, summarized as 25/50/25. This breaks down to $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of property damage liability per accident.

Auto insurance coverage requirements in Ohio1

According to Ohio state law, drivers must carry the following amounts of

liability coverage

$25,000 per person in

bodily injury liability coverage

$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage

$25,000 per accident in

property damage liability coverage

Liability insurance is mandatory in most states, unless you can prove financial responsibility. It will protect you by paying for any damages or injuries you cause to others in the event of a motor vehicle accident.

Along with the minimum coverage, drivers in Ohio are required to carry

proof of insurance

It’s important to know your state car insurance requirements when

shopping for coverage options

Here’s an example policy for a middle-aged Ohio driver with a clean driving history using the state minimum car insurance requirements.

Learn More:

The average cost of car insurance (2023)

Is minimum car insurance coverage the most cost effective option?

Despite generally being a cheaper option on a monthly basis, a minimum car insurance policy isn’t really the more budget-friendly solution.

Ohio is an at-fault state, meaning the person responsible for the accident is liable for damages. If the other driver files a claim and you’re unable to pay the remaining balance out-of-pocket after your liability insurance is exhausted, your assets and your future income could be in jeopardy.

Liability exists to protect you from lawsuits—and to cover your legal expenses if another driver chooses to sue after an accident. To make sure you’re better protected, legally and financially, consider increasing your coverage limits past the minimum amount.

Although this could raise your insurance costs from month-to-month, with higher liability limits on your auto insurance policy, you can be assured that you’ll have enough coverage to pay for minor and serious accidents.

Josh Damico

Vice President Insurance Operations

A general rule that I recommend is to carry enough coverage to protect your current and future assets – at least $100,000/$300,000 of liability coverage is recommended, but you may need more coverage depending on your financial situation.

It might also be worth taking a look at

full coverage options

. The state of Ohio is one of the cheapest for auto insurance, with drivers paying, on average, $1,442 per year for a minimum coverage policy.

However, full coverage policies come in pretty close, at roughly $1,819 annually, still bringing it in under the national average of $2,264.

You can update your limit amount, or enable a full coverage policy at any time through your main insurance provider, or with the

Jerry

app.

With Jerry, you can also then run quotes to see the difference between a state minimum amount and higher limits.

A full coverage policy complete with

comprehensive coverage

and

collision coverage

will help to protect your vehicle after an accident—and for an extra $30 to $50 a month, it’s well worth the cost, now and in the future.

Some lenders mandate that drivers who are leasing or financing a vehicle have a full coverage policy in place. Why? Because the basic liability insurance doesn’t protect your car—but a full coverage option does.

Car insurance rates are

calculated based on several factors

, including your driving record and age—meaning not everyone will find the same price.

Using the Jerry app, you can compare insurance quotes for both a state minimum policy and a full coverage Ohio auto insurance policy based on your profile all in the same place.

Here’s an example of some of the quotes you can find.

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Liability vs full coverage car insurance

Additional coverage options in Ohio

Ohio drivers who want to upgrade their minimum car insurance requirements to create a more robust policy have lots of great options to choose from—including the following:

Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage

: Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance will reimburse you if you get in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist or a driver who doesn’t carry enough car insurance to cover your costs.

Medical payments (MedPay)

: Instead of personal injury protection (PIP), which isn’t available in Ohio, some insurance companies offer MedPay. It works similar to PIP, and will cover the cost of medical expenses relating to a claimable accident—however, it doesn’t cover lost wages.

Rental reimbursement coverage

: Rental reimbursement insurance will reimburse you up to a certain limit for costs relating to rental cars or alternate transportation while your vehicle is being repaired following a claim.

Roadside assistance

: Commonly referred to as towing and labor coverage, this standard policy rider provides drivers with access to roadside assistance services, like tows, jump starts, and fuel delivery.

Penalties for driving without insurance in Ohio

Drivers in Ohio who cannot provide valid proof of insurance during a traffic stop, or when asked by law enforcement could face fines, loss of driving privileges, and the potential of being labeled “high-risk” by car insurance companies, which can result in increased auto insurance rates.

Offense	Fine	Registration suspension	Driver’s license suspension	FR-44 coverage
1st offense	$50	Up to 30 days	Until requirements are met	3-5 years
2nd offense	$50 + $300 reinstatement fee	Up to 60 days	Up to 1 year	3-5 years
Subsequent offense	$50 + $600 reinstatement fee	May have vehicle seized or sold. Can be barred from registering another vehicle for 5 years	Up to 2 years	3-5 years

If you’re properly insured, but simply unable to provide proof of financial responsibility at the time of request, you may be able to have several of these fees waived. That said, you may still be responsible for court fees and license and registration reinstatement fees.

FAQs

What is full coverage in Ohio?

Full coverage car insurance in Ohio includes comprehensive and collision insurance to help protect your vehicle from a collision and non-collision related events. You can either opt for a full coverage option, or increase your liability limits to provide added protection.

Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Ohio?

Car insurance in Ohio follows the vehicle—so if you borrow a friend’s car, you will be protected.

Is insurance more expensive in Ohio?

Ohio has relatively low auto insurance costs in comparison to other states. Drivers typically pay $1,442 per year for a minimum coverage policy, and $1,819 annually for a full coverage option.

SOURCES

https://insurance.ohio.gov/consumers/automobile/auto-guide