The Rock ’n’ Roll Capital of the World has a relatively high average insurance rate of $115 per month, partly thanks to its population density. Cleveland drivers can find the cheapest full-coverage rates from Mile Auto at $67, and the cheapest liability-only coverage from Mile Auto at $46.
But you should always compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies before buying a policy. The best option for your needs will depend on your age, marital status, driving history, coverage needs, and various other factors.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Cleveland
Finding the best rate for car insurance in Cleveland will depend on several factors since every insurer uses different criteria to determine car insurance rates. An insurer may include factors like your gender, marital status, ZIP code, driving history, and credit record to calculate your rates. And the weight of each of these factors often varies from one insurer to the next.
Cleveland drivers should start comparison shopping with top auto insurers, including State Farm, Auto-Owners, and Erie. Each one of these companies offers distinct benefits to their customers while also charging a lower average monthly rate than the Cleveland average of $115 per month.
Best insurer for cheap rates: State Farm
Best insurer for optional coverages: Auto-Owners
Best insurer for customer satisfaction: Erie
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Cleveland
Insurers use more than a dozen rating factors to determine your premium, including your driving history, age, marital status, credit score, and ZIP code. Drivers will have to shop around and compare quotes to find the cheapest car insurance in Cleveland since the underwriting process varies from one company to the next.
You can pursue several other strategies to help reduce premiums:
Drive safely. The most effective way to keep your insurance costs low is to maintain a clean driving record. Taking a defensive driving course may help you learn important skills if you need help.
Adjust your coverage. Don’t carry more coverage than you need. Consider increasing your deductible, dropping collision or comprehensive coverage, or decreasing your liability amounts.
Bundle insurance policies. Many insurers offer discounts to consumers who bundle homeowners insurance or renters insurance with auto insurance.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Cleveland: Mile Auto
Liability car insurance pays to repair or replace the other party’s damaged vehicle and associated medical costs. If you damage your car in an accident, your liability-only coverage won’t pay to repair or replace it.
The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Cleveland is $82. The following companies have the cheapest liability-only car insurance in the northeast Ohio city.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Cleveland: Mile Auto
On average, Cleveland drivers pay $148 for full coverage.
Full-coverage car insurance is good for drivers who need more protection since it includes collision and comprehensive coverages. Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged in an accident you caused. Comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after something other than an accident damages your car, such as severe weather, theft, vandalism, or flooding.
If you have a car loan or a leased vehicle, your lender or leasing company will require you to carry full-coverage insurance. The following insurers offer the cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Cleveland:
Car insurance requirements in Ohio
Ohio is an at-fault state for auto insurance. Under this kind of insurance rule, the driver who caused the accident must pay for the other party’s damages, usually through their insurer.
In addition, Ohio’s 51% modified comparative fault rule means that someone who is more than 50% responsible for causing an accident can’t sue any other party for damages.1
All Ohio drivers are legally required to carry minimum liability insurance in the following amounts for bodily injury and property damage liability coverage:2
These are relatively low coverage minimums. If you want more protection, consider increasing your liability limits and carrying the following optional coverages:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Finding the cheapest car insurance after an incident can be challenging. Common incidents include speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and OVIs. Even one incident on your driving record could cause your insurer to increase your premiums or even refuse to continue your coverage.
Having one or more incidents on your record doesn’t necessarily mean you’re stuck paying more than you can afford. Plenty of insurers still offer rates for drivers with blemishes on their driving history. Here’s how you can find the cheapest car insurance after an incident in Cleveland.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Mile Auto
Even a single speeding ticket can increase your car insurance premiums. Insurers take this infraction seriously because of how dangerous excess speed can be. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 25% of Ohio traffic deaths in 2021 were speeding-related.4
The average cost of car insurance with a speeding ticket in Cleveland is $184 for full coverage and $102 for liability only. If you have a citation for driving over the speed limit, you’ll find the cheapest car insurance in Cleveland from these companies:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Mile Auto
Having an at-fault accident on your driving record will often cause your insurer to raise your rates since the underwriters may now consider you to be a higher risk. Depending on the severity and circumstances of the accident and your driving history, your insurer may even non-renew your policy after an at-fault accident.
On average, Cleveland drivers pay $147 for car insurance after an accident. The following insurers have the cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident in Cleveland:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an OVI: State Farm
Receiving an OVI citation will result in a fine and six points on your Ohio driver’s license.5 In some cases, Cleveland drivers with an OVI will also see increased insurance premiums or even a loss of coverage.
Cleveland drivers with clean records pay an overall average of $115 per month for car insurance. Drivers with an OVI pay a monthly average of $185. This doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck after an OVI. The following insurers offer the cheapest car insurance for drivers with an OVI in Cleveland:
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Mile Auto
Insurance premiums are generally highest for the youngest drivers, although these rates usually decrease around age 25. Safe drivers can usually expect their rates to remain low for some time, but they tend to go up again around age 70. Senior drivers may experience age-related physical and cognitive changes that increase their risk of getting into an accident.
In Cleveland, senior drivers pay an overall average of $94 per month for car insurance. Older drivers may want to check out these insurers, as they have the cheapest car insurance for seniors in Cleveland.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Mile Auto
Teenage drivers lack experience behind the wheel and tend to take bigger risks than older drivers, making them more likely to cause accidents and file claims. Insurers understand this and charge their highest rates to teen drivers to account for that risk.
Here are some ways teens and their parents can help keep their premiums affordable:
Stay on their parents’ insurance policy. Though teens 18 and older can get their own insurance policy, staying on a parent or guardian’s policy will be far less expensive.
Choose a safe car. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has developed a list of safe, practical, and affordable vehicles suitable for teen drivers.
Do well in school. Many insurance companies offer good student discounts to teen drivers who maintain a GPA of at least a B.
Teen drivers with their own policies in Cleveland pay an overall average of $241 per month for car insurance. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for teen drivers in Cleveland:
Cleveland car insurance quotes by credit tier
In most U.S. states, including Ohio, auto insurance companies are legally allowed to use your credit history when determining your insurance rates.6 Insurers charge drivers with good or excellent credit cheaper premiums than drivers with fair or poor credit.
Here’s how much of a difference your credit tier may make on your auto insurance quotes in Cleveland:
Is car insurance more expensive in Cleveland?
Cleveland drivers pay similar rates for car insurance than the national average. The average cost of a liability-only policy in Cleveland is $83 per month, while full-coverage costs an average of $144 per month. For comparison, the national average cost is $106 per month for liability-only coverage and $172 per month for full coverage.
Insurance costs can vary quite a bit from one state to another, from one city to the next, and even within a city. That’s because insurance companies use factors like geographic location, population density, crime statistics, weather, and demographics to determine premium prices.
For example, Cleveland often experiences lake-effect snow during the winter months, making it more likely that drivers will have to deal with the risks of significant snow and ice storms.7 High accident frequency and severity, and higher vehicle theft and vandalism rates also contribute to higher insurance costs.
More cities in Ohio
See how rates in Cleveland compare to some other Ohio cities in the table below.