
Every insurance company uses a slightly different approach to set policy rates, so first we will examine the car insurance companies with the most affordable rates in Columbus. It’s a good idea to know that Columbus, OH car insurance rates are impacted by many factors that may substantially change the cost of having a policy. Price variation is why consumers need to take the time to do a thorough rate comparison when trying to find the best auto insurance quotes for infrequent drivers. Insurance prices can be determined by many different factors and change dramatically, so the best company the last time you checked may now be one of the more expensive options.
Best Auto Insurance Prices in Ohio
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utica National | $635 |
| 2 | Erie | $661 |
| 3 | Allied | $690 |
| 4 | Frankenmuth | $708 |
| 5 | Travelers | $726 |
| 6 | USAA | $733 |
| 7 | Merchants Insurance Group | $771 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Insurance | $779 |
| 9 | Motorists Mutual | $792 |
| 10 | General Casualty | $813 |
| 11 | Grange Mutual | $828 |
| 12 | Hastings Mutual | $858 |
| 13 | Central Mutual | $874 |
| 14 | State Farm | $885 |
| 15 | Westfield | $918 |
| 16 | Atlantic States | $931 |
| 17 | Progressive | $953 |
| 18 | Western Reserve | $961 |
| 19 | Auto-Owners | $988 |
| 20 | Nationwide | $1,018 |
| Find Your Rate Go | ||
Utica National may have some of the lowest car insurance rates in Columbus at around $635 per year. This is $405 less than the average policy premium paid by Ohio drivers of $1,040. Erie, Allied, Frankenmuth, and Travelers would also make the list of some of the more affordable Columbus, OH car insurance companies.
As illustrated above, if you buy coverage from Frankenmuth and switched to Erie, you might achieve an annual premium reduction of in the vicinity of $47. Ohio drivers with Travelers may save as much as $65 a year, and USAA insureds might realize rate reductions of up to $72 a year.
If you want to find out if you’re overpaying, click here to begin a quote or quote prices from the following companies.
Understand that those estimates are averaged for all types of insureds and vehicles and and are not figured with an exact location for infrequent drivers. So the insurer that fits you best may not even be in the top 33 companies in the list above. That illustrates why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own personalized driver profile and vehicle information.
One of the more important factors that are looked at to determine car insurance rates is where you keep your vehicle. Areas with more people or higher crime rates tend to have more expensive auto insurance rates, whereas areas with lower crime rates and fewer weather claims profit from lower rates.
The following table sorts the highest-priced places in Ohio for infrequent drivers to purchase a policy in. Columbus is listed at #4 with an annual cost of $1,211 for the average policy, which is about $101 each month.
| Rank | City | Premium Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown | $1,273 |
| 2 | Toledo | $1,267 |
| 3 | Cleveland | $1,222 |
| 4 | Columbus | $1,211 |
| 5 | Cleveland Heights | $1,178 |
| 6 | Cincinnati | $1,174 |
| 7 | Euclid | $1,140 |
| 8 | Hamilton | $1,135 |
| 9 | Akron | $1,135 |
| 10 | Dayton | $1,120 |
| 11 | Fairfield | $1,095 |
| 12 | Newark | $1,095 |
| 13 | Canton | $1,069 |
| 14 | Springfield | $1,061 |
| 15 | Lakewood | $1,041 |
| 16 | Beavercreek | $1,027 |
| 17 | Cuyahoga Falls | $1,027 |
| 18 | Middletown | $1,024 |
| 19 | Lorain | $1,015 |
| 20 | Kettering | $1,009 |
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Information shown are comparative as specific Columbus zip code can alter coverage rates noticeably.
The chart below shows how choosing a deductible can raise or lower insurance premiums when getting quotes for cheap insurance for infrequent drivers. The prices are based on a married female driver, full coverage, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
The data above shows that a 50-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $210 a year by increasing from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $316 by choosing a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, such as the 20-year-old chart data, could lower their rates as much as $516 or more by using a higher deductible.
If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it will now be necessary to have enough savings set aside to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense, which deters some people from using high deductibles.
Types of discounts on Columbus insurance rates
Insurance providers that provide policies for infrequent drivers may also provide price discounts that could lower prices by as much as 35% or more if you can meet the requirements. A few of the larger companies and a summarized list of policyholder discounts can be found below.
- 21st Century offers premium reductions for good student, automatic seat belts, theft prevention, driver training, and student driver.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including driver’s education, passive restraint, good driver, student away at school, Drive Safe & Save, Steer Clear safe driver discount, and multiple autos.
- AAA has discounts for AAA membership discount, pay-in-full, anti-theft, good driver, and multi-car.
- Liberty Mutual may offer discounts for new move discount, new graduate, safety features, multi-policy, and newly married.
- Progressive offers discounts including good student, online signing, multi-policy, homeowner, continuous coverage, multi-vehicle, and online quote discount.
The example below compares annual premium costs with and without discounts applied to the policy premium. The information is based on a female driver, no violations or claims, Ohio state minimum liability limits, full coverage, and $1,000 deductibles. The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The second bar shows the rates with vehicle safety, multiple vehicle, anti-theft, multiple policy, marriage, and claim-free discounts applied. When these discounts are applied, theaverage amount saved on car insurance for infrequent drivers is 28% or $340.
If you like to have some advice when trying to find lower insurance rates for low mileage drivers, the agents below are a good start to answer your questions and help you decide which is the best policy. To find an agent nearest to you, click the link at the bottom.
Nikki Ogunduyile – State Farm Insurance Agent
20 S 3rd St #210 – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 274-7130
Wolfe Insurance Group
630 E Broad St – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 418-5710
Jonathan Yu – State Farm Insurance Agent
1930 Crown Park Ct #140 – Columbus, OH 43235 – (614) 885-9507
W.E. Davis Insurance Agency
29 Frederick St – Columbus, OH 43206 – (614) 443-0533
View more Columbus, OH insurance agencies
Ideas for finding more affordable auto insurance for infrequent drivers
Below you’ll find some of the better money-saving suggestions that can help you quote lower-cost coverage.
- Increase physical damage deductibles
- If possible, pay for small claims out-of-pocket
- Buying car and homeowners insurance together can save money
- Safer vehicles cost less to insure
- Higher credit scores can equal lower rates
- Do not pay for full coverage on older vehicles
- Shop your coverage around for the best deal
The last suggestion is very significant, as we hit on in this piece. Insurance rates vary greatly, so don’t be unwilling to change insurance companies if you find a better deal. Having a favorite company is great, but it isn’t a good idea if it’s costing you hundreds of dollars year after year. It only takes a couple minutes to compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for infrequent drivers in Columbus.