SR-22 Insurance in Ohio

Last Updated on September 15, 2023

Ohio, like most states, uses SR-22 certificates to manage high-risk drivers.

If you are a high-risk driver, then the Ohio BMV may require an SR-22 certificate. It’s a certificate of financial responsibility proving you have adequate car insurance coverage.

Most insurance companies in Ohio can submit an SR-22 certificate on your behalf. You compare quotes, choose the right SR-22 company for you, and complete the application to get SR-22 insurance.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about SR-22 insurance in Ohio and how it works.

Key Takeaways:

1. Ohio requires high-risk drivers to submit an SR-22 certificate, which is a proof of adequate car insurance coverage, to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to reinstate their driving privileges.
2. SR-22 insurance typically costs more than standard car insurance in Ohio, with prices ranging from $800 to $2,000 per year, excluding collision or comprehensive coverage.
3. While most insurance companies in Ohio offer SR-22 insurance, high-risk drivers might need to approach specialty or high-risk insurance companies for their SR-22 needs.
4. Drivers can potentially reduce SR-22 insurance costs by comparing quotes from multiple providers, adjusting coverage and deductibles, and considering options like financial responsibility bonds.

How SR-22 Insurance Works in Ohio

High-risk drivers in Ohio may need to submit a certificate of financial responsibility – also known as an SR-22 certificate – to the BMV to resume driving.

If you have had your license suspended, then you may need to submit an SR-22 certificate to reinstate your license. Drivers with at-fault accidents, a DUI, multiple citations, or an insurance lapse may need to submit an SR-22 form.

Most insurance companies in Ohio can submit an SR-22 certificate to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) on your behalf. You buy insurance through this insurer, and the insurer submits the certificate to the BMV. The BMV verifies you have valid insurance coverage, then reinstates your driving privileges or unsuspends your license.

Expect to pay higher prices for SR-22 insurance in Ohio compared to standard car insurance. Depending on your risk factors, you may also need to work with a high-risk car insurance company, which pushes costs even higher.

Who Sells SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?

Most insurance companies in Ohio sell SR-22 insurance. However, if you’re a high-risk driver, then you may need to work with a specialty insurer or high-risk insurance company for SR-22 insurance.

Some of Ohio’s largest insurance companies offer SR-22 insurance. Alternatively, you can work with smaller insurance companies in your local area.

Your SR-22 insurance options include all of the following and more:

• Progressive
• Erie
• American Family
• Grange
• Nationwide
• Auto-Owners Insurance
• Farmers
• Travelers
• Allstate
• GEICO
• High-risk insurance companies
• Smaller, regional insurers

Compare quotes online today to find the best SR-22 insurance for your unique needs. Sometimes, large insurance companies charge prohibitively high rates to high-risk drivers, and it’s better to work with a high-risk insurer.

Ohio SR-22 Coverage Requirements

Ohio requires drivers to maintain a certain minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage to drive legally.

Unlike other states, however, Ohio does not require higher limits for drivers with SR-22 insurance. You must maintain the same limits with SR-22 insurance as you would with ordinary insurance.

Ohio’s SR-22 coverage requirements and minimum car insurance requirements overall include:

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

These coverages protect other people on the road from damages or injuries you cause.

Ohio, like other states, does not require drivers to carry protection for their own vehicle – like collision or comprehensive coverage. However, if you are leasing or financing a vehicle, then these coverages are mandatory as part of your financing agreement.

How Much Does SR-22 Insurance Cost in Ohio?

SR-22 insurance typically costs more than ordinary car insurance in Ohio. You’re a higher-risk driver than average, and you’ll pay higher car insurance premiums than average.

The average full coverage car insurance policy in Ohio costs around $1,450 per year.

Meanwhile, SR-22 insurance costs anywhere from $800 to $2,000 per year but does not include collision or comprehensive coverage. Generally, SR-22 insurance only includes liability insurance, which protects other people from injuries and damage but has no protection for your own vehicle.

You’ll also pay an SR-22 submission fee when buying SR-22 insurance in Ohio. It costs $50 to $65 to submit an SR-22 certificate to the Ohio BMV. The insurer submits this certificate on your behalf and then charges you the SR-22 submission fee.

Overall, you can expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $300 per month for SR-22 insurance in Ohio, depending on personal risk factors.

Who Needs SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?

Drivers in Ohio may need SR-22 insurance for a variety of reasons.

A court or judge in Ohio will notify you of SR-22 requirements at your hearing. You may also receive a letter from the Ohio BMV. In many cases, your license is suspended, and your driving privileges are revoked until you submit an SR-22 certificate to the BMV.

• Drivers who may need SR-22 insurance in Ohio include:
• Drivers with one or more DUI or DWI convictions
• Drivers who drove uninsured or underinsured or let car insurance lapse
• Drivers with too many at-fault accidents or violations
• Drivers with multiple repeat offenses in a short time frame (like three or more speeding tickets or moving violations)
• Anyone who has not paid court-ordered child support

How to Get Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Ohio

SR-22 insurance doesn’t need to be expensive. Many drivers are surprised to discover how affordable SR-22 insurance can be after shopping around, for example.

Some companies specialize in insuring high-risk drivers. By focusing on this part of the insurance pool, insurers can charge higher rates while maintaining low costs (because they don’t need to cover as many comprehensive or collision claims).

Here are some of the tips for getting cheap SR-22 insurance in Ohio:

• Compare quotes online with multiple providers. There are hundreds of registered insurance companies in Ohio, including nationwide brands and smaller, regional, companies. Some companies specialize in insuring high-risk drivers. Others specialize in SR-22 insurance in specific cities or metro areas. Use an online comparison form to find the best SR-22 insurance company in your local area.
• Adjust coverage and deductibles. If you want to pay less per month for car insurance, then lower coverage or carry a higher deductible. A higher deductible means you’ll pay more for each claim, but you’ll pay less per month for insurance premiums. Alternatively, you can drop your coverage limits. As long as you’re above the minimum SR-22 insurance limits in Ohio mentioned above (25/50/25), you can raise or lower coverage as needed.
• Consider a financial responsibility bond in Ohio. Some drivers use a financial responsibility (FR) bond to reduce the cost of SR-22 insurance in Ohio. You buy a bond from an insurer, and the insurer attaches an SR-22 certificate to the bond. The bond allows you to meet minimum car insurance requirements in Ohio to reinstate driving privileges. Contact an insurer to see if an FR bond / SR-22 bond may be the right choice for you.
• Wait it out. As long as you maintain a clean driving record, SR-22 insurance requirements don’t last forever. Eventually, you can re-enter the ordinary car insurance market. You might pay higher rates for a few years, but you’ll eventually be able to buy ordinary car insurance at a cheaper price.
• Compare quotes annually. Each year you carry SR-22 insurance, your citations, DUI, insurance lapse, or other incidents fall further into the past. That’s why it’s important to compare quotes regularly – even twice a year if you want to maximize savings. Typically, you can cancel and switch policies without penalty at your time of renewal, or around every six months.
• Buy non-owner SR-22 insurance. If you don’t plan to drive for a few months, then consider buying non-owner SR-22 insurance in Ohio. Many insurers offer non-owner SR-22 insurance at a discount price. This insurance contains no coverage for a specific vehicle, but it can allow you to resume driving.

Final Word

Ohio’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires high-risk drivers to submit an SR-22 certificate to reinstate their driving privileges.

If you’ve been convicted of one or more driving offenses, or if you’re a high-risk driver for any reason, then you may need to submit a certificate of financial responsibility (SR-22) to the BMV.

Most insurers in Ohio can submit an SR-22 certificate to the BMV on your behalf and provide you with SR-22 insurance. However, high-risk drivers may need to work with specialized, high-risk insurers.

Compare SR-22 insurance quotes in Ohio today to find the best SR-22 insurance at the cheapest price.