Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Ohio (2024)

National General and Travelers are the cheapest companies to buy insurance from if you need an SR-22 in Ohio.

Alani Asis
Written byAlani Asis
Alani Asis
Alani Asis
  • 3 years of content writing

  • Bylines with leading financial publications

Alani is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. She aims to make complex topics more approachable through fun, digestible content.

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Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

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Updated April 19, 2023

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If the courts suspend your license due to a major driving offense, you may need an SR-22 insurance form to get back on the road. An SR-22 form is a document insurers file on your behalf with your state to prove you have the minimum liability insurance the state or state court requires.

If you have an SR-22 mandate, it usually means you’re a high-risk driver. Your insurance premiums may be higher than a driver without an SR-22 form. Fortunately, several options are available to help you find cost-effective coverage.

Quick Facts
  • In Ohio, high-risk drivers who need an SR-22 form must have the state’s minimum liability coverage to reinstate their license.

  • Once you purchase coverage, your insurance company will file the SR-22 document with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).[1]

  • You must carry an SR-22 for three consecutive years in Ohio for the first offense.[1]

What is SR-22 insurance in Ohio, and when do you need it?

SR-22 insurance, or an SR-22 bond, isn’t an insurance policy. Instead, it’s a document illustrating you’ve purchased the minimum liability coverage required by your state. However, only some drivers need an SR-22.

In Ohio, you must obtain an SR-22 form to legally drive after serious traffic violations like operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OVI), reckless driving, or driving uninsured.

“An SR-22 certificate is required for drivers who have been deemed high-risk for serious infractions that include driving while impaired (DUI/DWI/OWI), driving without insurance, unsatisfied judgments, falsifying insurance certification, and driver’s license suspension after being convicted of various offenses like leaving the scene of an accident,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute.

Many other states have SR-22 requirements for high-risk drivers, but Florida and Virginia require an FR-44 form for high-risk drivers, and the liability requirements are higher than the state minimum.[2] [3] However, Ohio’s SR-22 insurance minimums are equal to the state minimum requirements.[4]

SR-22 drivers tend to pay higher rates than drivers with clean records, as their risk of filing a claim is higher.[5] Some insurance companies may refuse to cover drivers who need an SR-22 form.[6]

How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record?

How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record?

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How can you get an SR-22 in Ohio?

To get an SR-22 in Ohio, you must first purchase a policy with an insurance company licensed in the state. As always, you should shop around for the best rates, especially since your rates may be higher due to your driving history.

Before purchasing the policy, you may need to inform the insurance company that you need an SR-22 form. Once you buy the policy, the insurer will file the form for you with the BMV, which takes about 72 hours to process.[1]

Unfortunately, some insurance companies may not insure drivers that require SR-22 forms.[6] If your current car insurance company doesn’t provide SR-22 services, you’ll need to find an insurer that does or find coverage through the Ohio Automobile Insurance Plan.

How long is an SR-22 required in Ohio?

For the first offense that results in an SR-22 form, you must have it on file with the BMV for three consecutive years and pay a license reinstatement fee. For second offenses in a five-year period, the state will suspend your license for a year, and you must have an SR-22 form on file for five consecutive years after you reinstate your license.

If you have a third offense in a five-year period, then the state will suspend your license for two years, and you need an SR-22 form on file with the state for another five consecutive years.[1]

How much is SR-22 insurance in Ohio?

While the cost of your insurance as a high-risk driver will vary depending on your location and insurer, the average monthly premium for drivers with an SR-22 in Ohio is $215. The average price to file an SR-22 is $25, but this fee varies among insurance companies.

Keep Reading: Average Car Insurance Costs in Ohio

Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Ohio

Finding affordable SR-22 insurance in Ohio can be difficult when your driving record has past violations and accidents.[5] However, you may still be able to find rates that fit your budget if you shop around with various companies and get multiple quotes.

The table below shows the average monthly cost of SR-22 car insurance in Ohio, by insurance company.

Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly Quote
National General$104
Travelers$108
Safeco$118
Kemper Specialty$146
Direct Auto$161
The General$177
Commonwealth Casualty$181
SafeAuto$200
Liberty Mutual$230
Bristol West$254
CSAA$343
Dairyland$349
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest insurance companies in Ohio with SR-22 by city

Where you live in Ohio can influence your car insurance premiums. Insurance companies consider the local rates of theft, accidents, and vandalism when setting costs.[5]

The table below shows the cheapest insurance companies in major Ohio cities.

CityInsurance CompanyAverage Monthly Quote
CincinnatiDirect Auto$169
CincinnatiKemper Specialty$189
CincinnatiThe General$207
CincinnatiBristol West$249
ClevelandKemper Specialty$164
ClevelandDirect Auto$168
ClevelandCommonwealth Casualty$187
ClevelandThe General$197
ClevelandBristol West$289
ColumbusKemper Specialty$192
ColumbusCommonwealth Casualty$207
ColumbusDirect Auto$231
ColumbusThe General$237
DaytonDirect Auto$162
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

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How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in Ohio

Having an SR-22 on file with the state usually means your driving record has offenses and convictions, which increases your risk of claims. High-risk drivers may see rates that are up to 29% more than non-SR-22 drivers in Ohio. Insurance companies may even deny you coverage.[6]

While finding affordable coverage with an SR-22 can be challenging, you can lower your insurance costs by following these tips:

  • Improve your credit score. Insurance companies in Ohio can use your credit score to determine the likelihood of needing to file a claim.[7] The better your credit score, the lower your insurance rates may be.

  • Look for discounts. Driver, vehicle safety, policy, and bundling discounts exist to lower your insurance costs, says Friedlander. See if you can score discounts to reduce your policy rates.[8]

  • Taking a defensive driving course. A driver safety program may help you become a better driver. Some companies also offer a defensive driving discount for completing an approved course.[8]

Ohio SR-22 insurance FAQs

Here are the answers to commonly asked questions about Ohio SR-22 forms, insurance, and more.

  • How long do you have to hold an SR-22 in Ohio?

    You must have an SR-22 on file for three years in Ohio for the first offense and five years for subsequent offenses in a five-year period.[1] 

  • How do you get rid of an SR-22 in Ohio?

    After three or five consecutive years of an SR-22 form on file with Ohio, you can request your insurance company to remove the form from your policy. It’s important that you only remove the SR-22 after the three or five years conclude, or you may fail to comply with the state requirements.

  • What happens to your SR-22 in Ohio if you move?

    It depends on the state you’re moving to and whether it requires SR-22 forms for high-risk drivers. However, you must still have an SR-22 on file in Ohio until you meet the requirements.

    Remember, if there’s a lapse in coverage, that won’t count toward your three- or five-year requirement. “If you move to another state, your requirement for having an SR-22 will not go away. You will need to apply for an SR-22 in your new state of residence to complete what is typically a three-year requirement,” says Friedlander.

  • Do you need an SR-22 in Ohio if you don’t have a car?

    If you often rent or borrow vehicles, you can get nonowners SR-22 insurance. Nonowner SR-22 insurance only offers liability coverage and typically costs less than an SR-22 policy for car owners.

Sources

  1. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "Suspensions & Reinstatements."
  2. State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "FR (4) Cases – Increased BIL/PDL limits for DUI Cases."
  3. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. "Financial Responsibility Certifications."
  4. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "Driver License Reinstatement Procedures."
  5. III. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
  6. III. "What if I can't find auto coverage?."
  7. NAIC. "Credit-Based Insurance Scores."
  8. III. "Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs."
Alani Asis
Alani Asis

Alani Asis is a personal finance freelance writer with nearly three years of experience in content creation. She has landed bylines with leading publications and brands like Insider, Fortune, LendingTree, and more. Alani aims to make personal finance approachable through fun, relatable, and digestible content.

Courtney Mikulski
Edited byCourtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
Courtney Mikulski
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
  • 3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content

  • Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score

Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.

Featured in

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