Direct Auto Insurance is proud to offer cheap car insurance in Ohio, the “Buckeye State.” Whether you live in Cincinnati, Cleveland, or anywhere in between, meeting the Ohio minimum car insurance requirements helps protect you while you’re cruising from adventure to adventure. Take a few minutes to learn which coverages are mandatory, which ones are optional, and how Direct Auto can help you find cheap Ohio car insurance. Get a free quote to see how much money you can save with Direct.

Ohio Car Insurance Laws

Do you have to have car insurance in Ohio?

Ohio law requires all drivers have a car insurance policy to legally drive a vehicle. Ohio auto insurance policies must at least meet the minimum liability coverage limits, typically expressed as three numbers representing thousands of dollars. For example, the liability limits in Ohio are 25/50/25, as shown below under Ohio Minimum Car Insurance Requirements.

Ohio Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Wondering what your policy needs to fulfill Ohio’s insurance requirements? Here’s a quick breakdown by coverage type.

Coverages	Is It Required by Law?
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage provides financial protection if you cause an accident that injures another person. It helps pay for their medical expenses and your legal services (if necessary).	Yes. $25,000 bodily injury per person/$50,000 bodily injury per accident.
Property Damage Liability Coverage helps pay to repair or replace other people’s property that is damaged in an accident you cause. It typically involves damage to another vehicle, but it could help pay to repair a house, fence, mailbox, and more.	Yes. $25,000 property damage per accident.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) helps pay for your medical bills and related expenses if the other driver has no coverage (UM), insufficient coverage (UIM), or can’t be identified due to hit and run. In some states, UM/UIM can also help pay for property damage.	Not required.
Medical Payments Coverage helps pay for your medical and related expenses stemming from an accident, regardless of fault.	Not required.
Collision Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you collide with another car, tree, guardrail, or another object, regardless of fault.	Not required.¹
Comprehensive Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged by something other than a collision, like fire, floodwaters, falling branches, vandalism, or contact with an animal.	Not required.¹

IMPORTANT NOTE: While liability-only coverage ensures you meet Ohio’s laws, it doesn’t provide protection for your own injuries or damage to your own vehicle. You would need to add additional coverage options, like UM/UIM, comprehensive and collision, to protect yourself and your vehicle more fully.

¹Your lender may require this coverage if you lease or finance your vehicle.

Are there additional coverage options?

For added peace of mind, Direct Auto offers add-on services and other insurance products for Ohio drivers:

Ohio Proof of Financial Responsibility and Penalties

What if I don't meet Ohio’s minimum car insurance requirements?

Driving without insurance is a big risk, and in Ohio, you face some serious penalties if you’re caught. Failure to show proof of insurance during a traffic stop or at the scene of an accident usually results in a non-compliance suspension. The suspension can typically be removed if you show the BMV you had valid coverage at the time of the incident. Additional penalties can include escalating fines or reinstatement fees for each offense and the need to fulfill SR-22 requirements.

Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License in Ohio

Driving with a suspended license is a first-degree misdemeanor in Ohio, punishable by fines, potential jail time, and up to an additional one-year license suspension. You may also be required to complete a remedial driving course to reinstate your license in addition to serving the suspension. Receiving a subsequent offense within three years could result in vehicle impoundment.

SR-22 Insurance in Ohio

Some high-risk drivers are also required to keep an SR22 (also known as a certificate of financial responsibility) on file with the state verifying they have purchased auto insurance coverage that satisfies the state’s minimum coverage requirements. You might be required to keep one on file if:

You have been caught not maintaining proper liability coverage.
You were convicted of a DUI/DWI.
You have committed other serious driving violations.

If you need an SR22 filed to prove financial responsibility or have questions about the penalties for non-compliance, we’d be happy to help. Direct Auto specializes in helping people find affordable car insurance coverage, regardless of their history. Give us a call today for a free quote.

High-Risk Auto Insurance in Ohio

Most individuals do not have a perfect driving record, and after a certain number of violations or a serious enough violation, Ohio drivers can be considered a major risk to insure. While some companies try to steer clear of these individuals, other insurance companies offer non-standard insurance (another name for high-risk auto insurance) to provide financial protection for these drivers.

At Direct Auto, we're proud to offer non-standard coverage to Ohio residents. We believe your driving history shouldn't define you forever, and we work hard to find quality coverage for every driver at a price they can afford.

Where can I find the cheapest car insurance rates in Ohio?

Car insurance costs vary depending on a number of factors, including:

The amount & type of coverage you choose
The year, make, and model of the vehicle you drive
How much you drive, where you drive, and where you live
Your demographics
Your driving record
Your credit history

The good news is that Direct Auto Insurance can help drivers, even those with a less-than-perfect driving record, find car insurance coverage.

Get a free car insurance quote online, or work with a Direct Auto agent to create a coverage plan that not only meets your state's requirements but fits your needs as well. We’ll work hard to make sure you get any car insurance discounts you’re entitled to receive so your premium is the lowest price possible.

Ohio Regional Auto Insurance

Depending on where you live in Ohio, you might have specific wishes or “must-haves” in your mind for your car insurance policy. After all, a policyholder who lives and drives in a busy city (like Cleveland or Cincinnati) might feel they need more coverage than someone who lives in a small town with little traffic. But no matter what city you call home in the Buckeye State, we’re here to help you get covered.

Akron Auto Insurance

Cincinnati Auto Insurance

Cleveland Auto Insurance

Columbus Auto Insurance

Toledo Auto Insurance

Other Ohio Auto Insurance Resources

Find Cheap Car Insurance in Ohio with Direct Auto!

Give us a call or visit a Direct Auto location near you to get an Ohio car insurance quote from Direct Auto! We always offer affordable coverage options and work hard to get you cheap car insurance in Ohio so you can keep driving.

*Emergency Protection Plans (EPP) and Roadside Assistance are not insurance and are administered through Nation Safe Drivers, Boca Raton, FL. Not all benefits available in all states.

** The “Direct Auto Insurance” brand is used by insurers in the National General Group, Winston-Salem, NC to describe their direct-to-consumer auto insurance programs. Direct Auto Insurance branded policies are produced by Direct General Insurance Agency, Inc. dba “Direct Auto Insurance” and by National General Insurance Marketing Inc

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