Ohio Car Insurance Laws and Requirements (2023)

Ohio law dictates the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. All drivers in Ohio must hold 25/50/25 in bodily injury liability per person, bodily injury liability per accident, and property damage liability. Additionally, drivers can pick from a long list of additional coverages for added protection.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Ohio

The minimum car insurance coverage requirements for Ohio^[1] auto insurance are:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability per person

• $50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident

• $25,000 for property damage liability per accident

Ohio drivers have the option to get a bond or post collateral instead of buying auto insurance. However, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires motorists to have $30,000 in cash or bonds—which may be out of reach for most Ohio residents.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in Ohio.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in Ohio.

Is state minimum car insurance enough in Ohio?

The minimum required car insurance coverage in Ohio provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. The minimum required $25,000 in damages isn’t much compared to the high cost of medical bills or property damage claims.

Choosing more than the minimum amount of auto insurance can protect your finances. When you don’t have enough insurance coverage or the right type of coverage after an accident, you may have to pay out of pocket for property damage or bodily injury claims. One accident could cost your family a lifetime of financial hardship.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Ohio

Ohio drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage covers damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in Ohio, which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If an uninsured (or underinsured) driver causes an accident and you suffer bodily injury, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses. If the at-fault driver surpasses their bodily injury liability coverage limits, your underinsured motorist coverage will cover the rest of your medical expenses^[2].

Other Supplemental Coverage

For additional protection, consider adding medical payments (MedPay) coverage to your auto insurance policy. MedPay can pay for health insurance deductibles and co-pays, doctor and hospital bills, rehabilitation, nursing care, and more.

Many car insurance companies also offer rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance coverage. Rental car reimbursement can come in handy if your car is in the shop and you need a vehicle while you wait for repairs. Roadside assistance can come to the rescue if you experience unexpected issues on the road.

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in Ohio

It is illegal to drive in Ohio without the minimum car insurance coverage. It’s also illegal to let someone else drive your vehicle without the minimum insurance coverage. You must have an active policy and proof of insurance. Otherwise, you could face fines and penalties, such as:

• A fee of $100 and loss of driver’s license on first offense until requirements are met

• A fee of $300 and loss of driver’s license for one year on second offense

• A fee of $600 and loss of driver’s license for two years on third and subsequent offenses

• Maintaining high-risk auto insurance for three or five years following the incident

High-risk insurance in Ohio refers to special financial responsibility (FR) coverage, which could include getting a bond for $30,000 on deposit with the office of the Treasurer of the State of Ohio.

Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Ohio

High-risk drivers can have extra requirements to get back on the road. Ohio can require you to get special FR coverage if you lost your driver’s license or have a poor driving record due to DUIs, speeding tickets, or other traffic violations.

Your insurance provider can often provide the necessary coverage. It may also file the SR-22 or FR-44 form on your behalf, depending on what legal documentation is required in your situation.

More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Ohio

DUI Insurance in Ohio

SR-22 Insurance in Ohio

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in Ohio

Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in Ohio.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio

Ohio has some of the lowest average auto insurance premiums in the U.S. But to get the cheapest policy, use Insurify to compare car insurance quotes. You can browse policies that provide cheap minimum required coverage or choose to upgrade your policy with added protection.