Best Cheap Car Insurance in Columbus, Ohio
Geico has the cheapest car insurance in Columbus, at $68 per month for full coverage and $35 per month for liability-only coverage.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Columbus
Best cheap car insurance companies in Columbus, Ohio
How we chose the top companies
Best and cheapest car insurance in Columbus
- Cheapest full coverage: Geico, $68/mo
- Cheapest minimum liability: Geico, $35/mo
- Cheapest for young drivers: Geico, $64/mo
- Cheapest after a ticket: Geico, $83/mo
- Cheapest after an accident: Geico, $97/mo
- Cheapest for teens after a ticket: Geico, $73/mo
- Cheapest after a DUI: Geico, $96/mo
- Cheapest for poor credit: Geico, $102/mo
Monthly rates are for full coverage car insurance for a 30-year-old man. Some rates use different ages or coverage limits.
Erie offers the best combination of affordable rates and excellent customer service in Columbus. However, Erie isn't typically the cheapest opinion.
Geico usually has the cheapest rates in Columbus, and it's also a good choice. Erie, however, has better customer service.
Cheapest auto insurance in Columbus, Ohio: Geico
Geico has the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Columbus, Ohio.
A full coverage policy from Geico costs around $68 per month, which is half the Columbus average.
It's also $33 less per month than the second-cheapest company, Erie. However, Erie has the best customer service in Ohio. It may be worth spending a bit more for Erie, if you can afford it.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Columbus
The average cost of car insurance in Columbus, Ohio — $133 per month for a full coverage policy — is $19 per month more than the Ohio state average.
Cheapest full coverage Columbus auto insurance
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $68 |
| Erie | $101 |
| Progressive | $139 |
| Nationwide | $146 |
| Grange | $185 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
USAA is the best choice for most Columbus drivers with military ties. At $76 per month, USAA is $8 per month more than the cheapest company, Geico.
The company is known for its exceptional customer service, which could be very helpful if you're in an accident in the future. However, USAA is only available to military members, veterans and some of their family members.
Cheapest liability-only insurance in Columbus: Geico
Geico has the cheapest minimum liability car insurance in Columbus, Ohio.
At $35 per month, minimum liability coverage from Geico is $22 per month cheaper than the Columbus average.
Erie is also an excellent choice, at $37 per month. Erie has outstanding customer service, which makes it the best choice for many people in Columbus.
Cheap minimum coverage auto insurance in Columbus
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $35 |
| Erie | $37 |
| Progressive | $57 |
| Nationwide | $68 |
| Grange | $79 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Columbus
Drivers with military ties can find even cheaper rates with USAA, which charges around $26 per month for a minimum liability policy. However, you must be a military member, veteran or family member to buy a policy.
Cheap insurance in Columbus, Ohio for teens: Geico
Geico has the most affordable car insurance in Columbus, Ohio for young drivers.
A minimum liability policy from Geico costs around $64 per month for an 18-year-old driver. That's just over a third of the Columbus city average. Geico also has the cheapest full coverage quotes for teens, at $125 per month, which is nearly a third of the average rate.
Young drivers in Columbus with military ties can find even cheaper minimum liability rates with USAA, where a policy costs just $60 per month.
Monthly car insurance quotes for teens in Columbus, OH
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $64 | $125 |
| Erie | $102 | $272 |
| Progressive | $224 | $656 |
| Allstate | $241 | $437 |
| Nationwide | $269 | $608 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
On average, an 18-year-old driver in Columbus can expect to pay three times more for car insurance than a 30-year-old. Car insurance for young drivers is typically more expensive because they have less experience behind the wheel, so they're more likely to cause an accident.
The best way for Columbus teens to save money on their car insurance is by sharing a policy with their parents. A combined family policy is usually much cheaper than buying two separate policies.
Cheapest car insurance in Columbus after a speeding ticket: Geico
Geico has the cheapest full coverage quotes in Columbus for drivers with a speeding ticket. At $83 per month, full coverage from Geico costs less than half the Columbus average.
Cheap Columbus, Ohio auto insurance after a speeding ticket
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $83 |
| Erie | $111 |
| Nationwide | $182 |
| Progressive | $202 |
| Grange | $267 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Car insurance quotes in Columbus increase by an average of 30% after a single speeding ticket. That's a difference of $40 per month for a full coverage policy.
Cheapest car insurance in Columbus after an accident: Geico
Geico has the most affordable car insurance in Columbus after an at-fault accident. A full coverage policy from Geico costs around $97 per month, which is less than half the average cost after a crash.
Affordable insurance in Columbus, Ohio after an accident
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $97 |
| Erie | $128 |
| Nationwide | $218 |
| Progressive | $226 |
| Grange | $228 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
On average, Columbus drivers pay 50% more for car insurance after one accident.
Don't rush to switch car insurance companies right after your accident. Your rates won't go up until your current policy renews.
Instead, you should wait until you get your renewal offer from your current company. This usually comes a few weeks to one month before your policy expires. Then, shop around for quotes from multiple companies to find the cheapest rates for you.
Cheapest car insurance in Columbus for teens with a bad record: Geico
Geico has the cheapest quotes for young drivers in Columbus with a speeding ticket or accident on their records.
After a speeding ticket, minimum liability insurance from Geico costs around $73 per month for an 18-year-old. That's one-third of the Columbus average.
Geico is also the most affordable option for teens with an at-fault accident on their records, at $86 per month for minimum coverage. That's just over a third of the Columbus city average.
Monthly minimum liability quotes for teens with a bad driving record
Company | Ticket | Accident |
|---|---|---|
| Geico | $73 | $86 |
| Erie | $119 | $119 |
| Progressive | $249 | $252 |
| Nationwide | $285 | $292 |
| Allstate | $313 | $473 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Young drivers in Columbus pay 22% more for car insurance after one speeding ticket, and 31% more after one accident. That's a smaller increase than adult drivers usually experience, as teens are already considered high risk — even with a clean record.
Cheapest car insurance in Columbus, OH after a DUI: Geico
Geico has the most affordable full coverage quotes in Columbus after a DUI, at $96 per month. That's less than half the Columbus average, and $74 per month less than the second-cheapest option, Erie.
Affordable insurance in Columbus, Ohio after a DUI
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $96 |
| Erie | $170 |
| Progressive | $186 |
| Nationwide | $279 |
| Grange | $298 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Columbus drivers typically pay 55% more for car insurance after a DUI. In addition, people who get caught driving under the influence may need to get SR-22 insurance in Ohio, which can increase the cost of your car insurance even more.
Cheapest car insurance in Columbus, Ohio for poor credit: Geico
Geico has the cheapest car insurance quotes in Columbus, Ohio for drivers with poor credit. A full coverage policy from Geico costs an average of $102 per month, which is less than half average in Columbus.
Cheap auto insurance companies for Columbus drivers with poor credit
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| Geico | $102 |
| Nationwide | $220 |
| Progressive | $227 |
| Erie | $231 |
| Grange | $253 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Columbus drivers with a bad credit score pay $83 per month more for full coverage car insurance than drivers with good credit. That's because car insurance companies believe drivers with poor credit are more likely to file a claim in the future.
Average cost of car insurance in Columbus, by ZIP code
The suburb of Grove City has the cheapest car insurance rates in the Columbus metro area.
People living in Grove City pay an average of $121 per month for full coverage insurance.
The 43211 ZIP code, located northeast of the city center, has the most expensive rates in Columbus, at $147 per month. This area includes the North Linden, South Linden, East Linden and Arlington Park neighborhoods. Certain areas within a city can be more expensive due to factors like accident rates, traffic and crime.
Full coverage car insurance quotes by Columbus ZIP code
ZIP | Monthly Rate | % from average |
|---|---|---|
| 43004 | $131 | -1% |
| 43016 | $124 | -7% |
| 43017 | $123 | -7% |
| 43026 | $126 | -5% |
| 43035 | $125 | -6% |
What's the best car insurance coverage in Columbus, OH?
Full coverage is the best choice for most people in Columbus — especially if you own a car that's less than eight years old or worth more than $5,000.
Full-coverage auto insurance includes higher liability limits than the state minimum, as well as collision and comprehensive insurance, which protect your own car against damage.
- Collision coverage helps pay for damage to your car if you crash into another vehicle, an object or a building, regardless of whose fault it is.
- Comprehensive coverage pays for repairs from damage caused by something outside of your control, like hail, theft or an accident with an animal.
If you have a car loan or lease, your lender typically requires you to have collision and comprehensive coverage.
Minimum coverage car insurance is the cheapest option for drivers in Columbus. However, it's not the best choice for most drivers.
That's because the liability limits included in minimum coverage may not be high enough to cover the cost of a major accident. So, you could end up paying a lot more in the long run. In addition, minimum-coverage insurance doesn't offer any protection for your own car.
Frequently asked questions
How much is car insurance in Columbus, Ohio?
The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Columbus, OH is $133 per month. Minimum liability coverage costs an average of $57 per month.
What is the cheapest car insurance company in Columbus, OH?
Geico has the cheapest auto insurance in Columbus. A minimum liability policy from Geico costs around $35 per month, while full coverage costs $68 per month, on average.
What is the best car insurance in Columbus, Ohio?
Erie is the best-rated car insurance company in Columbus. Erie has excellent customer service and affordable rates, making it a great option for most Columbus drivers. USAA also offers great service and cheap rates, but it's only available to drivers in the military, veterans and their families.
Methodology
To find the best cheap auto insurance in Columbus, Ohio, ValuePenguin collected rates from seven of the largest car insurance companies in the state. Quotes are for a single, 30-year-old man with good credit and a clean record, who owns a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
Full coverage quotes include comprehensive and collision coverage, along with higher liability limits than the Ohio state minimum requirement.
- Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident
- Medical payments coverage: $10,000
- Comprehensive and collision deductible: $500
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurance company filings and should only be used for comparison purposes. Your quotes will likely be different.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.