Key Takeaways
- Erie has the cheapest car insurance rates in Columbus for nearly all driver and coverage categories, including adults who buy minimum and full coverage.
- Car insurance rates in Columbus are on par with the state averages for minimum coverage ($61 a month) and full coverage ($120 a month).
In this article
The cheapest car insurance companies in Columbus, OH
Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers in Columbus, according to our survey of the city’s top providers.
Erie: Cheapest overall
State Farm: Cheapest with a DUI
Erie: Cheapest for young drivers
Erie is the overall cheapest car insurance provider in Columbus by virtue of offering the city’s lowest rates for both minimum- and full-coverage policies. Erie’s rates are around half the city average for these coverage amounts.
State Farm has the lowest car insurance rates for Columbus drivers with a DUI on their records. In fact, State Farm only charges these drivers $8 a month more for a full-coverage policy than it charges drivers with clean records.
Erie offers by far the most affordable rates to teen drivers in Columbus. Its average rate for minimum coverage is $87 a month – $61 less than what next-cheapest State Farm charges.
To find your best and cheapest rates on any amount of coverage, compare car insurance quotes from several companies. Start with the ones highlighted here, but don’t be shy about including others as well.
Columbus car insurance minimums
All drivers in Columbus need 25/50/25 car insurance, at a minimum. This means policies must have at least the following liability coverage limits.
| Coverage type | State requirements |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
Columbus drivers who don’t want to buy state-minimum car insurance can prove financial responsibility with:
- A surety bond of $30,000 issued by an authorized surety or insurance company.
- An Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) bond secured by real estate with equity of at least $60,000.
- A BMV certificate for money or government bonds in the amount of $30,000 on deposit with the Ohio Treasurer of State.
Get cheap car insurance in Columbus, Ohio
Cheapest minimum-coverage auto insurance rates in Columbus: Erie
Erie is the cheapest car insurance company in Columbus, charging $33 a month, on average, for state-minimum coverage.
The average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance in Columbus is $62 a month.
| Insurance company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $33 |
| State Farm | $43 |
| Progressive | $47 |
| GEICO | $61 |
| City average | $62 |
| Nationwide | $69 |
| Allstate | $88 |
| Grange | $94 |
| Rates are for minimum-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with a good driving record. | |
A minimum-coverage auto insurance policy meets the state’s requirements for bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. Liability insurance covers injuries and property damage you cause to others, but it won’t cover your own medical bills or car repairs.
Although minimum coverage usually gets you the cheapest rates, it also gives you the least amount of protection if you’re involved in an accident.
Cheapest full-coverage auto insurance rates in Columbus: Erie
Erie has the city’s cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates at $80 a month, on average. State Farm is close behind at $87 a month.
The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Columbus is $123 a month.
| Insurance company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $80 |
| State Farm | $87 |
| Grange | $102 |
| GEICO | $117 |
| City average | $123 |
| Progressive | $124 |
| Nationwide | $142 |
| Allstate | $206 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with a good driving record. | |
A full-coverage auto insurance policy includes collision, comprehensive and liability coverages. No state law requires full coverage, but many lenders and lessors do. Consider getting it even if it’s not required if your vehicle is new or expensive. Otherwise, you might have to pay high out-of-pocket costs if you file a claim for damage done to your vehicle.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a prior incident
Erie is the cheapest car insurance company in Columbus for drivers with a speeding ticket or accident on their records. State Farm has the city’s cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI.
Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket: Erie
Getting a speeding ticket raises your car insurance rate by 22%, on average, in Columbus.
If you bought your policy from Erie, a speeding ticket may not raise your rate at all, based on our research. It offered both our driver with a clean record and driver with a speeding ticket an average rate of $80 a month for a full-coverage policy.
| Insurance company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $80 |
| State Farm | $95 |
| GEICO | $148 |
| Grange | $151 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with one speeding ticket on his driving record. | |
Cheapest for drivers with an at-fault accident: Erie
If you cause an accident in Columbus, you’ll see your car insurance increase by 56%, on average.
With Erie, you’ll only see an increase of 24% after an accident. The company offered our sample driver with a clean record an average rate of $80 a month, while our driver with an accident got an average rate of $99 a month.
| Insurance company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $99 |
| State Farm | $104 |
| Grange | $164 |
| Progressive | $190 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with one at-fault accident on his driving record. | |
Cheapest for drivers with a DUI: State Farm
A DUI raises your car insurance rate by 56% in Columbus. If you bought your policy from State Farm, though, it’ll only raise your rate by 9%, on average. With Erie, it’ll raise your rate an average of 48%.
| Insurance company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $95 |
| Erie | $118 |
| Progressive | $143 |
| Grange | $146 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old male with one DUI on his driving record. | |
Car insurance rates are based on several factors, with your driving record being just one. This is why you need to shop around and compare quotes from several companies to get your best rate.
Compare auto insurance quotes from top providers
Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers: Erie
Erie offers the cheapest car insurance rates for seniors in Columbus at an average of $80 a month for a full-coverage policy.
The city average rate for seniors is $123 a month. This is 54% higher than Erie’s average rate. State Farm, Grange and GEICO also offer rates that are cheaper than the city average.
| Insurance company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Erie | $80 |
| State Farm | $87 |
| Grange | $102 |
| GEICO | $117 |
| City average | $123 |
| Progressive | $124 |
| Nationwide | $142 |
| Allstate | $206 |
| Rates are for full-coverage car insurance for a 60-year-old male with a clean driving record. | |
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers: Erie
Erie has the cheapest auto insurance rates for young drivers in Columbus at $78 a month for minimum coverage and $195 a month for full coverage.
For minimum coverage, Erie’s rate is 60% lower than the city average of $193 a month. For full coverage, Erie’s rate is 48% lower than the city average, which is $373 a month.
| Insurance company | Minimum coverage | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Erie | $78 | $195 |
| State Farm | $139 | $283 |
| Progressive | $158 | $392 |
| GEICO | $182 | $363 |
| Grange | $228 | $215 |
| Allstate | $248 | $535 |
| Nationwide | $315 | $629 |
| Rates are for an 18-year-old male with a clean driving record. | ||
Young drivers pay the highest auto insurance rates of any age group because they’re more likely to be involved in an accident than are older and more experienced drivers.
Here’s what that means in reality: while Erie only charges adult drivers with clean records $33 a month for a minimum-coverage policy, it charges young adults $78 a month for the same. That’s a 138% increase.
Car insurance laws in Columbus, Ohio
SR-22 insurance
You might need to file an SR-22 form with the state if it places a non-compliance or judgment suspension on you.
An SR-22 proves you have at least the minimum amount of car insurance the state requires.
The state may place a non-compliance suspension on you if you fail to show proof of insurance at a traffic stop or at the time of an accident. In this case, you’ll need to file an SR-22 for three years.
If you are involved in an accident that causes property damage or personal injuries and you’re sued over it, it could result in a judgment suspension. You’ll then need to file an SR-22 until you meet the requirements of your judgment.
Columbus car insurance FAQ
Who has the cheapest car insurance in Columbus, Ohio?
Erie has the cheapest auto insurance for Columbus drivers, charging $33 a month, on average, for minimum coverage. Its average rate for full coverage, $123 a month, also is the cheapest in the city.
What is the average cost of car insurance per month in Columbus?
The average cost of auto insurance in Columbus is $62 a month if you buy a minimum-coverage policy. The average cost of full-coverage auto insurance is $123 a month.
Is car insurance cheaper in Columbus?
Car insurance in Columbus isn’t cheaper than it is elsewhere in Ohio. In fact, Columbus’ average rates for minimum and full coverage are about the same as the state average amounts.
How can I make my insurance cost less?
Some of the best ways to lower your car insurance costs include:
- Compare quotes from several car insurance providers.
- Raise your deductible. Keep in mind, though, that doing this means you’ll pay higher out-of-pocket costs if you file a claim.
- See if you’re eligible for any car insurance discounts you aren’t already receiving.
- If you have any driving violations on your record, do your best to not add any to it for the next few years. In time, your premium will lower.
Methodology
We obtained non-binding quotes from Quadrant Information Services for a typical driver in every Columbus ZIP code to find the cheapest car insurance companies and rates. Unless otherwise noted, the driver is a 35-year-old male with a clean driving record. He owns a 2012 Honda Accord LX and drives an average 13,500 miles a year.
The teen driver in this article is 18 years old but otherwise fits the same profile as the 35-year-old driver above. The same is true of our senior driver, who is 60.
Minimum-coverage car insurance rates highlighted on this page are based on a policy that meets Ohio’s minimum liability requirements. Full-coverage rates are based on a policy with the following limits and deductibles:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $100,000 property damage liability coverage
- $500 deductibles for both collision and comprehensive coverage
Auto insurance by city
- Columbus
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