Car Insurance Requirements in Ohio (2025)
Under Ohio law, the minimum amount of car insurance coverage that drivers need to carry is 25/50/25. Here’s what those numbers translate to and how to comply with the law.
Excellent
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
Ohio car insurance requirements are 25/50/25, which translates to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $25,000 per accident for property damage liability.1 All drivers must purchase and maintain at least this much insurance for their vehicles in order to drive legally.
But Buckeye State drivers have some of the best options for cheap car insurance. Ohio’s average rate for liability car insurance is $71 per month, but prices start as low as $39 per month.
Ohio car insurance requirements
States set different minimum coverage requirements for drivers so that they can pay for damages and injuries after a car accident. If you’re the at-fault driver, you pay for other parties’ injuries and damages through your liability insurance, up to the policy limits.
Ohio requires that all drivers purchase two types of liability insurance coverage: bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
Bodily injury liability
If you injure someone in an auto accident you caused, your bodily injury liability coverage kicks in to pay their medical bills. It’ll also help pay your legal defense costs if someone sues you. Ohio law requires you to carry a bodily injury liability policy with coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Property damage liability
Property damage liability coverage reimburses parties for damages you cause to their property. This includes vehicles, fences, light poles, structures, and more. In Ohio, you must carry at least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage.
Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Ohio?
Keep in mind that the coverages outlined above are the minimum coverage amounts. If someone sues you for amounts that exceed these minimum limits, you’re personally liable for the excess amount. For many people, that would be financially catastrophic, so they purchase higher coverage amounts.
If you financed or leased your car, chances are your lender or lessor will require a full-coverage policy.
Good to Know
Full-coverage insurance doesn’t have a formal definition, but it usually describes a policy that includes liability insurance, comprehensive, collision, and personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage.
Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Ohio
In Ohio, it’s important to always have proof of insurance with you when you drive. Driving without insurance is a serious offense with many consequences.
If the state convicts you of driving without insurance, you face license suspension for three months on your first offense and up to one year for subsequent offenses. You also face vehicle impoundment.
To get your car and license back, you’ll have to pay several costs and fines under state law:
Court costs: These include any court-imposed fees and costs for your court hearings and legal proceedings.
Impound fee: This varies by impoundment lot.
License reinstatement fee: You’ll pay $75 to get your license back, and repeat offenders will pay up to $500.
Auto insurance coverage: You may have to file SR-22 insurance with the Ohio Department of Insurance.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Ohio
Liability-only policies are usually the cheapest car insurance policies in Ohio, costing an average of $71 per month, based on Insurify data.
Here are average quotes from the cheapest liability insurers in the state.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Ohio
While average full-coverage policies cost more than liability policies, it’s still possible to find cheap rates. In Ohio, the average full-coverage car insurance policy costs $120 per month.
The table below shows average full-coverage rates from top car insurance companies in Ohio.
Optional car insurance coverages to consider
Liability insurance policies protect you from some of the most catastrophic costs, but not all of them. Drivers can add other coverages to their policies for more protection from various situations.
Here are some optional insurance coverages to consider:2
Ohio car insurance requirements FAQs
The following information can help answer your remaining questions about Ohio car insurance requirements.
Does Ohio require car insurance?
Yes. Ohio law requires all drivers to purchase 25/50/25 minimum liability insurance. This translates to $25,000 per person and $25,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $50,000 per accident for property damage liability. Alternatively, drivers can purchase a $30,000 bond in order to self-insure.
What are the three requirements for Ohio car insurance?
Ohio requires drivers to maintain $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 per accident for property damage liability.
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Ohio?
Yes. When you register a new vehicle or renew your registration in Ohio, you need to sign a proof of financial responsibility statement. This requires you to purchase car insurance first.3
How long can you drive without insurance after buying a car in Ohio?
You must maintain an active insurance policy at all times while driving in Ohio, even if you drive a new car off the lot. If you already have a car insurance policy in place, many auto insurance companies will automatically cover the new car with your previous policy’s limits, but you must officially transfer your coverage or add the car to your policy within 30 days.
Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Ohio?
Car insurance generally follows the car — including in the Buckeye State — so if a family member or friend has permission to drive your car, your policy covers them. But your car insurance follows you in some cases, like if you rent a car.
What happens when an uninsured driver hits you in Ohio?
If an uninsured driver hits your vehicle in Ohio, you can file an insurance claim for a payout with your insurance company if you have uninsured motorist or collision insurance. You can also try to sue the uninsured driver for damages if they have assets.
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
