Cheap Car Insurance in Portsmouth, Ohio
Everything You Need to Know About Auto Insurance in Portsmouth
Although Portsmouth is named after another town – either in New Hampshire or in Virginia, it’s debated – its location is a “port” on the “mouth” of the Scioto River, which means “fresh water”. As is true of many places across the U.S., Native Americans were early settlers here, possibly as early as 100 BC. In 1758, historians claim the Shawnee built a village here.
Portsmouth is also on the north side of the Ohio River, a critical source for not only moving freight to other places, but also fueling manufacturing and factories, which is why Portsmouth is known as an iron and steel factory town.
One famous resident is the King of the Cowboys, Roy Rogers, whose family lived in Portsmouth and the area during his formative years.
People move here for the friendly vibe, the low crime rate and the natural beauty. Although Portsmouth is fairly small (roughly 18,000 residents), its location of only 80 miles south of Columbus and 110 miles east of Cincinnati, can make road conditions crowded. Keep in mind this area is also prone to winter storms. Having affordable car insurance in Ohio is important for those who want to protect themselves and their families while behind the wheel.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Portsmouth
Portsmouth residents pay on average $25 monthly for the state minimum liability and $95 on average if they up their limits to $100K/$300K/$100K. It isn’t surprising when you look at overall rates for the state. Ohioans pay less than the national average with $129 for full coverage and $35.50 for minimum. The nation’s average is $204 for full and $56.50 for minimum.
Reasons Why Auto Insurance is So Cheap in Ohio
Why is insurance cheap in Ohio? Mainly because there are less claims, meaning drivers are typically safer on the roads, plus there is a healthy market of competing insurance companies. However, just like everywhere else in the nation, prices are increasing because the cost to repair a vehicle is going up, along with the medical cost to treat a human who is injured.
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Affordable Car Insurance Rates Comparison by Cities in Ohio
The smaller the community, the less chance of encountering congested traffic with lots of accidents. Take a look at the chart below to see how rates compare between Ohio cities.
| City | Full Coverage Insurance | Liability Insurance Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | $95 | $25 |
| Columbus | $105 | $45 |
| Zanesville | $89 | $23 |
| Cleveland | $106 | $40 |
| Toledo | $120 | $46 |
Affordable Car Policy Rates in Portsmouth by Zip Code
There are many factors insurers use to calculate your premium and your zip code is one of them. Zip codes with higher levels of crime and accidents may cause residents to see increased premiums. There is only one zip code in Portsmouth, so that particular factor carries the same weight across drivers.
Low-Cost Car Insurance Rates by Age
Your driving record and your age play a large part in the car insurance quote you receive. And if you are young – or a new driver of any age – there isn’t much of a history to look at. That is one reason rates are higher for those drivers. Additionally teenagers will pay a higher rate because as a collective group they tend to file more claims. Finding cheap car insurance for teens in Portsmouth can be a challenge, but there are some steps you can take.
Here’s what you can expect to pay on average each month based on your age group in Portsmouth:
| Age | Full Coverage Insurance | Liability Insurance Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Teenagers | $406 | $128 |
| 20s | $130 | $34 |
| 30s | $95 | $25 |
| 40s | $85 | $23 |
| 50s | $87 | $27 |
| 60s | $83 | $26 |
| 70s | $94 | $31 |
* Methodology: We used the following demographic to determine the average monthly premiums for Portsmouth residents: a 30-year-old male carrying the state’s minimum liability requirements and the state’s full coverage requirements. Premiums vary due to factors such as age, deductible amount, liability limits, discount program eligibility, type of car, and more.
Driving Conditions in Portsmouth
How Many Fatal Accidents Happen in Portsmouth, OH?
In 2022, there were 3 fatal accidents in Portsmouth. The Ohio State Patrol has an extensive campaign devoted to raising awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. From 2019, there have been 63,558 distracted driving crashes and 1,871 fatal and serious injury crashes. Distracted driving includes:
- Talking or texting on a mobile device
- Eating
- Fiddling with the radio
- Anything that takes your attention off driving safely
In Ohio, it is against the law to drive while distracted. This is a measure to improve the safety for everyone.
How Are the Road Infrastructure and Bridges in Portsmouth, OH?
The Scioto County Engineer’s Office maintains the bridges in Portsmouth. It is the third largest county in Ohio by number of bridges, with 493 structures. The current U.S. Grant Bridge spans the Ohio River, connecting Portsmouth, Ohio to South Portsmouth, KY. It is 2,155 feet long.
The City of Portsmouth street department is responsible for the maintenance of city streets, including snow removal, ditch maintenance, resurfacing and more.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Ohio a C- overall for its infrastructure in 2021. Bridges in the state received a grade of C+, mainly because of the number of bridges in the state (44,736), the amount of freight traffic and funding shortfalls for improvements.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Ohio
Minimum insurance requirements in Ohio are:
- $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury liability (one person/two or more persons)
- $25,000 for property damage liability
Every driver must carry at least this amount of protection to be legal. But what do these car insurance amounts mean?
It means if you cause an accident and your claim is approved, your insurer will pay up to $25,000 for the injuries (medical costs) of one person and up to $50,000 if more than one person is injured. Likewise, your insurer will pay up to $25,000 to repair the vehicle of other driver(s) in an accident you cause.
Here is an example: You are driving on a rainy day and your vehicle hydroplanes into another car. Your insurer will cover the medical bills of the other driver and any passengers in their vehicle, as well as repairs to their car up to your policy limits.
With today’s medical bills and repair prices, the costs may exceed your policy limits. Anything over that amount will come out of your pocket. You can be sued and your assets used to pay. In addition, with just minimum liability, there will be no money for your own medical bills and repair costs.
This is why many drivers increase the amounts of their coverage up to $100K/$300K/$100K, as well as adding additional options such as collision coverage, which will pay for your repairs even if you are at fault. Ohio does not require uninsured motorist coverage, but it is an inexpensive way to make sure you will be financially protected if you’re hit by a driver without insurance or one that does not have enough coverage.
What Are the Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Ohio?
The Ohio government takes driving without insurance very seriously. You may lose your drivers license if you are caught.
If that isn’t bad enough, you will be coughing up some serious money – including the possibility of having to get SR-22 insurance for three to five years, which will cause your insurance rates to increase significantly. Here are some of the consequences of driving without insurance in Ohio:
- Lose your driver’s license until insurance is in place on first offense, for one year on second offense and two years on subsequent offenses.
- Fees for reinstatement of license of $40 for first, $300 for second and $600 for following convictions.
Violating any of the above terms may cause your license plates to be confiscated, as well as your vehicle immobilized. If you rack up three or more offenses, the state can take your vehicle and sell it.
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Factors Allowed in Portsmouth Car Coverage Rates
Insurance underwriters look at a variety of factors to determine your car insurance quote in Ohio. The ones that carry the most weight are your driving record and your age. But because there are so many different ones, your quote will be unique to you. It will most likely be influenced by some of these factors, plus more:
- Where you live – down to the zip code and street address
- What type of vehicle you drive – is it expensive to repair or prone to theft
- Annual mileage – the more you drive, the more chance of an accident
- Gender – some studies show males are riskier to insure
Some of these factors you can change and some you cannot. Your safe driving record and maturity will go a long way to getting you the best rates.
Insurance That Helps You Prepare for the Future: Benefits of Car Insurance
You may wonder how the insurance premium you are paying now will help you in the future. After all, any money you spend now is money you are not saving for later, right? But look at it this way: We used an example above in which your vehicle hydroplaned during a rain storm. This could happen to even the safest driver. Even though you may not have been driving recklessly, any accident that is caused by this will be your fault.
If you do not have insurance, you could lose thousands of dollars for a bad enough wreck with injuries and severe damages. You could even have your assets (like your home) seized. Add that to the cost of getting your own vehicle repaired. Plus, any costs related to a conviction for driving without insurance.
It may never happen. But if it does, having insurance will help you protect that nest egg you’ve been growing for your retirement or your child’s education. This is how insurance helps you prepare for the future.
What Are the Best Discounts for Car Coverage?
Nowadays, all insurers offer discounts to make their company seem more attractive to potential customers. The trick is sorting through to find the ones that will benefit your bank account the most. Most carriers limit you to two or three discounts, so making sure you can cash in the best ones is important. Don’t forget, your independent insurance agent will be able to research many different companies for you to find those with the best deals.
Here are a few car insurance discounts you may qualify for to help lower your premium. Don’t forget to check your discounts every time you renew and anytime your life circumstances change. For example, if you start working from home, a low-mileage discount (5%) may be worth more to you than an anti-theft discount (2%).
Good driver (10-30%)
Bundled policy (14%)
Affiliation (15-25% available through memberships, school, etc.)
Customer loyalty (11%)
Get an Online Quote for Car Insurance in Portsmouth, OH Today!
As someone who regularly drives in Portsmouth, you mostly enjoy safe roads. That’s no reason not to be prepared – and legal – when you get behind the wheel. At Freeway Insurance, we can run the numbers for you to find you the cheapest, yet safest, policy options for your unique situation.
You can get a free quick online quote, stop by a conveniently-located office, or call us at 800-777-5620. Let’s find a policy that keeps you safe and secure while you explore everything Portsmouth has to offer.