Ohio Auto Insurance Quotes

It’s not hard to find the lowest rates in Ohio for when you’re looking to buy auto insurance. A simple online search for “Ohio auto insurance quotes” will give you a multitude of sites to compare rates.

While the national average for auto insurance premiums is $1,576 for residents of Ohio it’s $1,206.

Cost of Auto Insurance

While some companies advertise great customer service or other intangible attribute, most people will want to find the most reliable auto insurance company with the lowest premiums. Premiums are affected by many factors.

Insurers may set premiums based on the selectivity of the insureds who are accepted; some companies will modify the terms of the contract to make it more restrictive. Some have been accused of underpaying claims or making it difficult to collect legitimate claims, and others may cut back on customer service to save money or lower their prices merely because of economies of scale.

However, there are generally several variables that universally affect the insurance premium amounts. Some are related to the owner/driver of the auto being insured, while others are based on the location of the vehicle, the vehicle insured, and/or the deductible to be incurred.

Age and Sex of the Driver

Single male drivers under the age of 25 are the highest risk category; therefore their premiums are the highest. Some savings are available if a young driver has taken approved driver training, maintained a B or 3.0 grade point average or better, is in the upper 20 percent of his or her class, or is on the dean’s list or honor roll, or has received other equivalent recognition. A young driver away from home at school and at a minimum distance, typically 100 miles, can also earn a discount if the car stays home. Generally, most insurance companies will honor only two discounts of all those available to any one driver.

Auto Insurance Discounts

There are various discounts by various companies, including:

• Safe Driver 
• Nonsmoker or nondrinker 
• Carpool 
• Antitheft devices 
• Antilock brakes 

Driver History

Poor drivers, those with many citations for violation traffic laws or who have caused accidents, generally pay higher premiums and run the risk of having their insurance cancelled. If an insured is clearly not at fault in an accident, the insured’s premium will usually not be affected.

Location

Where a vehicle is located is critical. Whenever a consumer publication shows comparative premiums for auto insurance, it lists various cities. The incidence of theft, accidents, and duration of typical commutes affect the claims history of these cities. Additionally, in some parts of the country, lawyers become involved in auto accident claims far more often than in other parts of the country, thus increasing the cost to the insurance companies even if it provides no greater benefit to the overall class of insureds.

Type and Number of Vehicles

High performance autos and sports cars are frequently driven at high speeds, resulting in more (and more dangerous) accidents. Sport utility vehicles, because of their size, can inflict more damage than smaller autos and also tip over more easily. Certain vehicles seem to be prime targets for thieves. These vehicles cost more to insure.

The number of vehicles in a household also affects premiums, although most companies offer a multiple vehicle discount.

Vehicle History

Based on claims history, certain vehicles suffer greater damage in accidents than others. The physical damage portion of the policy will cost more when this is the case.

Vehicle Use

An auto used for pleasure costs less to insure than one driven to work daily. Low annual mileage generally results in lower premiums. Long commutes to work (15 miles or more) and/or use of the auto for business can also increase the amount of the premium.

While searching for Ohio auto insurance quotes it is important to remember that the state required minimum coverage is $12,500 per injured person and a maximum of $25,000 per accident with a property damage liability coverage minimum of $7,500. The state of Ohio also follows the tort system meaning that someone must be found to be at fault for an accident and that person and his or her insurance company is responsible for all damages.