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Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What Is SR-22 Insurance?
- Who Needs SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?
- Types of SR-22 Insurance
- How to Get SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
- How Much Does It Cost to Get SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?
- How Does SR-22 Insurance Impact Your Car Insurance in Ohio?
- How Does SR-22 in Ohio Compare to the Other States?
- Alternatives to SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
- FAQs about SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
If you’ve been charged with a major traffic violation that led to your driver’s license being suspended or revoked, it’s likely that you’ll need to get SR-22 insurance before your license can be reinstated.
While the process can seem daunting, and there is a fair amount of admin and paperwork involved, it’s not actually difficult to get SR-22 insurance—all it takes is some know-how.
One of the unfortunate realities of having to carry SR-22 insurance is that it’s generally significantly more expensive than a standard policy. But don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for!
To help you find the best deal on SR-22 insurance, we’ve looked at the rates offered by various insurers in these five Ohio counties:
- Franklin County.
- Cuyahoga County.
- Hamilton County.
- Summit County.
- Montgomery County.
In this article, we’ll go through everything that drivers convicted of major traffic offenses need to know about SR-22 insurance, including how to get it and where to find the best rate on your car insurance.
What Is SR-22 Insurance?
SR-22 insurance is sometimes called “financial responsibility insurance” or “DUI insurance”, but it’s not actually a type of stand-alone insurance policy.
Rather, it’s a document that proves that you have adequate auto liability coverage that meets the minimum requirements laid out by law in Ohio.
Key Point: What Is Auto Liability Coverage? An auto liability policy helps you pay restitution to a third party if you cause injury or death while driving. It also helps to pay for replacements or repairs to property you may damage while driving (for example, if you total another driver’s car or damage their fencing). There are always three key aspects included in an auto liability coverage policy:
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Medical bills, lawyers’ fees, paying for a third party’s lost wages, or repairing extensive damage to property can cost thousands of dollars.
This is why most states require drivers to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance.
These minimums differ from state to state, and Ohio’s minimum requirements, are:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident.
You will always need to be covered for the minimum amount of liability insurance outlined above, even if you have a clean driving record.
Without it, you will be held personally liable for any expenses resulting from an at-fault car accident, including medical costs, property restoration, and lawyers’ fees.
Drivers with a clean record can simply obtain the minimum auto liability insurance coverage from their insurer, then forget about it.
But, if you’ve had your driver’s license suspended or have been convicted of a driving infringement, you’ll need to carry an additional form that proves you are meeting the minimum requirements—this form is called SR-22 insurance.
You will be required to show law enforcement officials your SR-22 document if you’re pulled over, and it will include the following information:
Policy liability limits
The liability limits confirm that you’re meeting the minimum auto liability insurance requirements.
Driver information
This will include personal information like your date of birth, gender, and which state the SR-22 was issued in.
Confirmation of payment
If you fall behind on your SR-22 insurance payments, your SR-22 insurance will no longer be valid. To drive legally, your SR-22 insurance must be paid.
Policy expiration date
In Ohio, you will usually need to carry SR-22 insurance for three years.
Once you’ve reached the end date, your SR-22 car insurance will expire and you may be able to find a more affordable insurance policy.
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Who Needs SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?
Remember, not all drivers in Ohio need to carry SR-22 insurance.
If you are convicted of one of the following offenses by the Ohio BMV (Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles), you may be required to carry SR-22 insurance:
- Driving without car insurance.
- Driving with a suspended license.
- Driving with expired or suspended license plates.
- A DUI conviction.
- A reckless driving history.
- Being at-fault in a major car accident.
- Fleeing the scene of an at-fault accident.
- Getting too many points on your driving record.
If you’re charged with one of the above violations at an Ohio BMV hearing or in court, your driver’s license is likely to be suspended or revoked.
If you want the Ohio BMV to reinstate your driving privileges, you will first need to file an SR-22 insurance form with your car insurer.
Types of SR-22 Insurance
There are three different types of SR-22 insurance. The type you will need is dependent on your personal circumstances and driving habits.
If you don’t plan to drive at all and don’t want to reinstate your driver’s license, you do not need SR-22 insurance.
However, if you do plan to drive and want your driving privileges reinstated, you will need to obtain one of these types of SR-22 insurance:
Non-owner SR-22 insurance
Non-owner SR-22 insurance is for drivers who:
- Do not currently own a vehicle.
- Do not live in the same household as someone who does own a vehicle.
- May drive infrequently (e.g. renting a car or using a friend’s car).
Owner SR-22 insurance
An owner policy is for people who:
- Do currently own a vehicle.
- Live in the same house as someone who does own a vehicle.
Owner/operator SR-22 insurance
If you own more than one vehicle or operate multiple vehicles (e.g. as part of your job), you will need to get owner/operator SR-22 insurance.
How to Get SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
Getting SR-22 insurance is as simple as contacting your insurer and asking them to file SR-22 insurance on your behalf with the Ohio BMV.
You won’t be able to file your SR-22 yourself—the request must come from your insurance provider.
Although this is a relatively simple process, there are two primary challenges you are likely to come across:
- Finding an insurer who is willing to cover you.
- Finding SR-22 insurance at a rate you can afford.
Requesting SR-22 insurance will alert insurance providers to the fact that there is a driving violation on your record, and they will be able to access your full file with the BMV.
Depending on the nature of your traffic violation, your current insurance provider may cancel your coverage because they consider you to be too high-risk to insure.
Other car insurance companies may not want to give you coverage for the same reason.
Key Point: High-Risk Drivers Drivers who are more likely to make a claim against their car insurance policy are described as “high-risk drivers” by car insurance companies. It simply means that there is a higher risk that you’ll get into an accident or have your car stolen, leading to a claim. Insurance companies may consider you to be a high-risk driver for a number of various reasons, including nondriving-related factors such as:
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If you do manage to find an insurance company that is willing to cover you with SR-22 insurance, they will electronically file (e-file) your SR-22 on your behalf.
But, just because they’re willing to cover you, it doesn’t mean you’re getting the best rate on your auto insurance premiums.
Key Point: Auto Insurance Premiums Your auto insurance premiums are the amount you agree to pay to an insurance company in exchange for coverage. The premiums are influenced by various factors, including:
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SR-22 insurance providers usually charge much higher premiums than standard car insurance companies.
To find the cheapest option, you should always compare quotes from various insurers.
This can be a time-consuming process, so we’ve made it easier by finding the cheapest SR-22 insurance rates from car insurance companies in Ohio.
How Much Does It Cost to Get SR-22 Insurance in Ohio?
The total cost of SR-22 insurance will differ from one driver to the next. In general, these are some of the costs you can expect to pay:
- An SR-22 liability coverage premium.
- Higher auto insurance premiums.
- Reinstatement fees to get your driver’s license back.
- Paying any fines or fees related to your traffic violation.
- A one-time fee to your insurance company for filing your SR-22.
- If you had a good driver discount from your insurer, you will lose this.
To help Ohio drivers find the cheapest option for SR-22 insurance, we compared quotes from insurers in these counties:
- Franklin County.
- Cuyahoga County.
- Hamilton County.
- Summit County.
- Montgomery County.
According to our research, the cheapest Ohio insurance companies are Commonwealth Casualty and Dairyland.
- Commonwealth Casualty offers SR-22 insurance at an average rate of $186.67.
- Dairyland offers SR-22 insurance at an average rate of $443.75.
| Provider | Franklin County | Cuyahoga County | Hamilton County | Summit County | Montgomery County | Average |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $174.00 | $168.00 | $218.00 | N/A | N/A | $186.67 |
| CSAA | $431.00 | N/A | $488.00 | N/A | $1,487.00 | $802.00 |
| Bristol West | $454.00 | $441.00 | $537.00 | $563.00 | $801.00 | $559.20 |
| Dairyland | $973.00 | $178.00 | $236.00 | $388.00 | N/A | $443.75 |
How Does SR-22 Insurance Impact Your Car Insurance in Ohio?
Once you have asked your insurance provider to file SR-22 insurance, they will consider you to be a high-risk driver and will raise your premiums accordingly.
To understand how much your SR-22 rates will increase the cost of your insurance, here is how much car insurance costs for good drivers in Ohio:
| Provider | Franklin County | Cuyahoga County | Hamilton County | Summit County | Montgomery County | Average |
| Mile Auto | $49.00 | $48.00 | $56.00 | N/A | N/A | $51.00 |
| Nationwide | $86.00 | $85.00 | $86.00 | $148.00 | $159.00 | $112.80 |
| Clearcover | $71.00 | $72.00 | N/A | N/A | N/A | $71.50 |
| Elephant | $89.00 | $87.00 | $98.00 | N/A | $130.00 | $101.00 |
| Grange | $96.00 | $100.00 | $106.00 | N/A | N/A | $100.67 |
| Midvale | $101.00 | $103.00 | $111.00 | N/A | N/A | $105.00 |
Looking for a personalized SR-22 car insurance quote? Click here!
On average, the cost of car insurance for good drivers is $218.24.
The average cost of car insurance for high-risk drivers who need to carry SR-22 insurance is $497.90—that’s an increase of 128%.
How Does SR-22 in Ohio Compare to the Other States?
There are only six states in the U.S. that don’t require drivers to carry SR-22 insurance after being convicted of a major driving violation. These are:
- Delaware.
- Kentucky.
- New Mexico.
- New York.
- North Carolina.
- Oklahoma.
To give you a clear idea of how much SR-22 insurance costs across the country, we compared quotes from insurers in these states:
- Ohio.
- Florida.
- Texas.
- Pennsylvania.
- California.
| State | Average Cost of SR-22 Insurance |
| Ohio | $497.90 |
| Florida | $364.65 |
| Texas | $418.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $289.15 |
| California | $377.30 |
According to our research in the states we’ve compared, SR-22 insurance is most expensive in Ohio.
It’s 15% more expensive than insurance in Texas, which is the second most expensive state for SR-22 insurance.
Insurance in Ohio is almost 42% more expensive compared to Pennsylvania, the cheapest state for SR-22 insurance.
Alternatives to SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
FR bond
SR-22 car insurance is a coverage addition that’s added to a driver’s regular policy if they are required to carry SR-22. It’s not a stand-alone insurance policy.
An FR bond (a “financial responsibility bond”) is a type of stand-alone insurance, usually offered by insurers for drivers who cannot afford standard car insurance rates.
An FR bond is granted for a limited time and only covers you for:
- Property damage liability coverage.
- A third party’s medical bills.
Unlike SR-22 insurance that’s added to regular car insurance, an FR bond won’t provide any cover for you or your car in the event of an accident.
SR-21 insurance
While SR-22 insurance proves that you are meeting the minimum auto liability insurance required by law, SR-21 proves that you did have insurance at the time of an accident.
If you are in a car accident, you will need to ask your insurer to file an SR-21 form with the Ohio BMV, and it cannot be used instead of SR-22 insurance.
SR-22A insurance
If you violate the terms of your SR-22, you may be required to carry SR-22A insurance. Violating the terms of your SR-22 can include:
- Falling behind on insurance payments.
- Allowing your SR-22 insurance to lapse.
- Receiving another conviction for a traffic violation.
There are only three states that may require you to obtain SR-22A insurance:
- Georgia.
- Texas.
- Missouri.
If you move from one of the above states to Ohio, you will need to inform your insurance company that you are required to carry SR-22A insurance.
FR-44 insurance
FR-44 insurance is similar to SR-22 insurance and is issued if you’ve received a DUI conviction. It’s only used in two states:
- Florida.
- Virginia.
If you carry SR-44 insurance and you move from Florida or Virginia to Ohio, you will need to inform your insurance company so that they can convert it to SR-22 insurance with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
SR-50 insurance
SR-50 insurance is identical to SR-22 insurance, but it’s only issued in Indiana.
If you carry SR-50 insurance and move from Indiana to Ohio, you will need to obtain SR-22 insurance from an Ohio insurer.
FAQs about SR-22 Insurance in Ohio
How long do you have to carry SR-22 insurance in Ohio?
Generally, Ohio drivers will need to carry SR-22 insurance for three years.
In some circumstances, or if you allow your SR-22 insurance to lapse, you may need to carry it for longer.
If you aren’t sure how long your SR-22 insurance will be in effect for, you can check your SR-22 document for the expiration date.
How much is SR-22 insurance in Ohio?
On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between $186.60 to $559.20 for SR-22 insurance in Ohio. This is 128% more expensive when compared to insurance for good drivers.
Along with the increased premiums, you may need to pay some additional costs, including:
- A one-time filing fee that costs between $25 and $50.
- Paying any fines and fees related to your violation.
- A reissuing fee to the Ohio BMV to reinstate your driver’s license.
What is the cheapest SR-22 insurance in Ohio?
According to our research, Commonwealth Casualty offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance in the state at an average rate of $186.67.
How do I get my license back after a DUI in Ohio?
If your driver’s license has been suspended after a DUI conviction, you will need to follow these steps in order to have it reinstated:
- Adhere to any restrictions, suspensions, or imprisonment.
- Pay any related fines or fees.
- Complete a DUI program.
- Obtain SR-22 insurance from an insurance provider.
- Once you have SR-22 insurance, you can apply to have your license reinstated.
How do I check my SR-22 in Ohio?
If you have any questions about your SR-22 insurance, you can contact the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
