What is an SR-22 in Ohio?

SR-22 refers to a form filed by your insurer to prove that your coverage meets the state’s minimum car insurance liability coverage.

Where can Ohio drivers get an SR-22?

Ohio drivers can get an SR-22 by contacting their auto insurance providers and paying a one-time fee of about $25. The provider files an SR-22 form with the state’s BMV.

How much does SR-22 insurance cost compared to a standard policy in Ohio?

SR-22 insurance in Ohio costs an average of $732 per year, while a standard policy costs $466.

Which company in Ohio is cheapest for SR-22 insurance?

USAA offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance in the state at $357 per year, although its membership is limited to military persons and their families. State Farm is the cheapest provider for the general public, costing an average of $379 per year.

How long do Ohio drivers need an SR-22?

Once you get SR-22 insurance, you’ll need to have it for about three years from the time your license is reinstated. The duration may extend depending on the severity of your violations.

Ohio SR-22 Insurance: What It Is and How Much It Costs

In Ohio, SR-22 insurance is required by drivers convicted of high-risk traffic violations like driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. Your insurer files an SR-22 form upon request to prove that your coverage meets the state’s minimum liability requirements. SR-22 insurance is no different from standard car insurance, but the traffic violations that require an SR-22 to be filed will increase your insurance premium rates. MoneyGeek determined that the most affordable provider in Ohio of SR-22 insurance is USAA, at an average annual premium of $357.

Which Ohio Insurance Companies Offer the Cheapest SR-22 Insurance?

SR-22 insurance in Ohio costs more than a typical car insurance policy, primarily due to the severity of associated traffic violations. Drivers pay only a small fee for the SR-22 form itself.

MoneyGeek found that the minimum coverage SR-22 insurance in Ohio costs an average of $732 per year if the driver is convicted of a DUI. On the other hand, standard car insurance in the same state for drivers with a clean record is $466 per year, on average.

To get cheap SR-22 insurance in Ohio, you’ll have to choose from several options. The most affordable company for SR-22 car insurance in the state is USAA, with an average cost of $357, followed by State Farm at $379.

Cheapest Companies for SR-22 Insurance in Ohio

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Company
Average Annual Rate
1.
USAA
$357
2.
State Farm
$379
3.
Erie
$442
4.
American Family
$463
5.
Progressive
$498
6.
Allstate
$615
7.
GEICO
$745
8.
Travelers
$764
9.
Nationwide
$826
10.
Farmers
$881
11.
Esurance
$1,196
12.
MetLife
$1,622

The costs above are for a policy that fulfills the minimum car insurance specifications in Ohio or a full coverage policy with $100,000 as bodily injury limits per individual, $300,000 as accident coverage and $100,000 as property damage coverage.

Beyond these numbers, many other factors may affect average SR-22 insurance rates in Ohio. These include repeated violations, loss of discounts and costs associated with filing the SR-22 form. If you need to purchase SR-22 insurance and are looking for reasonable rates, you should review quotes from at least three providers.

If price isn't your number one priority when it comes to car insurance, we recommend checking out the top car insurance companies in Ohio.

Key Takeaways

Securing SR-22 insurance in Ohio comes with a cost. High-risk drivers will need to pay a one-time fee of about $25 to get their forms filed with the state.

Drivers with a clean record are often eligible for good driver discounts offered by most car insurance providers. If you commit a high-risk violation, you will no longer qualify for these discounts.

The cost of SR-22 insurance varies based on the type of violation.

What Is SR-22 Insurance in Ohio? Who Needs It? How Do You Get It?

Although people often call it SR-22 insurance, SR-22 is not an insurance plan but a form completed by your insurance provider to attests that you meet the minimum liability coverage requirements of your state.

SR-22 forms are required for drivers whose licenses have been suspended after committing serious traffic offenses like reckless driving, repeated violations and DUIs. SR-22 insurance costs after a DUI are often higher than they were before a high-risk offense.

OHIO MINIMUM CAR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

Before purchasing SR-22 insurance, you will need to certify that you have car insurance or a financial responsibility bond that meets minimum auto insurance requirements in Ohio, which include:

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

Read more with MoneyGeek's Ohio car insurance resources or estimate rates with our Ohio car insurance calculator.

Who Needs SR-22 Insurance in Ohio? And for How Long Do They Need It?

Violations that trigger the need for an SR-22 can vary. Drivers from Ohio need an SR-22 form filed on their behalf if they commit any of these violations:

DUI
Driving without insurance coverage
Reckless driving
Driving with a suspended license

SR-22 is not a requirement after a minor traffic violation like an accident or a ticket. While looking for insurance coverage in Ohio after a ticket or accident, you’ll find that those rates are significantly lower than those of drivers who need to get SR-22 insurance.

How long you should have SR-22 insurance in Ohio depends on the severity of your offense. Although most violations only require you to have it for three years, severe ones like a hit-and-run may require more time. If your license gets suspended, the three years start once it is restored.

How Do You Get SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?

Ohio drivers whose licenses have been suspended because of a high-risk violation can file an SR-22 with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles through their insurance providers. To do this, you will first need to purchase car insurance or a financial responsibility bond that meets the state's requirements.

Drivers receive a notification once their SR-22 gets filed at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Some insurers do not file SR-22s. If this is the case with your provider, you may need to find another one that does. Even after finding a provider that will file an SR-22 on your behalf, your rates will most likely be higher than when you had a clean driving record.

Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance in Ohio

If you commit a major driving offense and have your license suspended, you may need to file an SR-22 form and purchase insurance to get your license reinstated, even if you don’t own a car.

In this situation, the cheapest option in Ohio is non-owner car insurance. These plans are more affordable than a conventional policy for vehicle owners. Non-owner insurance is best for those who need proof of insurance — even if they don’t drive regularly — and those who often drive vehicles they don’t own, such as people who rent cars or borrow them from friends and family.

The average cost of non-owner car insurance in Ohio for SR-22 filers is $501 per year, but costs vary by company. On average, the most affordable SR-22 non-owner insurance in Ohio is from USAA at $181 per year, but it is available only to veterans, current military members and their families. The next cheapest option is State Farm, with average annual prices of $216 per year.

The Average Cost of Non-Owner SR-22 Car Insurance in Ohio

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Company
Average Annual Rate
1.
USAA
$181
2.
State Farm
$216
3.
GEICO
$363
4.
Travelers
$382
5.
Progressive
$442
6.
Nationwide
$551
7.
Farmers
$665
8.
MetLife
$1,207

MoneyGeek determined rates for non-owner car insurance for drivers with a DUI on their record, buying policies in Ohio covering $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $50,000 in property damage liability per accident.

FAQs About SR-22 Insurance in Ohio

Drivers convicted of high-risk violations in Ohio always may have questions about insurance rates, the filing process and SR-22 insurance providers in the state. Some of these may include:

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance premiums from 12 of the top insurance companies in Ohio that were provided in partnership with Quadrant. Our analysis includes quotes from ZIP codes across Ohio. Quotes were gathered for policies that meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements and for full coverage policies with $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability per accident. Rates are for the same driver with both a clean record and a DUI.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

sources

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "SR-22/Bond." Accessed January 19, 2021.