Best Car Insurance For College Students In Ohio 2024

Ohio is considered one of the top 10 worst states for teen and college drivers. Drivers 24 and younger only constitute 5% of all licensed drivers in Ohio but in 2022 they represented 31% of all car accidents and 13% of all motor vehicle fatalities.

These car accidents and fatalities happen across the state, but especially in places like Hamilton County, where top institutions like the University of Cincinnati are located.

Those who are going to school in Ohio are likely to experience high car insurance rates as a result of these statistics and the subsequent risks that they represent.

To that end, it’s important for college students in Ohio to find ways to save money on car insurance.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For College Students In Ohio – By City

Average Rates For 18 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Average Car Insurance Rates For 19 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Average Cost Of Car Insurance For 20 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Average Rates For 21 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Car Insurance Rates For 22 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Average Cost Of Auto Insurance For 23 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Average Rates For 24 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Average Rates For 25 Year Old College Students In Ohio

Average Rates On Family Policy vs. Individual Policy

How Can College Students Save Money On Car Insurance In Ohio

College students tend to have less experience than other drivers, especially those who are heading off to college for their freshman year. That lack of experience is coupled with a higher chance of distracted driving, alcohol use, and driving late at night or on the weekends.

This lends itself to significantly higher car insurance rates than drivers in their mid to late 20s.

If you are a college student in Ohio and you can’t stay on a parent or guardian policy, it’s important that you find ways to reduce your costs. Those who are under the age of 25 and unmarried can find discounts across several insurance providers like some of the following:

Student Discounts

Student discounts for achieving high grades are well-known, but college students can also enjoy a variety of other discounts, like taking driver education programs, leaving their car at home while away at college, or using devices to monitor safe driving habits.

Affiliation Discounts

Campus clubs and organizations can offer benefits like special discounts. Depending on your insurance provider, participating in a sorority, fraternity, honor society, or alumni association may help lower your monthly car insurance costs.

Geico and nationwide, for example, will give discounts for being members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, certain credit unions, and other alumni associations.

Security And Safety Improvements

Making improvements like installing safety devices or anti-theft devices can drop your premiums anywhere between 5% and 25% depending on the company and the type of change that you make.

Make/Model/Age

The make, model, and age of the vehicle you drive in Ohio can directly influence your rates. Ohio insurance providers charge more for sports cars, vehicles with heavy-duty engines, and newer cars. A new vehicle might seem like a good way to save money on gas, just as an electric vehicle can, but both of these represent costly repairs and replacement risks for an insurance company.

Common Auto Insurance Claims In Ohio

In Ohio, the four most common types of auto insurance claims are:

• Collision Claims (5.8 per 100 years of vehicle activity)
• Property Damage Claims (3.36 per 100 years of vehicle activity)
• Bodily Injury Claims (0.95 per 100 years of vehicle activity)
• Comprehensive Claims (2.81 per 100 years of vehicle activity)

The most common car accident claims in Ohio are cracked windshields, parking lot accidents, and rear-end collisions.

Do College Students Need Their Own Insurance, or Can They Stay On A Parent’s?

There are several scenarios that dictate whether or not you as a college student need your own insurance policy or remain with that of your parents.

1. Firstly, if you live with your parents and you keep your car at their home, even if you attend college somewhere else but you keep them as your primary residence, you can remain on a parent’s policy in ohio.
2. Secondly, if you are moving out temporarily because you are going to college but you plan to come back, and you keep yourself and your vehicle at home outside of those times, you should still be able to stay on your parent’s policy.
3. Thirdly, if you are driving your parents’ vehicle and living at home, you can absolutely stay on their policy.
4. Fourthly, if you move into your own residence and you keep your vehicle there, and you own your vehicle, or it is titled to you exclusively, you will need to take out your own insurance policy.

Temporary Car Insurance

Temporary coverage might not be available from all car insurance providers, but it’s a fantastic choice for college students who won’t be driving regularly.

Temporary auto insurance in Ohio usually includes six months of coverage, with the option to cancel at the end of the term. This is perfect for college students who don’t need extra coverage while in school and for those studying abroad for a semester.

Try Usage-Based Car Insurance

Like telematics, usage-based car insurance monitors driving behavior, but it also has an additional aspect that college students find especially appealing.

By driving less throughout the year, you can benefit from discounts and lower premiums with usage-based car insurance. These “Pay-Per-Mile” plans are a great way to get affordable coverage if your vehicle is mostly parked in the dorm lot or at home during the school year.

How To Buy Car Insurance As A College Student In Ohio

When you are ready to buy your own policy, the steps are much the same as any other age group.

1. Collect all the required information like your vehicle info, license numbers, personal details, and driving record.
2. Figure out the coverage you need to meet the legal requirements in Ohio and what your budget can cover for premiums and deductibles.
3. Decide whether you prefer any additional coverage limits like rental car reimbursements or towing fees.
4. Shop around by comparing quotes from at least 3 car insurance carriers using platforms like Insuranceopedia.
5. Buy your insurance online or from a local agent and pay your first premiums.

If you have an existing policy from a previous provider, notify them of your chance. Check the mail for your insurance card and keep it in your vehicle.

How To Get Discounts

Each car insurance provider offers a different range of discounts, and most of them have some similarities, like discounts for driving habits or grades, but they require different measures. Some other examples include the following:

• Multiple car discounts
• Good student discounts
• Good driver discounts
• Passive restraint discount
• Military discount
• Vehicle safety discount
• Student away at school discount
• Accident-free discounts
• Anti-lock brake discount
• Anti-theft discount

Note: In Ohio, if you are involved in an accident that is not your fault, insurance companies cannot increase your premium, but only for the first time. If you are involved in a second accident that was not your fault within the same policy period, your premiums will go up.

Allstate, for example, offers the teenSMART driver education program in Pennsylvania which can reduce your costs. Those who go to school at least 100 miles away from where their car stays, i.e. students who don’t bring their vehicle with them to college, can also get discounts.

Several other providers like Progressive and State Farm offer discounts for limited driving or low mileage for those who take their vehicles with them as well as discounts for those who are accident-free for several years, safe drivers, and good drivers.

Telematics Car Insurance For College Students

As a college student, finding smart ways to save on car insurance in Ohio is essential. Telematics is one of the most effective methods for reducing your monthly premium.

Telematics devices are used by insurance companies to monitor how you drive. Safer driving can lead to better rates and make you more likely to earn discounts as a safe driver.

Ohio Car Insurance Laws to Know

Ohio requires all drivers to maintain a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. However many experts suggest doubling all three of these coverage limits to offer maximum financial protection especially for college students who may have limited budgets to cover out of pocket expenses following an accident.

Your proof of insurance must be kept with your vehicle at all times and shown at the scene of accidents, during traffic stops, or upon vehicle inspections.

If you do not have proof of your insurance or you do not have insurance coverage, this results in a licensed suspension of up to 90 days, a fine of up to $500, and a requirement for SR-22 insurance.

In the state of Ohio no one else is allowed to drive your vehicle if you do not have insurance, including yourself.

Ohio is a fault state and that means whoever causes the accident is considered at fault and therefore entirely responsible for the expenses of the other person.