Drivers in Dayton can expect to pay an average of $129 per month for full-coverage car insurance and $74 for liability-only coverage. The city’s rates are slightly higher than Ohio’s average of $96 but lower than the national average of $144 per month.
With a population of more than 137,000, Dayton is the sixth-most populous city in Ohio. It also has one the highest rates of property crimes compared to nearby cities, which could explain its relatively high price of auto insurance.1
With varying rates, it’s important to compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
Cheapest car insurance companies in Dayton
The cheapest car insurance for one driver may not necessarily be the cheapest option for you, since insurance companies weigh driving factors differently. It’s important to get car insurance quotes from a few companies to make sure they’re not just the cheapest overall but the cheapest for your specific needs.
To help you start your search, below are Insurify’s picks for the best car insurance companies in Dayton. Quotes are based on monthly averages.
Best insurer for affordability: State Farm
Best insurer for infrequent drivers: Mile Auto
Best insurer for military members, veterans, and their families: USAA
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Dayton
Auto insurance companies look at many factors when determining your rates, like your age, ZIP code, vehicle, driving record, and credit score. How much you pay also depends on your coverage and deductibles. Liability-only coverage will cost less than full coverage, and you’ll also pay less if your deductible is higher.
While you can’t control all the factors used to calculate your rates, you can be proactive when it comes to finding the cheapest car insurance in Dayton. Some ways you can secure cheap coverage include:
Apply for discounts. Insurance companies usually offer various discounts that can help you save money on an auto policy, such as good student and defensive driver discounts.
Bundle your home and auto insurance policies. Many insurers offer discounts if you bundle your car insurance with homeowners, renters, or life insurance.
Select a higher deductible. A higher deductible means a lower premium. Make sure you can afford to pay it out of pocket if you need to file a claim.
Maintain a clean driving record. Drivers with clean records pay the cheapest premiums. Drive responsibly and avoid traffic violations.
Shop around. Compare quotes from at least three car insurance companies before buying a policy. Insurers weigh factors differently. You may find cheaper rates for the same coverage from certain companies.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Dayton: Mile Auto
Liability-only car insurance covers you if you cause an accident that injures passengers, other drivers, or pedestrians or if it damages property other than your own. It comprises two coverages Ohio drivers must carry: bodily injury, which pays medical bills for injured people, and property damage, which pays to repair or replace their damaged personal property.
The cheapest insurer for liability-only car insurance in Dayton is Mile Auto, with an average premium of $41 per month. The table below outlines the cheapest liability-only policies for drivers in Dayton.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Dayton: Mile Auto
Whereas liability-only coverage pays to repair or replace other parties’ cars and personal property, full-coverage car insurance also pays for damage to your own passengers and vehicle.
In addition to liability coverage, it includes collision coverage and comprehensive coverage for damage from both accidents involving collision and damage from non-collision events, such as a tree falling on your car, theft, vandalism, or fire.
If you have a car loan on your vehicle, your lender might require you to carry full coverage. Full coverage is also a good idea for anyone who lives in an area with severe weather or high crime rates. Young drivers, who are more likely to have accidents, may also benefit from full coverage.
The cheapest insurer for full-coverage car insurance in Dayton is Mile Auto, with an average cost of $59 per month. Here’s a look at the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates in Dayton.
Car insurance requirements in Ohio
The state of Ohio requires drivers to be able to show financial responsibility for an accident they cause.3 Most do that by carrying bodily injury and property damage liability insurance.
Below is the minimum mandatory coverage, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.4
Coverage beyond Ohio’s minimum liability requirements is optional for drivers in Dayton but can offer additional protection in certain situations. You might find several of the following optional car insurance policies worthwhile:
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
An incident is an event reported to your insurance company that could lead the insurer to charge you a surcharge or withdraw discounts you’ve been receiving — either of which effectively increases your rate. Examples include speeding tickets, driving under the influence, and at-fault accidents.
The rate increase reflects your perceived increased risk in the eyes of your insurer. If you have no further incidents, your rate could return to normal after three years, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). However, the Ohio Department of Insurance notes that some companies keep the rate increase in effect for as long as five years.5
It’s important to report an at-fault accident to your insurance agent promptly, despite the risk of a rate increase. Otherwise, your insurance company might refuse to honor your policy in the event you’re sued. Even if you have incidents on your driving record, you can still find affordable car insurance with the right company.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Mile Auto
If your insurer finds a speeding ticket on your record, it could increase your rate. How much depends on the insurance company and your driving history.
The cheapest insurer for drivers with a speeding ticket in Dayton is Mile Auto, with an average cost of $49 per month. Here’s what you can expect to pay for auto insurance with a speeding ticket compared to a clean driving record.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Mile Auto
An at-fault accident is almost certain to raise your auto insurance rates unless you have accident forgiveness. How much your rates go up depends on how serious the accident is and if you have any previous incidents on your record. Premium increases vary by insurer.
Mile Auto has the cheapest rates for Dayton drivers with at-fault accidents on their records: $53 per month for liability-only coverage. The data below outlines the average cost of auto insurance if you’re in an accident.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Mile Auto
Under Ohio law, a driver is considered drunk if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. In addition to three days to six months in jail, a fine of $375 to $1,075, and a license suspension of one to three years, you can expect a hefty insurance rate increase once you’ve gotten your license back and are ready to purchase insurance again.6
Dayton drivers with a DUI on their record pay an average of $164 per month for car insurance. You’ll find the cheapest rates with Mile Auto. The table below highlights other affordable insurers in the city for drivers with DUIs.
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Mile Auto
Drivers enjoy the lowest rates from about age 35 through age 70. After that, rates increase, as older drivers face a higher risk of being seriously injured or killed in an accident.
Senior drivers in Dayton pay an average of $85 per month for car insurance. Mile Auto offers the cheapest rates in the city. The table below shows some other cheap auto insurance companies for seniors in Dayton.
Cheapest car insurance for teens: Mile Auto
Teen drivers are less mature and less experienced, and as a result, they’re at higher risk of getting into an accident. That high risk translates to high premiums compared to older drivers. You can take certain steps to minimize the effect of your age, though.
Ask your insurer about multi-car and good student discounts, and keep your teenager on the family insurance plan for as long as possible. The most effective step you can take is to compare quotes from multiple insurers and ask questions before agreeing to a policy.
Teen drivers in Dayton pay an average of $217 per month for car insurance. They’ll find the cheapest rates from Mile Auto. The table below shows some of the cheapest monthly car insurance quotes for teens and young drivers in Dayton.
Dayton car insurance quotes by credit tier
Insurers in Ohio use your credit score to create credit-based insurance scores to determine how risky a driver is to insure.7 Drivers with excellent or good credit pay cheaper rates than drivers with poor credit. You can see how much more in the following chart, which shows average monthly prices for full coverage at different credit tiers.
Is car insurance more expensive in Dayton?
Dayton drivers pay an average of $102 per month for car insurance, slightly less than the national average.
It’s right in the middle of the pack when it comes to cities in Ohio, however. Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus all have higher rates, while Hamilton, Springfield, and Toledo have cheaper rates.
More cities in Ohio
ZIP code has a major effect on insurance rates. Insurers look at urban versus rural settings, population density, the rates of vandalism and car theft in the area where the car is parked, and whether you park in the street or in a garage, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Here’s a look at the average quotes for both liability and full-coverage car insurance in other cities in Ohio.