Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Dayton, OH (2024)

In Dayton, Nationwide offers the most affordable full and minimum coverage policies. GEICO has the best rates for families with teens. For top-notch service, Cincinnati Insurance ranks first, while American Family is best overall, rated 85 out of 100. Your ideal choice depends on your personal requirements and coverage preferences.

MoneyGeek found that the following companies offer the cheapest car insurance in Dayton.

• Nationwide: $257 per year
• American Family: $279 per year

Allstate holds the position as the most expensive provider, with minimum coverage policies costing $686 annually. This stark $429 difference from Nationwide highlights the importance of shopping around to ensure you're not overpaying for car insurance coverage.

In Ohio, from Dayton to every other city, your car insurance needs are dictated by state law. Here's the rundown on the minimum coverage you must have:

• $25,000 bodily injury per person
  
• $50,000 bodily injury per accident
  
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident
  

Take this scenario: if you're at fault in an accident and the driver's medical bills reach $30,000, your minimum coverage will compensate $25,000. Any expense above that limit, say the remaining $5,000, comes straight from your pocket.

MoneyGeek found that these companies offer the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Dayton.

• Nationwide: $556 per year
• American Family: $559 per year

Westfield has the most expensive full coverage policy in Dayton, costing $1,146 annually. This is a striking $590 more than Nationwide, which underlines the value of comparing rates to find the best deal.

A full coverage policy includes $100,000 for individual bodily harm liability, $300,000 for bodily injury per incident and $100,000 for property damage per event. This level of protection is commonly referred to as 100/300/100 coverage.

Full coverage extends beyond raised liability limits; it also encompasses both comprehensive and collision insurance components:

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

Selecting full coverage insurance is highly recommended for new vehicles to safeguard your investment. On the contrary, for older vehicles, the additional cost — potentially hundreds more — may not justify the added coverage.

Making an informed decision about how much car insurance you need involves weighing the advantages of increased protection against the potential for higher premium costs, against the risk of inadequate coverage with lower premiums.

MoneyGeek found that for drivers with a poor driving record in Dayton requiring full coverage, the cheapest companies vary significantly depending on the type of driving offense. Here's a closer look at the annual costs for each incident:

• Speeding Ticket: Auto-Owners ($682 per year)
• At-Fault Accident: American Family ($721 per year)
• DUI: American Family ($699 per year)

For drivers in Dayton, the most expensive rates for these offenses are provided by Westfield, with an annual premium of $3,124 after a DUI, illustrating the impact of driving incidents on insurance costs.

In Dayton and other cities, insurance rates typically escalate in correlation with the gravity of a driving infraction, reflecting the increased risk to insurers. For instance, drivers with a DUI can expect their annual premiums to surge to approximately $2,182, which starkly contrasts with the $1,462 rate for those with just a speeding ticket. This disparity underscores the critical importance of rate comparison for drivers with offenses, as diligent shopping for insurance can lead to substantial savings even with a blemished driving record.

MoneyGeek found that Nationwide is the cheapest option in Dayton for full coverage car insurance for teen drivers. When looking for the cheapest car insurance for teens, it's essential to compare the rates from various providers:

• Nationwide: $1,093 per year for female teens and $1,274 per year for male teens
• Travelers: $1,927 per year for female teens and $2,460 per year for male teens

These rates reflect the cost to cover a policy that includes two parents and a teen driver. In contrast, State Farm has the most expensive teen family policy in Dayton, charging $11,719 for female teens and $14,998 for male teens. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive annual rates for a female teen is a staggering $10,626.

In Dayton, as is common in many cities, adding a teen driver to a family car insurance policy is significantly more cost-effective than a teen purchasing an individual policy. On average, an individual teen policy costs approximately $6,378 annually, whereas the inclusion in a family plan averages about $3,713 — a stark difference of nearly $2,665. Due to their inexperience, teens are considered high-risk drivers, which results in higher premiums.

MoneyGeek found the most affordable full coverage car insurance for drivers with a military background in Dayton. Here are the two leading providers:

• Nationwide: $556 per year
• American Family: $559 per year

While Nationwide and American Family lead with the lowest annual premiums, USAA also presents a competitive rate of $594 per year, standing out not only for its affordability but also for its tailored services to active-duty military members.

While it's true that comparing rates from multiple companies can optimize savings, it typically requires investing more than 15 minutes per insurer, adding up to an hour or more for thorough research. Yet, there's a more efficient route — utilize MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator. Just input your personal details such as age, driving history, credit score and coverage preferences to receive tailored rate estimates.

Choosing the right auto insurance for you hinges on what you prioritize, from service and cost to coverage and more. MoneyGeek's research, employing distinct scoring systems per category, reveals Dayton's leading car insurers for various preferences:

• Best overall: American Family (MoneyGeek score 85 out of 100)
• Best for service: Cincinnati Insurance (MoneyGeek score 83 out of 100)
• Best cheap: American Family (MoneyGeek score 85 out of 100)

American Family is the best in Dayton for overall value and affordability without significantly compromising on service experience. On the other hand, Cincinnati Insurance stands out for those prioritizing exceptional service, irrespective of price.

MoneyGeek found the best options in Dayton for those seeking best car insurance. The top two insurers in the region are:

• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($559 per year)
• Erie: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($773 per year)

American Family distinguishes itself with a MoneyGeek score reflecting strong customer satisfaction and affordability.

MoneyGeek found the best options in Dayton for top-notch customer service in car insurance.

• Cincinnati Insurance: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($1,042 per year)
• Westfield: MoneyGeek score of 82 out of 100 ($1,146 per year)

Cincinnati Insurance distinguishes itself with the highest overall MoneyGeek score, demonstrating an outstanding balance of customer satisfaction, efficient claims service and comprehensive coverage offerings.

MoneyGeek found the best cheap car insurance options in Dayton, delivering a compelling blend of affordability, satisfaction and claims handling. Here are the two top-performing companies in Dayton according to MoneyGeek's score:

• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($279 per year)
• Erie: MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100 ($324 per year)

American Family stands out primarily due to its high affordability score, which significantly influences its lead in the ranking for minimum coverage policies. Its competitive annual premium, combined with strong customer satisfaction and respectable claims processing scores, contribute to its frontrunner position on MoneyGeek's scale.

In Dayton, the average car insurance cost is $883, which is slightly less than the average car insurance cost in Ohio, set at $894. When comparing Ohio's average car insurance cost to the national average, one finds that it is considerably lower, with the state average less than the national average by $826, marking the national cost at a substantial $1,720.

Location can significantly influence the cost of car insurance, as it encompasses factors such as traffic density, accident rates and the frequency of car-related crime. For instance, among the cities analyzed by MoneyGeek, Cincinnati has the highest insurance premium at $980 per year.