Guide to SR-22s in Ohio

After filing an SR-22, car insurance in Ohio costs an average of $2,917 per year, 65 percent higher than the average for someone with a clean record ($1,767 per year). While Ohio drivers benefit from the state’s relatively low insurance costs, expect to pay more if you need an SR-22. Here are the average rates by company:

Even if you don’t own a car, you’ll need to pay for insurance if the state requires you to get an SR-22. In that case, you can buy nonowner car insurance, which is liability insurance for when you’re driving a rented or borrowed car.

Nonowner insurance is significantly cheaper than a regular policy, costing about $375 annually in Ohio for drivers with a clean record. The average is $619 for nonowner car insurance after getting an SR-22.

To reinstate your driving privileges, Ohio requires you to get an SR-22 form in these two instances:

• Noncompliance: Circumstances where you didn’t comply with the state’s mandatory car insurance laws, including driving without insurance.
• Judgment: The second scenario involves causing property damage or personal injury by caring for, maintaining, or using a motor vehicle.¹

After violations like a DUI, you’ll receive a court order or notice from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to file an SR-22.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Contact an insurance provider and request an SR-22 filing.
2. Purchase a policy that fulfills Ohio minimum liability requirements.
3. Have your provider file your SR-22 with the Ohio BMV.
4. If your license was suspended, pay reinstatement fees.

Once you’ve filed an SR-22, state records will show your filing within a few days. You can contact your insurer and the Ohio BMV to confirm that your SR-22 was successfully processed.

If you have an SR-22, you’ll have more challenges finding affordable insurance since you’ll be considered a high-risk driver. Start by looking for providers for high-risk drivers. If you can’t get a policy, consider non-standard providers like Direct Auto, Dairyland, or Kemper.

You can also opt for usage-based insurance or pay-per-mile insurance, which charges based on driving habits and mileage. However, if you have unsafe driving habits and drive often, you may end up paying more for coverage.

To save time while shopping around, we also recommend using an insurance broker to help you compare quotes from multiple companies. Since they’re knowledgeable about coverages and discounts, they can quickly direct you to the right policy.

Ohio requires these state minimum coverage and liability limits:

• Bodily injury liability insurance coverage: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability insurance coverage: $25,000 per accident⁴

Make sure to carry proof of insurance whenever you’re on the road to avoid citations. Ohio allows both digital and physical ID cards — it’s best to have both in case your phone isn’t working or runs out of battery.

State minimum coverage isn’t enough to cover damages if you end up in a major accident, so you’d still need to pay for the rest of the costs out-of-pocket. That’s why we recommend getting full coverage car insurance:

• Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged in a collision, regardless of fault.
• Comprehensive coverage: Covers payments to repair or replace your car, but only if it’s damaged in noncollisions, such as the result of auto theft, vandalism or inclement weather events like tornadoes.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): These cover your property damage and medical costs if someone hits your car and lacks insurance or enough insurance to cover your losses.
• Medical payments coverage (MedPay): Pays for the cost of treating your and your passengers’ injuries if you caused an accident. Since Ohio is an at-fault state, MedPay doesn’t cover lost wages or child care costs because of an accident.

While premiums increase significantly with an SR-22, Ohio drivers can still find affordable rates. If you can’t find coverage, Ohio provides auto insurance through its state-sponsored program. However, your new rates might be high enough that buying liability coverage only may be the sole option you can afford. Still, there are ways to find cheap auto insurance, such as shopping around, taking advantage of discounts, lowering your limits, and raising your deductibles. If you’re unsure of ways to save, ask your insurance agent for some assistance.