, 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 liability per accident.

At a minimum, an
Ohio auto insurance
policy must include $25,000 bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $25,000 property damage liability coverage per accident.
State minimum car insurance coverage in Ohio costs an average of just $120 per month.
A full-coverage car insurance policy in Ohio adds about $30 per month to your insurance premium—and unlike cheaper minimum liability coverage, it ensures your financial safety even if you’re at fault in an auto accident.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Ohio include fines, license and registration revocation, and FR-44 filing requirements.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Ohio: Liability insurance

Ohio motorists must carry a minimum amount of

liability insurance coverage

. To prove their coverage, drivers are required to always carry valid

proof of insurance

when out on the road.

Car lenders might also require drivers who finance their cars to have additional full-coverage options.

The following is a basic breakdown of the minimum amounts of coverage Ohio drivers must carry:

Type of coverage	Minimum insurance requirement
Property damage liability (PDL)	$25,000 per accident
Bodily injury liability (BIL)	$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

Understanding Ohio’s minimum insurance coverage requirements

Like most other states, Ohio state law breaks its minimum liability insurance requirements down into three categories: bodily injury liability per person, bodily injury liability per accident, and property damage liability. The minimums are summarized as 25/50/25:

$25,000 of

bodily injury liability coverage

per person: Your provider will pay out up to $25,000 to cover the cost of injuries to the other party for each person injured in an at-fault car accident.

$50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000 is the total amount that your insurance company will pay out to cover the costs of injuries to the other party if you cause an accident.

$25,000 in

property damage liability

per accident: Your provider will pay out up to $25,000 toward property damage for the other party if you cause an accident.

Ohio’s minimum insurance requirements ensure other drivers are protected if you cause an accident. To ensure you’re protected no matter who’s at fault, you should purchase more than just the required coverage.

Ohio state minimum coverage costs about $120 per month

Drivers in Ohio pay an average of $1,442 per year or $120 per month for minimum liability coverage. A standard full-coverage policy in Ohio costs an average of $1,819 per year.

Remember: Auto insurance rates are highly individualized. Your age, driving record, and even your zip code are among the many personal factors that auto insurance companies use to calculate your rates. To keep your rates low, look for

car insurance discounts

, choose a higher deductible, and don’t forget to

compare quotes

before settling on a policy

Most Michigan drivers need more than the required insurance minimums

Ohio’s auto insurance coverage minimums fall in the average range compared to other states, but this level of coverage might not be sufficient.

The state of Ohio only legally requires drivers to carry liability insurance that will cover the other party in an at-fault accident. If you’re the at-fault driver, you could be left on the hook for all the expenses relating to yourself and your passengers.

Buy at least $100k per person/$300k per accident of bodily injury liability coverage
Raise your property damage liability limit to at least $50k—$100k would be better
Purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, plus new vehicle replacement coverage if you want to ensure that you can replace your vehicle if it’s totaled
To compare free car insurance quotes that meet Ohio's minimum requirements, download the
Jerry
app.

Additional coverage options

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:

Comprehensive coverage:

Comprehensive insurance

will reimburse you for damage to your car caused by non-collision events—like vandalism, floods, and hail, to name a few.

Collision coverage:

Collision insurance

will reimburse drivers for the cost of damage to their car caused by a collision or rollover—regardless of who was at fault.

Medical payments (MedPay) coverage:

MedPay

helps cover the costs of medical expenses relating to a claimable accident—for you and your passengers.

Loan/lease payoff coverage: This type of insurance is commonly referred to as

gap coverage

, and it will help cover the difference between a total payout and the money that you still owe on your totaled car.

Uninsured/underinsured 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.

Roadside assistance coverage: 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.

Rental car 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.

Penalties for driving without insurance in Michigan

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 insurance costs.

These are the penalties for not having car insurance in Ohio

Offense	Penalty	License plate and registration revoked	Drivers license revoked	FR-44 coverage
First	$50	Yes	Until requirements are met	3-5 years
Second	$50	Yes	One year	3-5 years
Subsequent	$50	Yes	Two years	3-5 years

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

MORE:

SR-22 in Ohio: What you need to know

FAQs

Do you legally have to have car insurance in Ohio?

Yes. Like most states, Ohio requires all drivers to carry insurance to drive legally. Specially, Ohio requires the following:

Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident

Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

What are the rules for accident insurance in Ohio?

Ohio requires all drivers to carry minimum amounts of property damage and bodily injury liability coverage as proof of financial responsibility for damages they cause in an automobile accident.

What is the penalty for not having car insurance in Ohio?

If you’re caught driving without insurance in Ohio, you’ll face a $50 fine, plus license registration for up to two years, registration revocation, and FR-44 filing requirements for up to 5 years. You’re also likely to face higher car insurance rates due to the offense and the lapse in coverage that led to it.

Does Ohio car insurance follow the car or the driver?

In Ohio, car insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver. If you’re driving your friend’s car, and you cause an accident, your friend’s insurance will bear responsibility for damages.