Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies for High-Risk Drivers in Ohio

If insurance companies classify you as risky to insure, they may expect you to be more likely to file a claim, so they charge a higher rate. But you can still find affordable car insurance in Ohio by shopping around and comparing quotes from different insurance providers.

In Ohio, American Family is both the best and most affordable high-risk driver auto insurer. The company has an average policy cost of $678 per year for high-risk drivers. Still, your actual insurance premium may be different depending on your age, city and other factors.

Insurance companies consider drivers who are more likely to file a claim as risky to insure. They may regard you as high risk if you have had at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, a reckless driving violation or a DUI conviction.

However, insurers may still classify you as high risk despite having a clean driving history. That usually happens to teenagers and individuals with poor credit.

You can expect a higher insurance premium if you’re considered a high-risk driver. That is how companies make up for the risk they take when insuring you. In Ohio, car insurance is around 26% more expensive for high-risk drivers compared to regular drivers.

Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, American Family is Ohio’s cheapest car insurance company for bad drivers. For high-risk motorists, the company charges around $678 per year. We’ve conducted an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of this provider in our review of American Family.

American Family gained a MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100, making it the top auto insurance company for high-risk drivers in Ohio. Erie was a close runner-up, with a score of 91 out of 100. Keep in mind that our recommendations are based on generalizations, and the best company for you may be different depending on your profile.

Based on MoneyGeek’s research, American Family has the lowest car insurance rate for drivers with a DUI at around $678 per year. We evaluated American Family’s pros and cons and listed its coverages and discounts to help you learn more about the company.

In addition, USAA is often a cheap car insurance option in Ohio after a DUI conviction. However, only veterans, military members and their families are eligible for a policy with this company.

Per MoneyGeek’s research, GEICO is Ohio's best car insurance company for teenage drivers. It offers car insurance for younger motorists at approximately $2,562 per year. We analyzed GEICO’s car insurance, detailing its discounts and add-on coverages to help you choose if it’s a fit for your needs.

If you have a low credit score, insurance companies may consider you risky to insure and increase your premium price. That is because people with poor credit are seen as more likely to file an insurance claim or miss payments.

MoneyGeek’s analysis shows that GEICO is Ohio’s most affordable car insurance provider for drivers with bad credit. A motorist with a low credit score may buy a GEICO policy for approximately $774 per year. MoneyGeek reviewed GEICO’s coverage options, discounts and features to help you learn more about the provider.

Insurance companies use your driving record as a factor when determining your car insurance premium. Providers may regard you as riskier to insure if you have a DUI conviction, low credit score or little driving experience. That will result in a higher policy price.

The average cost of car insurance for high-risk drivers in Ohio is $1,070 per year. Meanwhile, drivers with a clean record pay approximately $772 per year for the same policy. The difference is nearly $300.

Use MoneyGeek’s Ohio car insurance calculator to estimate your car insurance premium. By selecting your age, driving record, vehicle type and coverage preferences, you’ll receive a ballpark figure of how much car insurance costs. Our tool also allows you to check which factors affect your rate the most.

Since the car insurance industry is a voluntary market, companies may refuse to give you coverage. If you find yourself being denied coverage due to your risk profile, you can still get car insurance by going through the Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office (AIPSO).

The AIPSO is a national, not-for-profit entity that caters to the car insurance industry residual market. For 48 years, it has been helping high-risk motorists get coverage.

High-risk drivers who are rejected by auto insurance providers can use AIPSO’s database to find a residual market plan in their area.

Ohio’s residual market for drivers who fail to get car insurance from the voluntary insurance market is the Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan (OAIP). To become eligible for OAIP coverage, you must certify that you’ve been attempting to get car insurance for the past 60 days but were unable.

If you’re a high-risk driver, getting car insurance can be difficult and expensive. To help you, MoneyGeek responded to some frequently asked questions about high-risk car insurance in Ohio.

MoneyGeek calculated average rates using full coverage car insurance policies with 100/300/100 liability insurance and comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible. Minimum coverage car insurance policy rates were calculated based on each state’s minimum car insurance requirement.

To calculate rates for high-risk drivers, MoneyGeek averaged the premiums insurance companies charge for three of the most common driving violations: speeding, at-fault accident and DUI.

To determine the best car insurance company for high-risk drivers, MoneyGeek scored companies based on affordability, customer satisfaction and complaints — obtained from J.D. Power surveys and NAIC complaint scores — and financial strength ratings as calculated by AM Best. Affordability received the greatest weighting in our calculations.