Understanding Auto Insurance In Ohio: What You Need To Know

Auto insurance in Ohio is mandatory and drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $50,000 in total for all injuries or deaths per accident, and $25,000 for any property damage per accident. This insurance is required to be shown at traffic stops, accident scenes, and vehicle inspections. Driving without insurance in Ohio is illegal and can result in heavy consequences, including license suspension and fines.

Minimum insurance requirements

In Ohio, it is a legal requirement to have insurance to drive any motor vehicle. The minimum amount of auto insurance coverage in Ohio is $25,000/$50,000/$25,000. In the event of a covered accident, the limits for bodily injury are $25,000 per person, with a total maximum of $50,000 per incident. It also covers up to $25,000 for damage to another person's property.

There are two types of liability coverage that an insurance policy in Ohio must include: property damage and bodily injury. Property damage liability coverage safeguards your assets if you are found legally responsible for a covered accident. It covers damage you may cause to the property or vehicle of another party. Bodily injury liability coverage safeguards your assets if you are found legally responsible for a covered accident, including certain expenses associated with bodily harm sustained by the other parties.

While purchasing the minimum amount of coverage satisfies Ohio's legal requirements and keeps insurance rates as low as possible, it may not cover all damages if you are involved in a serious accident. For example, if multiple injuries occur, you could quickly see the cost exceed your policy limits for bodily injury liability, which would leave you paying out of pocket for the remainder. Minimum insurance also does not cover any damage to your vehicle if you cause the accident.

Liability coverage

Property Damage Coverage

Property damage coverage insures against damage to another person's property caused by your vehicle. This includes repairs to the other driver's vehicle, the cost of a rental vehicle while the other person's car is being repaired, and damage to buildings, fences, or other structures. It also covers damage to personal property, such as electronics or belongings inside a vehicle, and legal fees if you're sued for property damage.

Bodily Injury Coverage

Bodily injury coverage provides payment for injuries sustained by others in an accident caused by your vehicle. This includes legal fees if you're sued for injuries you caused, and medical expenses, rehabilitation, and potentially even the legal costs of a pedestrian or individual in another vehicle that you injured.

In the state of Ohio, it is mandatory to carry a minimum level of liability insurance to drive legally. The minimum required coverage is $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident. While purchasing this amount of coverage satisfies Ohio's legal requirements, it's worth considering that minimum insurance may not cover all damages in a serious accident.

Driving without insurance

• $25,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage
• $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
• $25,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage

Drivers in Ohio must carry proof of insurance at all times and produce it when requested by law enforcement during a traffic stop, at the scene of an accident, or in traffic court. Driving without insurance can lead to license suspension and various fines and fees.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Ohio

The penalties for driving without insurance in Ohio vary depending on the number of offenses. Here are the consequences for each offense:

First Offense:

• The driver's license, license plates, and vehicle registration will be suspended until they can show proof of insurance.
• A $40 reinstatement fee must be paid to get the driver's license back.
• A $50 fee is charged if the driver fails to surrender their driver's license, plates, or registration.
• The driver may be required to carry SR-22 insurance for three years.

Second Offense:

• The driver's license will be suspended for one year, with limited driving privileges possibly granted after 15 days.
• A $300 reinstatement fee is required to get the driver's license back.
• A $50 fee is charged if the driver fails to surrender their driver's license, plates, or registration.
• The driver may be required to carry SR-22 insurance for five years.
• The vehicle and license plates may be confiscated for 60 days.

Third and Subsequent Offenses:

• The driver's license will be suspended for two years, with limited driving privileges possibly granted after 30 days.
• A $600 reinstatement fee is required to get the driver's license back.
• A $50 fee is charged if the driver fails to surrender their driver's license, plates, or registration.
• The vehicle may be impounded and sold, and the driver may be barred from registering a vehicle for five years.

Additional Consequences

In addition to the penalties outlined above, there are other consequences for driving without insurance in Ohio:

• The state may require an SR-22 document to prove the driver meets the minimum insurance requirements, which will reflect poorly on their driving record.
• Driving uninsured will result in being labelled a high-risk driver, leading to higher insurance premiums.
• If involved in an accident while uninsured, the driver will be responsible for all vehicle repairs and medical costs out of pocket. They may also be sued for bodily injury or property damage.

It is important to note that the minimum insurance requirements in Ohio may not cover all damages in the event of a serious accident. Drivers should consider their coverage limits and opt for additional coverage if needed to ensure adequate protection.

Collision coverage

While collision coverage is not mandatory in Ohio, it is often a good idea to add it to your policy. This is because the state's minimum insurance requirements only cover damage to others' property, not your own vehicle. So, if you cause an accident, you would have to pay to repair your vehicle out of pocket. With collision coverage, you can avoid this potentially costly expense.

In addition to collision coverage, comprehensive coverage is another optional type of insurance that can help pay for repairs to your vehicle. However, comprehensive coverage is for non-accident situations, such as damage from falling objects, fire, or theft.

When deciding whether to add collision coverage to your policy, consider the value of your vehicle and the potential costs of repairs or replacement. If you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to carry collision coverage.

Keep in mind that collision coverage will not cover all types of collisions. For example, if you hit a deer, that would fall under comprehensive coverage, not collision. Additionally, collision coverage may not be worth the cost if your vehicle is older and has a low value.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Uninsured motorist property damage coverage is also available, which pays to repair or replace the policyholder's vehicle. This is an alternative to collision insurance, which covers vehicle repairs after an accident.

Drivers in Ohio can also purchase underinsured motorist coverage, which helps pay for a car accident if the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough coverage. The minimum coverage for this is $25,000 per person, with a maximum of $50,000 per accident.

While uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is not required in Ohio, it is worth considering. On average, 13% of drivers on the road in Ohio don't have car insurance, so there is a 1 in 8 chance that the other driver won't have coverage if you get into an accident.

Frequently asked questions