The car, truck, or SUV you are seeking coverage for is one of the largest considerations that determines the availability of the most economical insurance for a learners permit. Vehicles with high performance features, a lack of modern safety features, or a track record of large liability claims will cost more to insure than safer, lower-performance models. The table below features coverage costs for the cheapest vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Insured Vehicle | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $5,249 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $5,589 |
| Ford Escape Limited 4WD | $5,598 |
| Toyota Prius | $5,645 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD | $6,167 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LT Extended Cab 4WD | $6,172 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $6,223 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $6,229 |
| Honda Civic VP 4-Dr Sedan | $6,454 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $6,459 |
| Chevrolet Impala LTZ | $6,507 |
| Honda Odyssey EX-L W/Navigation | $6,516 |
| Ford Edge Limited AWD | $6,507 |
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Prices based on single male driver age 17, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Ohio minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, and safe-driver. Table data does not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can revise coverage prices noticeably.
Looking at the rates, you can conclude that cars like the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, and Ford Escape are going to be some of the cheapest vehicles to insure for new drivers. Prices will be more expensive just because there is more exposure for a learners permit, but generally speaking those vehicles will most likely have the lowest prices available.
Finding dependable, reasonably-priced insurance is hard enough, and figuring out which companies offer the most affordable car insurance rates for a learners permit requires even more work. Each auto insurance company uses a different method for setting rates, so let’s take a look at the car insurance companies with the overall best prices in Ohio.
Find Cheaper Car Insurance in Ohio
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utica National | $628 |
| 2 | Erie | $661 |
| 3 | Allied | $669 |
| 4 | Frankenmuth | $701 |
| 5 | USAA | $719 |
| 6 | Travelers | $726 |
| 7 | Merchants Insurance Group | $755 |
| 8 | Cincinnati Insurance | $779 |
| 9 | Motorists Mutual | $800 |
| 10 | Grange Mutual | $812 |
| 11 | General Casualty | $829 |
| 12 | Hastings Mutual | $858 |
| 13 | Central Mutual | $874 |
| 14 | State Farm | $894 |
| 15 | Westfield | $908 |
| 16 | Atlantic States | $913 |
| 17 | Western Reserve | $961 |
| 18 | Progressive | $982 |
| 19 | Auto-Owners | $988 |
| 20 | Nationwide | $998 |
| Find Cheaper Rates Go | ||
Utica National normally has some of the lowest car insurance rates in Columbus at around $628 a year. This is $412 less than the average price paid by Ohio drivers of $1,040. Erie, Allied, Frankenmuth, and USAA are also some of the cheapest Columbus, OH insurance companies.
As shown in the table above, if you currently buy coverage from Allied and switched to Utica National, you might realize annual savings of in the neighborhood of $41. Ohio drivers with Frankenmuth may save as much as $73 a year, and USAA policyholders might reduce prices by as much as $91 a year.
These policy prices are averages for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not factor in an exact location for a learners permit. So the insurer that has the lowest price for you may not even be in the top 33 companies shown above. That underscores the importance of why you need to get rate quotes from many companies using your own driver information and specific vehicle type.
One of the many things that help determine car insurance rates is where your car is garaged in Columbus. Cities with larger populations tend to have higher auto insurance costs, whereas less populated areas profit from lower rates.
The table below lists the most expensive places in Ohio for a learners permit to buy auto insurance in. Columbus is ranked at #4 with an annual cost of $1,247 for car insurance, which is approximately $104 monthly.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland | $1,272 |
| 2 | Toledo | $1,267 |
| 3 | Youngstown | $1,247 |
| 4 | Columbus | $1,247 |
| 5 | Cincinnati | $1,222 |
| 6 | Cleveland Heights | $1,202 |
| 7 | Euclid | $1,129 |
| 8 | Akron | $1,123 |
| 9 | Hamilton | $1,113 |
| 10 | Dayton | $1,108 |
| 11 | Springfield | $1,105 |
| 12 | Newark | $1,095 |
| 13 | Fairfield | $1,085 |
| 14 | Canton | $1,069 |
| 15 | Middletown | $1,066 |
| 16 | Lakewood | $1,063 |
| 17 | Beavercreek | $1,058 |
| 18 | Parma | $1,027 |
| 19 | Cuyahoga Falls | $1,027 |
| 20 | Mansfield | $1,022 |
| Find Cheaper Insurance Go | ||
Premium amounts are approximated as the specific garaging location can revise insurance rates considerably.
Should you buy full coverage?
Saving money when shopping for car insurance is important to the majority of vehicle owners, and one of the best ways to reduce the cost of insurance for a learners permit is to only buy liability insurance. The information below illustrates the comparison of insurance prices with full physical damage coverage and with liability coverage only. The premiums assume no claims or driving violations, $100 deductibles, drivers are single, and no discounts are applied.
If we average the cost for ages 20 through 70, physical damage coverage on your policy costs $1,455 per year more than just insuring for liability. A very common question is when is the right time to remove full coverage. There is no clear-cut rule for phasing out comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the yearly cost for physical damage coverage is more than about 10% of the vehicle’s replacement cost less your deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s replacement cost is $8,000 and you have $1,000 deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company will settle for is $7,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If it’s costing you more than $700 a year for comprehensive and collision coverage, then it could be time to drop full coverage.
Get discount Columbus insurance
Car insurance companies that offer coverage for a learners permit could also offer price discounts that can lower rates by as much as 40% or more if you meet the requirements. Companies and some of the premium reductions they offer can be read below.
- State Farm policyholders can earn discounts including student away at school, good student, driver’s education, multiple autos, and passive restraint.
- GEICO may include discounts for military active duty, five-year accident-free, multi-vehicle, defensive driver, membership and employees, and anti-theft.
- SAFECO offers premium reductions for anti-theft, safe driver, drive less, teen safe driver, multi-car, and anti-lock brakes.
- Farmers Insurance may have discounts that include mature driver, bundle discounts, teen driver, homeowner, and good student.
- AAA discounts include good student, multi-car, good driver, multi-policy, and pay-in-full.
- USAA has savings for good student, safe driver, annual mileage, new vehicle, and multi-policy.
The illustration below illustrates the difference between car insurance rates with and without discounts applied to the rates. Data assumes a female driver, a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, Ohio state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with passive restraint, paperless filing, anti-theft, paid-in-full, continuous coverage, and vehicle safety discounts applied. When drivers qualify for the discounts, theaverage yearly reduction on car insurance for a learners permit is 28% or $432.
If you aren’t sure which coverage you need and prefer to have some professional guidance when shopping around for cheaper insurance for new drivers, the agents listed below are a good start to help you make a decision which insurance coverage you need. To locate a Columbus car insurance agency in your neighborhood, click the link at the bottom.
- Jerry Doherty – State Farm Insurance Agent
21 W Broad St #100 – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 461-7833 - Bruce Rothermund – State Farm Insurance Agent
50 Northwoods Blvd – Columbus, OH 43235 – (614) 888-5830 - Guy P Williams Insurance Agency
1335 Dublin Rd #110d – Columbus, OH 43215 – (614) 488-1101 - IHT Insurance Agency Group LLC
655 Metro Pl S Suite 330 – Dublin, OH 43017 – (614) 761-2825
View map of Columbus, OH insurance agents
How to find low-cost insurance for a learners permit
Lowering your rates is not difficult, and here are some of the better penny-pinching solutions that can help Columbus drivers buy more affordable coverage.
- Increase your policy deductibles
- Save money by bundling your home and auto policies
- Improve your credit
- Drive a car with a high safety rating
- Do not file small claims
- Drop full coverage on older vehicles
- Compare rate quotes frequently
The last idea is especially significant, as we noted in the prior information. Coverage prices in Columbus can change significantly in a year, so don’t be afraid to buy a policy from a new company if you find a cheaper price. Brand loyalty is not necessarily bad, but it isn’t a good idea if that devotion results in you overpaying lots of hard earned cash every month. In just a few minutes you could shop around to find cheaper car insurance for a learners permit.