Wouldn’t it be nice if we could magically tell you the single company that has the best rates for first-time drivers? Regrettably, it’s not quite that easy, as there are a ton of unknown factors such as the deductible level you need, the annual mileage you drive, and how many years you have been driving, that all factor into the price you pay. This article should teach you a little about the causes of high insurance rates and should give you a jump start in finding the best auto insurance in Cleveland.
The car, truck, or SUV that is being insured is a large consideration that determines whether or not you find low-priced car insurance for first-time drivers. Vehicles with average performance, modern passenger safety features, or low incidents of liability claims will cost significantly less to insure than fast, unsafe models. The information below presents car insurance costs for the most cost-effective vehicles to insure in Ohio.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $5,780 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $5,786 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $6,189 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $6,196 |
| Toyota Prius | $6,246 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $6,802 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $6,811 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 2WD | $6,856 |
| Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $6,861 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $6,856 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan Hero | $6,863 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $6,856 |
| Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer AWD | $6,913 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $6,919 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $7,155 |
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Prices above based on single male driver age 16, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, and claim-free. Premium costs do not factor in vehicle garaging location which can revise premiums noticeably.
By looking at the data, you can figure that cars like the Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Escape, and Toyota Prius are most likely to be the most affordable vehicles to insure for new drivers. The price of auto insurance will be more expensive because of the fact that there is more liability exposure for first-time drivers, but generally speaking those particular models will probably have the lowest prices available.
Figuring out which companies offer the cheapest insurance rates for first-time drivers will take a bit more effort in order to find the best price. Each insurer has their own process for establishing rates, so let’s rank the insurance companies that tend to have lower prices in Ohio.
It’s important that you understand Cleveland insurance rates are impacted by many factors which can substantially decrease or increase the cost of having a policy. Simply turning a year older, having a teenage driver, or getting into an accident can trigger rate changes that may make certain companies cheaper in comparison to the competition.
Best Insurance Companies for Inexperienced Drivers
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utica National | $647 |
| 2 | Erie | $661 |
| 3 | Allied | $676 |
| 4 | Frankenmuth | $708 |
| 5 | USAA | $711 |
| 6 | Travelers | $712 |
| 7 | Merchants Insurance Group | $771 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Insurance | $779 |
| 9 | Motorists Mutual | $792 |
| 10 | Grange Mutual | $804 |
| 11 | General Casualty | $813 |
| 12 | Hastings Mutual | $866 |
| 13 | Central Mutual | $866 |
| 14 | State Farm | $885 |
| 15 | Westfield | $908 |
| 16 | Atlantic States | $913 |
| 17 | Western Reserve | $932 |
| 18 | Progressive | $982 |
| 19 | Nationwide | $998 |
| 20 | Auto-Owners | $998 |
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Utica National offers some of the lowest car insurance rates in Cleveland at around $647 per year. Erie, Allied, Frankenmuth, and USAA also make the cut as some of the more affordable Cleveland, OH insurance companies.
As shown in the rates above, if you have coverage with Erie and switched to Utica National, you could earn yearly savings of roughly $14. Customers with Allied could save as much as $29 a year, and Frankenmuth customers might reduce rates by $61 a year.
To find out how your current rates compare, click here to get quotes or quote rates from the companies below.
Remember that these premium estimates are averages across all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not take into consideration an exact zip code location for first-time drivers. So the company that has the cheapest rates for you may not even be in the top 33 companies shown above. That illustrates why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own specific driver information and vehicle.
For new drivers, one of the big considerations that are looked at to determine insurance cost is where you keep your vehicle in Cleveland. Cities with larger populations or higher claim trends tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas areas with less congestion have the enjoyment of a little cheaper coverage.
The table below rates the most expensive areas in Ohio for first-time drivers in which to buy car insurance. Cleveland makes the list at #2 costing $1,235 for the average policy, which is approximately $103 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo | $1,241 |
| 2 | Cleveland | $1,235 |
| 3 | Youngstown | $1,235 |
| 4 | Columbus | $1,199 |
| 5 | Euclid | $1,175 |
| 6 | Cincinnati | $1,174 |
| 7 | Cleveland Heights | $1,166 |
| 8 | Hamilton | $1,135 |
| 9 | Akron | $1,135 |
| 10 | Dayton | $1,120 |
| 11 | Springfield | $1,072 |
| 12 | Middletown | $1,066 |
| 13 | Canton | $1,058 |
| 14 | Newark | $1,053 |
| 15 | Fairfield | $1,053 |
| 16 | Strongsville | $1,041 |
| 17 | Cuyahoga Falls | $1,037 |
| 18 | Lakewood | $1,031 |
| 19 | Beavercreek | $1,027 |
| 20 | Mansfield | $1,022 |
| 21 | Kettering | $1,009 |
| 22 | Parma | $1,007 |
| 23 | Elyria | $1,005 |
| 24 | Mentor | $978 |
| 25 | Lorain | $975 |
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Rate information is approximated as specific Cleveland zip code can raise or lower rates noticeably.
Full coverage versus liability-only in Cleveland
Saving money when shopping for insurance should be important to most drivers, and one of the quickest ways to pay lower rates for insurance for first-time drivers is to buy liability only. The chart below shows the difference between car insurance rates with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The data is based on no accidents or driving violations, $1,000 deductibles, drivers are single, and no additional discounts are factored in.
If averaged for all ages, full coverage costs an extra $961 per year more than just insuring for liability. That touches on the question if physical damage coverage is worth the money. There is no clear-cut formula to stop paying for physical damage coverage, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of your full coverage insurance is about 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you might consider buying liability only.
The information below shows how different deductible levels can influence insurance costs when searching for cheap insurance for first-time drivers. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
As shown above, a 50-year-old driver could lower rates by $156 a year by changing from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $234 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Youthful drivers, like the 20-year-old example, could possibly save as much as $384 or even more by using higher deductibles when buying full coverage.
If you make the decision to raise deductibles, it will now be necessary to have emergency funds available to allow you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense that comes with higher deductibles.
How to find low-cost insurance for first-time drivers
Here are many penny-pinching ideas that can help Ohio drivers quote more affordable auto insurance.
- Do not get into accidents that are your fault
- Be a safe driver
- Clean up your credit
- Increase physical damage deductibles
- Earn a discount by not filing claims
- Insure your home and auto with the same company
- Shop around for lower rates once a year
The last suggestion is incredibly crucial, as we stressed in this article. Car insurance rates change constantly, so don’t be afraid to switch companies if a more affordable rate is found. Many drivers prefer to stick with one company, but it’s not a great idea if that inflexibility results in costing you thousands of dollars over several years. If you have a few minutes, now is a great time to shop around and find cheaper insurance for first-time drivers in Cleveland.