So what do Cleveland drivers need to know?  Start with the following:

1.  In Cleveland, auto insurance is incredibly affordable.  In fact, Ohio offers some of the lowest insurance rates in the country.  On average, Ohio drivers pay about $175 less every year for insurance than other drivers around the country.  As an added benefit, in Cleveland, auto insurance rates are not even going up by much from year to year.  In fact, rates are increasing much slower in Cleveland than they are in the rest of the country. 

Bottom line – if someone tells you that your auto insurance rates in Cleveland are going to break the bank, they’re just plain wrong.

2.  In Cleveland, your auto insurance has to meet certain requirements.  Ohio state law says that each driver has to have minimum Bodily Injury liability limits of $12,500 for each injured person, with a cap of $25,000 for each accident.

Plus, if you’re a driver in Cleveland, your auto insurance has to include Property Damage liability coverage with a minimum limit of $7,500.

Cleveland drivers are not required by law to get uninsured or underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage, but it’s an awfully good idea.  After all, you never know who’s in the car behind you!

3.  Auto insurance is a must for drivers in Cleveland – and not just because it’s the law.  Cleveland has close to half a million residents, and the average commute to work takes more than 25 minutes.  That’s a lot of cars to dodge and a lot of time to be out on the road!  You never know when a crash will strike, and you certainly don’t want to get caught without insurance.

4. In Cleveland, auto insurance is considered ‘at-fault’, meaning that the driver who caused the accident generally has to pay for all of the damage and injuries.  How do you determine who’s at fault?  The insurance companies for both drivers study the accident and figure out who’s to blame.  For example, if you rear-end a car that’s stopped at a red light, chances are you’ll be deemed at fault.  That means you’ll need good insurance coverage to pay for all the damages.

5.  You don’t have to wait for your current auto insurance policy to expire before you buy a new one.  If you’ve found a better deal, you can take advantage of it now.  You can always cancel your auto insurance policy and switch to another one.  If you paid in advance, your company will issue you a refund.