Best cheap car insurance in Columbus for 2025

The best car insurance companies in Columbus

Defining the best car insurance company in Columbus is difficult, since every driver has different needs. To begin, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team analyzed the latest average premium data available from Quadrant Information Services for some of the best insurers in Ohio. We also looked at coverage options, available discounts, digital tools and third-party ratings, like those from the 2023 J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study. Based on our findings, we assigned each company a Bankrate Score on a five-point scale to give a quick snapshot of each carrier’s ability to meet customers’ needs in Columbus.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Columbus

If cost is the primary consideration in your auto insurance search, you may want to get quotes from Central Mutual, Progressive and Westfield, which Bankrate identified as the three cheapest Ohio insurance carriers for state minimum coveraage in Columbus. For full coverage, the three cheapest car insurance companies are Nationwide, Hastings Mutual and Geico. However, keep in mind that our analysis looked at average premiums for drivers with clean records, so you may find lower rates with a different cheap car insurance company based on your personal risk profile.

How much is car insurance in Columbus, Ohio?

Ohio’s average car insurance rates are well below the national average, thanks to a high percentage of rural drivers and low minimum coverage requirements compared to other states. In Columbus, however, drivers pay 14 percent more for full coverage than the state average, thanks to a denser population and higher risk of accidents.

The average cost of car insurance in Columbus — $2,032 per year for full coverage and $562 per year for minimum coverage — are still 24 percent less than the national average cost of car insurance. However, every driver pays a different rate based on risk calculations conducted by insurance companies. Your age, driving record, credit score and other factors can all impact the price you pay for coverage in the Columbus area.

Columbus rates for teens

Teen drivers pay some of the highest rates for auto insurance in Columbus, thanks to a statistically higher rate of accidents and moving violations. Because teens lack on-road experience, they present a higher risk to insurance companies, particularly when there isn’t a more experienced driver on the policy with them. For that reason, an 18-year-old on a standalone policy pays an average of $6,188 per year for full coverage, while a married couple with an 18-year-old on their full coverage policy pay just $4,057 per year.

Columbus rates for young drivers

As drivers move out of their teens and into their early 20s, insurance rates begin to drop, with the most significant cost decrease at age 25. On average, a 25-year-old Columbus driver pays $2,571 per year for full coverage, compared to $4,820 for a 20-year-old driver on a standalone policy.

Columbus rates for adults

Once you reach your 30s, you can typically expect more stable car insurance rates throughout adulthood. The average cost of full coverage for a 30-year-old driver with a clean record in Columbus is $2,188 per year; by age 50, the average cost shifts to $1,875.

Columbus rates for senior drivers

Car insurance for seniors can be more complicated than coverage for younger adults. Drivers in their 50s and 60s may enjoy some of the lowest rates of any age group, thanks to a lifetime of driving experience — but past age 70, some insurance companies may begin to raise rates to account for new risk factors, such as delayed reaction times, increased vulnerability to serious injury and failing vision. In Columbus, the average annual full coverage rate for a 60-year-old driver is $1,814, compared to $2,113 for a 70-year-old driver.

The cheapest car insurance in Columbus by driving record

The rates shown above are based on drivers with clean records — but not every driver is accident- and ticket-free. When insurance companies set premiums, they’ll look at your motor vehicle record (MVR) to estimate your risk of filing a claim. If you have accidents or moving violations from the past three to five years, you may see a higher rate than the average for drivers with clean records.

Car insurance with a speeding ticket in Columbus

A single speeding ticket conviction in Ohio can raise insurance rates by an average of 19 percent. In Columbus, drivers with a single speeding ticket pay $2,486 per year for full coverage — 22 percent more than the average for drivers with clean records. Drivers with speeding tickets also pay 20 percent more, on average, for state minimum coverage.

Car insurance after an accident in Columbus

An at-fault accident indicates to insurance companies that you may be a risky driver with the potential to generate future claims. On average, a Columbus driver with a single at-fault accident pays 49 percent more for full coverage and 49 percent more for state minimum coverage compared to drivers with clean records. The average cost of full coverage insurance in Columbus after an at-fault accident is $3,023 per year.

Car insurance after an OVI in Columbus

Finding affordable car insurance after an OVI (operating a vehicle impaired) can be a serious challenge. In Columbus, we found that a driver with a single OVI pays an average of $1,179 per year for minimum coverage alone and $4,169 per year for full coverage. That’s 110 percent more than the average rate for minimum coverage and 105 percent more for full coverage. Drivers struggling to find coverage after an OVI may need to work with an Ohio insurer specializing in insurance for high-risk drivers.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 20-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.

Teens: Rates were determined by adding a 16- or 18-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents' policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.

Bankrate Score

Our 2025 Bankrate Score for auto insurance considers key variables that our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated the discount options listed on each company’s website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.