Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students In Ohio 2025

Ohio is considered one of the top 10 worst states for teen and college drivers. Drivers 24 and younger only constitute 5% of all licensed drivers in Ohio but in 2022 they represented 31% of all car accidents and 13% of all motor vehicle fatalities.

These car accidents and fatalities happen across the state, but especially in places like Hamilton County, where top institutions like the University of Cincinnati are located.

Those who are going to school in Ohio are likely to experience high car insurance rates as a result of these statistics and the subsequent risks that they represent.

To that end, it’s important for college students in Ohio to find ways to save money on car insurance.

Best Car Insurance Companies For College Students In Ohio

When selecting car insurance for college students in Ohio, you need to consider your priorities and pick a policy that matches your needs, whether that is low rates or comprehensive coverage.

Use the table below to see our picks for the best auto insurers for students in Ohio.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Cheapest Liability-Only Car Insurance For College Students In Ohio

Minimum coverage policies are often an effective way to decrease overall costs, but can leave you vulnerable in an accident. These low-cost plans will only cover the state minimum insurance needed to operate a vehicle, which means paying expenses out of pocket.

Minimum coverage policies are great options for college students as they provide the insurance needed to drive legally while keeping costs low.

As you can see from the table below, GEICO is the cheapest average option at $648 per year.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance For College Students In Ohio

College students who commute to campus or routinely drive for work should consider a full coverage policy over minimum coverage. These plans offer additional protection, often including liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage.

While the full coverage policies offer more protection, they come at a higher cost. It’s essential to weigh the benefits of the additional insurance against the extra monthly cost.

USAA is the cheapest full coverage car insurance policy for students in Ohio, at an average annual rate of $3,000.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students With Low-Mileage In Ohio

If you’re a college student who doesn’t plan on driving much throughout the school year, there’s no reason to pay for insurance you don’t need. While you’ll still need to maintain the state minimum auto insurance, most low-mileage policies offer discounted rates if you stay below a certain number of miles yearly.

The limit will vary between insurance companies but is usually around 7,500 to 10,000 miles annually.

Use the table below to view the cheapest low-mileage rates for college drivers in Ohio.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Cheapest Car Insurance For College Students With Driving Violations In Ohio

Driving violations can significantly increase the amount a driver pays for monthly coverage, regardless of age. College students will likely experience an even more significant rate increase after an accident or ticket due to their already high-risk rating.

One way to mitigate the damage of a driving violation is to work with a company like Erie that specializes in insuring motorists with a history of tickets or accidents.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For College Students In Ohio – By City

Where you live in Ohio can have a significant impact on your car insurance premiums.

Use the table below to view average rates for different cities in Ohio.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 18-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

Auto-Owners offers the cheapest rates for 18-year-old college drivers in Ohio, at an average monthly cost of $123.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 19-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

GEICO provides the cheapest policy for 19-year-old college students in Ohio, averaging $138 per month.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 20-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

The cheapest auto insurance rates for a 20-year-old college driver can be found with Auto-Owners, averaging $99 per month.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 21-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

The most affordable college student car insurance policy for a 21-year-old can be found at Nationwide, with an average monthly cost of $70.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 22-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

22-year-old student car insurance can be found from $91 per month, with an Auto-Owners auto policy.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 23-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

23-year-old college drivers can find affordable insurance from GEICO at an average monthly cost of $75.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 24-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

The cheapest car insurance policy for a 24-year-old college student is $71 per month, which can be found with Progressive.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 25-Year-Old College Students In Ohio

GEICO offers the cheapest auto policies for 25-year-old college students in Ohio at $69 per month.

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance On Family Policy Vs. Individual Policy

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.

How Can College Students Save Money On Car Insurance In Ohio

College students tend to have less experience than other drivers, especially those who are heading off to college for their freshman year. That lack of experience is coupled with a higher chance of distracted driving, alcohol use, and driving late at night or on the weekends.

This lends itself to significantly higher car insurance rates than drivers in their mid to late 20s.

If you are a college student in Ohio and you can’t stay on a parent or guardian policy, it’s important that you find ways to reduce your costs. Those who are under the age of 25 and unmarried can find discounts across several insurance providers, like some of the following:

Student Discounts

Student discounts for achieving high grades are well-known, but college students can also enjoy a variety of other discounts, like taking driver education programs, leaving their car at home while away at college, or using devices to monitor safe driving habits.

Affiliation Discounts

Campus clubs and organizations can offer benefits like special discounts. Depending on your insurance provider, participating in a sorority, fraternity, honor society, or alumni association may help lower your monthly car insurance costs.

GEICO and Nationwide, for example, will give discounts for being members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, certain credit unions, and other alumni associations.

Security And Safety Improvements

Making improvements like installing safety devices or anti-theft devices can drop your premiums anywhere between 5% and 25% depending on the company and the type of change that you make.

Make/Model/Age

The make, model, and age of the vehicle you drive in Ohio can directly influence your rates. Ohio insurance providers charge more for sports cars, vehicles with heavy-duty engines, and newer cars. A new vehicle might seem like a good way to save money on gas, just as an electric vehicle can, but both of these represent costly repairs and replacement risks for an insurance company.

Common Auto Insurance Claims In Ohio

In Ohio, the four most common types of auto insurance claims are:

• Collision Claims (5.8 per 100 years of vehicle activity)
• Property Damage Claims (3.36 per 100 years of vehicle activity)
• Bodily Injury Claims (0.95 per 100 years of vehicle activity)
• Comprehensive Claims (2.81 per 100 years of vehicle activity)

The most common car accident claims in Ohio are cracked windshields, parking lot accidents, and rear-end collisions.

Do College Students Need Their Own Insurance, or Can They Stay On A Parent’s?

There are several scenarios that dictate whether or not you, as a college student, need your own insurance policy or remain with that of your parents.

1. Firstly, if you live with your parents and you keep your car at their home, even if you attend college somewhere else, but you keep them as your primary residence, you can remain on a parent’s policy in Ohio.
2. Secondly, if you are moving out temporarily because you are going to college, but you plan to come back, and you keep yourself and your vehicle at home outside of those times, you should still be able to stay on your parents’ policy.
3. Thirdly, if you are driving your parents’ vehicle and living at home, you can absolutely stay on their policy.
4. Fourthly, if you move into your own residence and you keep your vehicle there, and you own your vehicle, or it is titled to you exclusively, you will need to take out your own insurance policy.

Note: If you have divorced parents and you live with both, even occasionally, you will have to be listed on each of their respective policies.

How To Buy Car Insurance As A College Student In Ohio

When you are ready to buy your own policy, the steps are much the same as for any other age group.

Step 1: Collect all the required information like your vehicle info, license numbers, personal details, and driving record.

Step 2: Figure out the coverage you need to meet the legal requirements in Ohio and what your budget can cover for premiums and deductibles.

Step 3: Decide whether you prefer any additional coverage limits like rental car reimbursements or towing fees.

Step 4: Shop around by comparing quotes from at least three car insurance carriers using platforms like Insuranceopedia.

Step 5: Buy your insurance online or from a local agent and pay your first premiums.

If you have an existing policy from a previous provider, notify them of your chance. Check the mail for your insurance card and keep it in your vehicle.

How To Get Discounts

Each car insurance provider offers a different range of discounts, and most of them have some similarities, like discounts for driving habits or grades, but they require different measures. Some other examples include the following:

• Multiple car discounts
• Good student discounts
• Good driver discounts
• Passive restraint discount
• Military discount
• Vehicle safety discount
• Student away at school discount
• Accident-free discounts
• Anti-lock brake discount
• Anti-theft discount

Note: In Ohio, if you are involved in an accident that is not your fault, insurance companies cannot increase your premium, but only for the first time. If you are involved in a second accident that was not your fault within the same policy period, your premiums will go up.

Allstate, for example, offers the teenSMART driver education program in Pennsylvania which can reduce your costs. Those who go to school at least 100 miles away from where their car stays, i.e. students who don’t bring their vehicle with them to college, can also get discounts.

Several other providers, like Progressive and State Farm, offer discounts for limited driving or low mileage for those who take their vehicles with them, as well as discounts for those who are accident-free for several years, safe drivers, and good drivers.

Ohio Car Insurance Laws to Know

Ohio requires all drivers to maintain a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. However, many experts suggest doubling all three of these coverage limits to offer maximum financial protection, especially for college students who may have limited budgets to cover out-of-pocket expenses following an accident.

Your proof of insurance must be kept with your vehicle at all times and shown at the scene of accidents, during traffic stops, or upon vehicle inspections.

If you do not have proof of your insurance or you do not have insurance coverage, this results in a license suspension of up to 90 days, a fine of up to $500, and a requirement for SR-22 insurance.

In the state of Ohio, no one else is allowed to drive your vehicle if you do not have insurance, including yourself.

Ohio is a fault state, and that means whoever causes the accident is considered at fault and therefore entirely responsible for the expenses of the other person.

Compare College Student Rates To Other U.S. States

* These figures are estimates based on general market trends, and they may differ from your actual rate.