One of the more important components that are used to help calculate the amount you pay for auto insurance is where you keep your vehicle. Larger areas tend to have more expensive car insurance rates, whereas less populated areas benefit from lower coverage costs.
The illustration below rates the most costly cities in Ohio for low credit scores in which to purchase auto insurance. Cincinnati comes in at #5 costing $1,210 for coverage, which is approximately $101 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youngstown | $1,285 |
| 2 | Toledo | $1,279 |
| 3 | Cleveland | $1,272 |
| 4 | Columbus | $1,235 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | $1,210 |
| 6 | Cleveland Heights | $1,166 |
| 7 | Dayton | $1,142 |
| 8 | Akron | $1,135 |
| 9 | Euclid | $1,129 |
| 10 | Hamilton | $1,113 |
| 11 | Canton | $1,102 |
| 12 | Fairfield | $1,085 |
| 13 | Lakewood | $1,073 |
| 14 | Middletown | $1,066 |
| 15 | Newark | $1,063 |
| 16 | Springfield | $1,061 |
| 17 | Beavercreek | $1,058 |
| 18 | Strongsville | $1,041 |
| 19 | Parma | $1,027 |
| 20 | Kettering | $1,020 |
| Compare Prices Now Go | ||
Table data uses estimated as the vehicle garaging location can affect insurance rates greatly.
The type of vehicle needing coverage is a large consideration that determines whether or not you find the best cheap auto insurance for low credit scores. Vehicles with lower acceleration and performance, an excellent safety record, or a positive history of liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than higher performance models. The table below showcases insurance rates for a handful of the cheapest automobiles to buy coverage for.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Toyota Prius | $1,270 |
| Honda Accord LX-P 4-Dr Sedan | $1,316 |
| Volkswagen Jetta LE 4-Dr Sedan | $1,360 |
| Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD | $1,369 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport Package 4WD | $1,387 |
| Ford Explorer Limited 2WD | $1,395 |
| Hyundai Elantra Blue 4-Dr Sedan | $1,406 |
| Honda Civic LX-S 4-Dr Sedan | $1,413 |
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $1,409 |
| Toyota Corolla LE | $1,430 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $1,438 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $1,443 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Regular Cab 4WD | $1,457 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $1,477 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT Crew Cab 2WD | $1,484 |
| Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab ST 2WD | $1,511 |
| Ford Edge SE AWD | $1,528 |
| Kia Optima EX | $1,555 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 2-Dr Coupe | $1,562 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Crew Cab 2WD | $1,555 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $1,576 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LT Crew Cab 2WD | $1,625 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $1,666 |
| Compare Cheap Rates Go | |
Data assumes single female driver age 30, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise prices substantially.
Looking at the numbers, you can see that models like the Toyota Prius, Honda Accord, and Volkswagen Jetta will be some of the most economical vehicles to insure for bad credit.
Determining which insurers offer the cheapest auto insurance rates for low credit scores may require a bit more work in order to find the best policy. Each company uses their own method to determine rates, so let’s look at the rankings for the auto insurance companies with the overall cheapest rates in Cincinnati, OH.
Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance in Ohio
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utica National | $628 |
| 2 | Erie | $661 |
| 3 | Allied | $676 |
| 4 | Frankenmuth | $701 |
| 5 | Travelers | $712 |
| 6 | USAA | $719 |
| 7 | Cincinnati Insurance | $756 |
| 8 | Merchants Insurance Group | $771 |
| 9 | Motorists Mutual | $824 |
| 10 | Grange Mutual | $828 |
| 11 | General Casualty | $837 |
| 12 | Central Mutual | $840 |
| 13 | Hastings Mutual | $866 |
| 14 | State Farm | $885 |
| 15 | Atlantic States | $913 |
| 16 | Western Reserve | $932 |
| 17 | Westfield | $936 |
| 18 | Progressive | $953 |
| 19 | Auto-Owners | $988 |
| 20 | Nationwide | $1,018 |
| Get Personalized Rates Go | ||
Utica National may offer some of the lowest car insurance rates in Cincinnati at around $628 per year. Erie, Allied, Frankenmuth, and Travelers also make the cut as some of the most economical Cincinnati, OH car insurance companies.
As shown above, if you currently buy coverage from Frankenmuth and switched to Erie, you could earn an annual premium reduction of about $40. Policyholders with Travelers might save as much as $51 a year, and USAA customers might lower prices by $58 a year.
To see if you’re overpaying, click here to start your custom quote or feel free to get quotes from the companies below.
Be aware that those rates are averaged across all drivers and vehicles and and are not figured with an exact vehicle garaging location for low credit scores. So the auto insurance company that fits you best may not even be in the top 33 companies shown above. That illustrates why you need to quote rates from as many companies as possible using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
How accidents and violations affect rates in Cincinnati
The ideal way to enjoy cheap auto insurance rates for bad credit is to drive safely and avoid accidents and traffic violations. The information below illustrates how violations and at-fault accidents can influence car insurance costs for different categories of driver ages. The rate quotes are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
The data charted above shows the average cost of auto insurance per year with no violations or accidents is $741. Factor in one speeding ticket and the average cost rises to $862, an increase of $121 each year. Next add one accident along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of auto insurance for low credit scores jumps again to an average of $1,201. That’s an increase of $460, or $38 per month, just for being a careless driver!
Full coverage rates compared to liability only
Reducing premiums for auto insurance should be important to the majority of vehicle owners, and one of the easiest ways to save on the cost of insurance for low credit scores is to only pay for liability coverage. The diagram below compares insurance costs with and without full coverage. The data is based on no claims or driving violations, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
As an average, full coverage on your policy costs $1,308 per year over having just liability coverage. Many people question if paying for full coverage is a waste of money. There is no clear-cut formula for excluding full coverage on your policy, but there is a general school of thought. If the yearly cost of comp and collision coverage is more than around 10% of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
There are some circumstances where dropping physical damage coverage is not in your best interest. If you still have a lienholder on your title, you have to carry full coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is damaged, you should not remove full coverage.
How to find the cheapest auto insurance for low credit scores
The list below details some of the better thrifty suggestions that can help Ohio drivers quote cheap auto insurance.
- Staying accident-free helps keep rates low
- Drive a car with a high safety rating
- Don’t have frequent claims
- You will pay more if you get tickets or have at-fault accidents
- Save money by insuring older vehicles for liability only
- Save money by bundling your home and auto policies
- Compare rates regularly and switch companies to save money
The last item on the list is certainly crucial, as we noted in this write-up. Prices charged by auto insurers in Cincinnati fluctuate constantly, so don’t hesitate to switch companies if you find a better deal.
We understand brand loyalty, but it’s not a good idea if that inflexibility results in costing you a lot of money every month. Take a couple minutes and compare prices to find cheaper car insurance for low credit scores.