You have probably watched the commercials from insurers like Allstate and Liberty Mutual that make promises of the cheapest rates, so drivers just need to pick the company with the cutest commercial, right?
It’s not that simple, unfortunately, as there are a whole slew of unknown elements like the crime level of your neighborhood, the safety features built into your vehicle, and if you have ever had a gap in coverage, that all impact the price you pay. If you keep reading, we will teach you about the best ways to find cheap auto insurance and will hopefully give the reader a good beginning to your quest for cheaper car insurance in Ohio.
For minors, one of the largest considerations that are looked at to determine the annual cost of car insurance is your zip code in Cleveland. Regions with more people or even just more weather-related claims likely pay more, whereas areas with less congestion benefit from having to pay less for coverage.
The illustration below sorts the most costly cities in Ohio for drivers under 21 to buy an auto insurance policy in. Cleveland ranks #3 with a yearly cost of $1,235 for coverage, which is around $103 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown | $1,247 |
| 2 | Toledo | $1,241 |
| 3 | Cleveland | $1,235 |
| 4 | Cincinnati | $1,222 |
| 5 | Columbus | $1,211 |
| 6 | Cleveland Heights | $1,178 |
| 7 | Euclid | $1,175 |
| 8 | Akron | $1,157 |
| 9 | Hamilton | $1,146 |
| 10 | Dayton | $1,108 |
| 11 | Springfield | $1,072 |
| 12 | Newark | $1,063 |
| 13 | Canton | $1,058 |
| 14 | Fairfield | $1,053 |
| 15 | Kettering | $1,040 |
| 16 | Parma | $1,037 |
| 17 | Cuyahoga Falls | $1,037 |
| 18 | Middletown | $1,035 |
| 19 | Lakewood | $1,031 |
| 20 | Strongsville | $1,031 |
| 21 | Mentor | $1,018 |
| 22 | Beavercreek | $1,016 |
| 23 | Lorain | $1,005 |
| 24 | Mansfield | $1,002 |
| 25 | Elyria | $965 |
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Annual rates are estimated as zip code location can increase or decrease coverage rates substantially.
The vehicle model you are insuring is one of the largest considerations when comparing the best auto insurance for drivers under 21. Vehicles with lower acceleration and performance, good crash test ratings, or a positive history of liability claims will cost less to insure than high performance models.
The table below outlines auto insurance premiums for a selection of the cheaper automobiles to buy coverage for.
| Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra GLS Touring Station Wagon | $3,904 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $3,913 |
| Ford Escape XLT 4WD | $3,951 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $4,227 |
| Toyota Prius | $4,274 |
| Ford Edge SE 2WD | $4,313 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 2WD | $4,360 |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4WD 2-Dr | $4,368 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $4,635 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS 2WD | $4,645 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $4,635 |
| Toyota Camry LE | $4,643 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $4,635 |
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Table data represents single female driver age 19, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Price information does not factor in specific Cleveland, OH garaging location which can raise or lower auto insurance rates considerably.
Based upon these rates, we can assume that cars like the Hyundai Elantra, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Honda Accord, and Toyota Prius are most likely going to be the most economical vehicles to insure for minors. The cost of auto insurance will tend to be more expensive anyway because there is more claim exposure for drivers under 21, but overall those vehicles will probably have the cheapest auto insurance rates possible.
Choosing a good quality auto insurance company is hard considering how many choices there are in Cleveland. The ranking data shown next may help you select which car insurance providers you want to consider when looking for cheaper rates. These rankings only include the largest companies in America, so smaller companies will not be included in the list.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers in Cleveland Ranked by Customer Service
- Nationwide
- State Farm
- Safeco Insurance
- American Family
- Titan Insurance
- Travelers
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- Erie Insurance
- Allstate
Top 10 Large Auto Insurers in Cleveland Ranked by Customer Satisfaction
- USAA – 92%
- Erie Insurance – 88%
- American Family – 88%
- State Farm – 88%
- Nationwide – 88%
- 21st Century – 88%
- AAA Insurance – 87%
- Liberty Mutual – 87%
- Farmers Insurance – 87%
- The Hartford – 87%
How violations and accidents impact rates
The ideal way to score the best car insurance rates in Ohio for minors is to drive cautiously and avoid at-fault accidents and violations. The diagram below shows how violations and accident claims can raise insurance prices for each different age group. The premiums assume a single male driver, comp and collision included, $1,000 deductibles, and no policy discounts are applied.
The data charted above shows the average cost of car insurance in Cleveland per year with no accidents and a clean driving record is $961. Get two speeding tickets and the average cost rises to $1,263, an increase of $302 each year. Now add in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the annual cost of car insurance for drivers under 21 increases to an average of $1,569. That’s an increase of $608, or $51 per month, just for not paying attention while driving!
Difference between liability only and full coverage rates
Finding the cheapest car insurance should be important to most vehicle owners, and one of the fastest ways to pay less for insurance for drivers under 21 is to buy only liability coverage. The example below illustrates the difference between insurance prices with and without physical damage coverage. The data is based on a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
If the expense is averaged for all age categories, physical damage insurance costs $1,178 per year more than just buying liability insurance. At some point, every insured wonders if buying full coverage is a good investment. There is no exact rule of when to drop full coverage on your policy, but there is a guideline you can consider. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is more than about 10% of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
For example, let’s assume your vehicle’s settlement value is $4,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, you would only receive $3,000 after paying your policy deductible. If you are paying in excess of $300 a year for physical damage coverage, then it may be the right time to buy liability only.
Why it’s important to shop around
Cleveland car insurance rates are calculated based on many things which can substantially decrease or increase the cost of having a policy. Improving your credit rating, increasing liability limits, or getting caught speeding can trigger changes in premium resulting in some companies being affordable when they were higher priced. Not only may things change on your end, but insurance companies modify rates without warning to ensure their profitability. Unexpectedly high claims can result in increased policy costs, while a lower level of claims may cause cheaper Cleveland car insurance rates.
For example, the data below compares the cheapest car insurance in Cleveland, OH for a 45-year-old female driver with no violations or accidents, and a high credit rating. Based on her current situation, Utica National might offer the best car insurance rates in Cleveland at $825 per year. This is $215 less than the average policy premium paid by Ohio drivers of $1,040. Erie, Allied, Frankenmuth, and USAA are also on the list of the cheapest Cleveland, OH auto insurance companies.
Now let’s give the driver from the first rate comparison a chargeable accident, a lower credit rating, and a speeding ticket. Since every insurance provider uses their own calculation to set policy rates, getting updated rate quotes will most likely result in a different set of the cheapest car insurance companies in Cleveland as shown below.
Merchants Insurance Group now has the best price in Cleveland with Cincinnati Insurance, Motorists Mutual, Grange Mutual, and General Casualty now being in the top five. This shows why drivers need to take the time to shop around to find the most economical car insurance rates for drivers under 21. Car insurance prices are impacted by many risk factors and change substantially, so the best option the last time you compared rates may now be one of the higher cost companies.
The agencies below can provide answers to your questions and help you determine which is the best policy, since many consumers aren’t sure which coverage to buy and prefer to have some professional guidance when shopping for cheaper insurance for drivers under 21. It can be time-consuming to find the best policy on your own, and insurance agents can provide you satisfaction knowing you have suitable coverage if you ever need to use it. To locate a Cleveland auto insurance agent using an interactive map, click the button following the list or click here to get price quotes now.
- Lake Shore Insurance Agency
735 Beta Dr – Cleveland, OH 44143 – (440) 446-1600 - Garrett C Estes – State Farm Insurance Agent
4219 W 210th St – Fairview Park, OH 44126 – (440) 331-3111 - State Farm: Stan Harris
12429 Cedar Road, Suite 26 – Cleveland Heights, OH 44106 – (216) 791-1006 - Marsh Insurance
200 Public Square #100 – Cleveland, OH 44114 – (216) 937-1700 - The Brooks and Stafford Company
55 Public Square #1650 – Cleveland, OH 44113 – (216) 696-3000