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Best cheap car insurance in Columbus for 2024
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Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)
Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.
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.
Bankrate Score
Avg. min coverage premium
Min. coverage
Avg. full coverage premium
Full coverage
Why Geico made our list: A 4.4 Bankrate Score and an above-average score in the North Central region in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Geico stands above the competition for low prices and customer satisfaction. Geico does business primarily through its digital tools, with just two agents in the Columbus area, which may make it a better choice for anyone who prefers to manage their insurance online or via a mobile app.
Why Geico may be best for discounts: Geico splits its auto insurance discounts into several categories, from discounts based on your vehicle’s equipment to discounts for driver behavior, affiliations and customer loyalty. The result is that most drivers have a good chance of qualifying for discounted rates through Geico, with several discounts up to 20 percent or more off your premium.
| Bankrate Score | 4.4 |
| J.D. Power | 831/1,000 |
| AM Best score | A++ |
Bankrate Score
Avg. min coverage premium
Min. coverage
Avg. full coverage premium
Full coverage
Why Progressive made our list: Progressive’s average premiums are among the lowest in the Columbus area, but cheap rates aren’t the only advantage this carrier offers. Progressive also won a 2024 Bankrate Award for Best Auto Insurance Company for High-Risk Drivers, making it a good potential option for drivers with a history of accidents or violations. The Northeast Ohio-based company also took the top score for customer service in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study based on its excellent mobile tools.
Why Progressive may be best for minimum coverage: In our analysis, Progressive’s average premiums came in under the citywide average for both full and minimum coverage, but it was the cheapest major carrier besides USAA for drivers seeking only Ohio’s state minimum liability coverage. If you want the bare minimum coverage on your policy at the lowest price, you may want to get quotes from Progressive.
| Bankrate Score | 4.4 |
| J.D. Power | 816/1,000 |
| AM Best score | A+ |
Bankrate Score
Avg. min coverage premium
Min. coverage
Avg. full coverage premium
Full coverage
Why USAA made our list: USAA boasts some of the cheapest rates for auto insurance in Columbus, along with stellar customer service scores from third-party studies. While its strict eligibility criteria — coverage is only available to active-duty members of the U.S. military, veterans and their direct family members — make USAA ineligible for a formal rank in J.D. Power studies, the carrier scored 34 points higher for customer satisfaction than the next highest-rated carrier in the North Central region, Erie Insurance.
Why USAA may be best for military-focused coverage: As an insurance company designed to meet the needs of military drivers, USAA offers discounts and services that other carriers won’t, such as a discount of up to 15 percent for vehicles garaged on a military installation during deployment and even larger discounts for drivers who put their car in storage during deployment.
| Bankrate Score | 4.2 |
| J.D. Power | |
| AM Best score | A++ |
Bankrate Score
Avg. min coverage premium
Min. coverage
Avg. full coverage premium
Full coverage
Why Nationwide made our list: Based in Columbus, Nationwide offers some of the most affordable rates for local drivers. In our analysis, no carrier other than USAA had lower average premiums for full coverage car insurance — and Nationwide’s generous list of discounts and multiple telematics programs could help to reduce costs even further, especially for drivers with clean records, good grades or low annual mileage. For drivers who prefer to work with a local agent, Nationwide has an extensive network of independent agents in the Columbus area.
Why Nationwide may be best for bundled policies: Unlike Geico and Progressive, Nationwide underwrites its own home insurance policies, making it a strong choice for Columbus drivers who also own a home. Nationwide’s home insurance product earned a Bankrate Score of 4.3, and drivers who bundle home and auto policies with Nationwide save up to 20 percent, for an average of $646.
| Bankrate Score | 4 |
| J.D. Power | 821/1,000 |
| AM Best score | A+ |
Bankrate Score
Avg. min coverage premium
Min. coverage
Avg. full coverage premium
Full coverage
Why Erie made our list: Cheap rates and best-in-class customer service define Erie’s reputation. As a smaller regional insurer, Erie took the top spot for customer satisfaction in the North Central Region in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study and ranked second nationwide for claims satisfaction in the 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. For drivers who prefer to do business locally, there’s a strong network of Erie independent agents in Columbus, but the carrier’s digital tools fall short. If you prefer to handle insurance from your phone, be warned that you can’t file claims through the mobile app, and some customers report repeated bugs.
Why Erie may be best for custom coverage: In addition to standard coverage options like liability insurance, uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection, Erie offers a handful of unique packages to customize your coverage. Erie Auto Plus includes diminishing deductibles, death benefits and increased coverage limits, while the roadside and rentals bundle is ideal for drivers who take frequent road trips. In addition, all full coverage policies from Erie come with built-in perks like accident forgiveness, windshield repair and pet injury coverage.
| Bankrate Score | 4 |
| J.D. Power | 844/1,000 |
| AM Best score | A+ |
Bankrate's trusted insurance industry expertise
Read our full methodologyBankrate’s insurance editorial team is made up of industry experts, including licensed insurance agents, with combined decades of experience in the world of auto and home insurance. In order to bring you the most accurate recommendations, we work with data from Quadrant Information Services to provide the latest average rates for insurance carriers in your area.
46
years of industry experience
122
carriers reviewed
34.5K
ZIP codes examined
1.2M
quotes analyzed
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 USAA, Hastings Mutual and Central Mutual, 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 Hastings Mutual, USAA and Nationwide. 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.
| Insurance company | Average annual min coverage premium | Average annual full coverage premium |
|---|---|---|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$343
|
$949
|
|
$288
|
$1,237
|
|
|
$493
|
$1,250
|
|
|
$379
|
$1,352
|
|
|
$465
|
$1,408
|
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 12 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 — $1,654 per year for full coverage and $479 per year for minimum coverage — are still 28 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 $5,171 per year for full coverage, while a married couple with an 18-year-old on their full coverage policy pay just $3,474 per year.
| Insurance company | 16-year-old* | 18-year-old* |
|---|---|---|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$675
|
$657
|
|
Central Mutual
|
$793
|
$694
|
|
$796
|
$916
|
|
|
$814
|
$577
|
|
|
$976
|
$901
|
| Insurance company | 16-year-old* | 18-year-old* |
|---|---|---|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$1,801
|
$1,758
|
|
$2,294
|
$2,131
|
|
|
Central Mutual
|
$2,670
|
$2,354
|
|
$3,014
|
$2,366
|
|
|
$3,095
|
$3,548
|
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 $2,130 per year for full coverage, compared to $3,820 for a 20-year-old driver on a standalone policy.
| Insurance company | 20-year-old | 25-year-old |
|---|---|---|
|
$514
|
$391
|
|
|
Central Mutual
|
$623
|
$465
|
|
$818
|
$516
|
|
|
$880
|
$477
|
|
|
$946
|
$495
|
| Insurance company | 20-year-old | 25-year-old |
|---|---|---|
|
$2,232
|
$1,727
|
|
|
Central Mutual
|
$2,249
|
$1,833
|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$2,530
|
$1,272
|
|
$2,866
|
$1,816
|
|
|
$3,155
|
$2,140
|
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 $1,780 per year; by age 50, the average cost shifts to $1,481.
| Insurance company | 30-year-old | 40-year-old | 50-year-old |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$322
|
$288
|
$279
|
|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$368
|
$343
|
$315
|
|
Central Mutual
|
$406
|
$355
|
$340
|
|
$410
|
$409
|
$367
|
|
|
$427
|
$379
|
$361
|
| Insurance company | 30-year-old | 40-year-old | 50-year-old |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$1,015
|
$949
|
$860
|
|
$1,380
|
$1,250
|
$1,128
|
|
|
$1,401
|
$1,237
|
$1,130
|
|
|
$1,434
|
$1,408
|
$1,341
|
|
|
$1,579
|
$1,352
|
$1,216
|
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 $1,487, compared to $1,727 for a 70-year-old driver.
| Insurance company | 60-year-old | 70-year-old |
|---|---|---|
|
$270
|
$333
|
|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$301
|
$451
|
|
$361
|
$402
|
|
|
Frankenmuth
|
$362
|
$451
|
|
$374
|
$412
|
| Insurance company | 60-year-old | 70-year-old |
|---|---|---|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$301
|
$1,224
|
|
$270
|
$1,255
|
|
|
$473
|
$1,173
|
|
|
$361
|
$1,316
|
|
|
$453
|
$1,431
|
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 $2,002 per year for full coverage — 21 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.
| Insurance company | Average min coverage rate | Average full coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
|
$366
|
$1,567
|
|
|
Central Mutual
|
$416
|
$1,652
|
|
$418
|
$1,641
|
|
|
Hastings Mutual
|
$441
|
$1,176
|
|
$446
|
$1,679
|
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 48 percent more for full coverage and 48 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 $2,450 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 $963 per year for minimum coverage alone and $3,358 per year for full coverage. That’s 101 percent more than the average rate for minimum coverage and 103 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.
| Insurance company | Average min coverage rate | Average full coverage rate |
|---|---|---|
|
$456
|
$1,915
|
|
|
$475
|
$1,757
|
|
|
$490
|
$1,857
|
|
|
Central Mutual
|
$595
|
$2,194
|
|
$671
|
$2,457
|
Minimum coverage requirements in Columbus
All drivers in Columbus must carry at least the minimum car insurance required by Ohio law:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Your insurance company must also offer uninsured motorist coverage that matches your liability coverage limits, but you can choose to decline this coverage in writing. However, most insurance professionals recommend carrying more coverage than the minimum mandated by Ohio law. Low liability limits can expose you to unnecessary financial risk, and raising your liability limits typically only costs a few more dollars per month.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze July 2024 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 2022 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 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.
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.
-
Cost & ratings 50%
-
Coverage & savings 30%
-
Support 20%
- Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average 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 NAIC, were analyzed.
- 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 each company’s discount options listed on its 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 a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.
