SR22 Insurance in Ohio
Traffic violations resulting in a driver’s license suspension are severe and should never be ignored. You will likely be required to carry SR22 insurance in Ohio for a designated period to reinstate your license in Ohio.
SR22 insurance proves to the state of Ohio that you have coverage and can pay for damage you cause in an accident. An SR22 verifies that you are complying with Ohio insurance laws. Being required to file such a form should be handled immediately.
What is SR22 Insurance in Ohio?
SR22 insurance is not an insurance policy, but a certificate showing a driver carries at least the mandatory minimum required liability insurance coverage.
In Ohio, an SR22 certificate is mandatory for any driver who receives a drivers license suspension due to a major traffic violation. Drivers with an SR22 requirement must notify their insurance provider, who will file the SR22 certificate with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Ohio BMV).
Once the Ohio SR22 form is successfully filed, you must keep it valid to keep up with your car insurance premiums. There is no other monthly fee to pay, but an SR-22 filing will significantly impact your auto insurance rates.
Affordable SR22 Bonds in Ohio
The state of Ohio offers drivers an alternative to a traditional car insurance policy. Ohio allows you to attach an SR22 filing onto what is known as a financial responsibility (FR) bond.
An FR bond, also known as an SR22 bond, is filed through your insurance provider, similar to an SR-22 form, and is regarded as the best way to fulfill an Ohio SR22 requirement.
However, an FR bond comes with some restrictions. It only allows you to carry the mandatory liability insurance for Ohio drivers. There are no options to add any other types of coverage.
For example, if drivers feel they would benefit from higher liability coverage limits, the FR bond would not suit them. A FR bond is for people who only want to meet the Ohio insurance minimums.
Only carrying liability insurance in Ohio leaves a driver and their vehicle vulnerable. The FR bond follows the driver and doesn’t provide any coverage for their car.
State Auto Insurance Requirements in Ohio
An SR-22 proves to the state of Ohio that you carry at least the mandatory minimum amount of liability insurance. While it is not advised that you only purchase liability insurance, it is enough to prove you are obeying the Ohio insurance laws.
Bodily Injury Liability Insurance (BIL)
$25,000 for bodily injury liability coverage per person
$50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
Property Damage Liability Insurance (PDL)
$25,000 for property damage liability per accident
Every driver in Ohio must meet the minimum amount of liability insurance as outlined above; however, it is highly recommended that you purchase beyond the mandated coverage.
Who Needs an SR22 Insurance Bond in Ohio?
SR-22 insurance must only be filed with the Ohio BMV when a driver’s license is suspended due to a major traffic violation. This subsequently labels them as a high-risk driver, which is another reason for needing an SR-22. An SR-22 is needed for reinstatement of your driving privileges from the state BMV.
In Ohio, SR-22 insurance may be required after committing one or more of the following driving violations:
Operating a vehicle while under the influence (OVI)
Driving without liability insurance
Reckless driving history
Multiple and frequent traffic violations
How Long Must You Carry SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?
On average, drivers in Ohio must carry an SR-22 for three years following being convicted of a major traffic violation. However, required maintenance periods depend a lot on the severity of your offense. An Ohio court may decide you must carry this insurance form for up to five years.
Once the expiration date has arrived, you are responsible for notifying your car insurance provider. They will inform the Ohio BMV that you have canceled your SR-22 insurance.
Your insurance provider is required to notify the Ohio BMV when your SR-22 insurance is no longer active. Failure to maintain your SR-22 for the assigned period can be incredibly damaging to your driving record and insurance history.
If your SR-22 lapses for any reason, your insurance company has to file an SR-26 with the Ohio BMV within 30 days. Then your license gets suspended yet again. The three-year countdown to get back to normal starts all over from scratch. Reinstating your license isn't cheap. It'll set you back $40 just for the filing fee to get it back. You'll also need to find new insurance, which will cost 20-40% more than what you were paying before.
How Much Does SR22 Insurance Cost?
How much your auto insurance premiums will be following an SR-22 filing in Ohio depends on various factors, including your conviction’s circumstances and the insurance company you are signed with.
Ohio drivers who've had an OVI conviction on their record are in for a big shock. Their insurance premiums can jump as much as 70% to 100% or even higher. If you're a first-time OVI offender in Ohio, get ready to pay between $2,400 and $3,500 a year for your car insurance. That's just the average, depending on what carrier you're with and how clean your driving record is.
An OVI is the most common reason an Ohio driver needs SR-22 insurance. On average, drivers in Ohio pay around $1,700 per year for SR-22 insurance. It is impossible to say what you will be paying for insurance, but you can expect it to be much higher than your pre-conviction rates.
You can also expect to pay a filing fee, which your insurance provider will charge you. On average, insurance companies in Ohio charge around $15-$25 to file an SR-22. The only good side is that an SR-22 is not required forever, meaning your insurance rates may decrease slightly once the period is over.
Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance
Just because you do not own a car does not mean you are off the hook when carrying car insurance and obeying state insurance laws. Even if you do not own the vehicle you were driving during your traffic violation, you still need to get a non-owner SR-22 certificate.
You must purchase a non-owner SR-22 car insurance policy to fulfill this insurance requirement. A non-owner car insurance policy provides drivers with the liability coverage required in Ohio, successfully fulfilling their SR-22 filing requirements.
Non-owner SR-22 policies are another option for Ohio drivers. These policies can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 a year. Much cheaper than a regular policy because you don't have a car to insure. To qualify for this type of policy, you can't have a car registered in your name, or have any regular access to a household vehicle. They're just a way to get by with a SR-22 requirement while still covering your liability when you borrow or rent a car.
DUI, DWI, and OVI Convictions
Drunk or impaired driving due to alcohol and substances is often referred to as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving. At the same time, intoxicated (DWI), but Ohio has its terminology.
Operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) refers to a person driving a vehicle while impaired from the use of drugs and alcohol. There is relatively no difference between a DUI and an OVI; it is all just semantics.
As previously mentioned, OVI is one of the most common reasons a driver in Ohio will need an SR-22 certificate. Insurance rates are also bound to increase, as highlighted in a previous section.
It's worth noting that Ohio takes OVI offenses pretty seriously. A first offense can get you 3 days to 6 months in jail, fines of $375 to $1,075, and a suspended license for anywhere from 1 to 3 years. If you mess up a second time within 10 years, the penalties get that much worse. You can face 10 days to 6 months in jail, fines from $525 to $1,625, and a suspended license for between 1 to 7 years. Then there's your third offense, which is a felony. That one could land you 30 days to 1 year behind bars.
Learn More about SR-22 Bonds from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles