SR-22 Insurance & Bonds in Ohio: How Much Do They Cost?

Ohio drivers who have had their license suspended due to DUI, a serious ticket or driving uninsured may be required to file an SR-22 to reinstate their driving privileges. SR-22 forms can only be filed with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) by an insurer, and they cost about $50 to $65.

However, you'll first need to get either auto insurance or a financial responsibility bond that meets the state's requirements. The cost of SR-22 insurance in Ohio is generally higher than the cost of standard auto insurance. A driver with an SR-22 after a DUI pays 70% more for insurance than a driver with a clean record.

Cost of SR-22 insurance in Ohio

The cost of an SR-22 filing itself in Ohio is low. Insurers typically charge a fee of around $50 to $65 to file the document with the BMV. SR-22 insurance quotes, however, are often much more expensive than quotes for a standard policy because of the incident that caused you to need the SR-22 filing. For example, an SR-22 policy after a DUI is $103 per month, which is 70% more than insurance for a driver with a clean record.

Erie has the cheapest rate in this scenario, $43 per month. Rates among insurers may differ greatly. Among the state's major insurance companies, SR-22 rates vary by more than $1,800 per year, or $154 per month.

The large discrepancy in SR-22 insurance rates across various companies underscores why you should always shop around for multiple quotes to find the cheapest rates. Some companies do not offer SR-22s at all, so it can be hard to find cheap SR-22 insurance in Ohio.

As an alternative to insurance, drivers in Ohio can attach an SR-22 filing onto a financial responsibility (FR) bond. You can also buy these bonds from insurers. They are typically the cheapest way to meet an SR-22 requirement.

While you can meet an SR-22 requirement with a financial responsibility bond in Ohio, this coverage isn't designed for vehicle owners. We recommend you consider insurance alternatives first.

Start by comparing SR-22 insurance quotes from multiple companies, as each insurer evaluates drivers differently. This is often the simplest way to find cheap, yet comprehensive, coverage.

What is an SR-22 in Ohio?

An SR-22 is also known as a certificate of financial responsibility. In Ohio, you may be required to file an SR-22 in order to reinstate your driving privileges after they've been suspended. This may occur if the state has determined you to be a high-risk driver. For instance, this might be after a DUI or multiple tickets, or if you've been caught driving without proof of insurance.

An SR-22 can only be filed by an insurer. It acts as proof to the Ohio BMV that you carry one of the following:

Once your SR-22 is on file, the BMV will send you a confirmation notice. Depending on the reason your license was suspended, the state may require you to file an SR-22 for either three or five years. Your insurer is required to notify the BMV if you have a lapse in insurance coverage during this period, in which case you'll lose your driving privileges again.

Otherwise, you'll need to buy coverage and pay a reinstatement fee to the Ohio BMV to be able to continue driving.

Why would I need to file an SR-22 in Ohio?

You may need an SR-22 if the court thinks you're a high-risk driver. Here are a few common reasons why you might need one.

DUI conviction or too many tickets

Drivers who have been convicted of a DUI or reckless driving, or have otherwise accumulated at least 12 points on their driving record in the past two years, may have their license suspended and be required to file an SR-22 in Ohio. You are typically notified of this judgment by the court, but you can also check your driving record online through the Ohio BMV to see the points on your record and whether your license is suspended.

Driving without insurance

Another common reason Ohio drivers may need to file an SR-22 is that they've been caught driving without insurance. Ohio's financial responsibility law requires all drivers to carry either auto insurance or another form showing financial responsibility. The intent of this law is to ensure that if you're at fault in an accident, you'll be able to pay for any resulting injuries and property damage.

If you are involved in a traffic stop or an accident and can't provide proof of auto insurance or financial responsibility, you may get a non-compliance suspension and have to carry SR-22 insurance for three years.

What coverage do I need to get an SR-22?

Drivers who need an SR-22 have to meet the same minimum insurance requirements as other Ohio drivers.

Alternatively, drivers can satisfy the financial responsibility requirement by posting a bond with the state, a surety company or an insurance company.

Buying SR-22 insurance is a simple way for vehicle owners to prove financial responsibility and reinstate their license. SR-22 insurance is a standard auto insurance policy that at least meets Ohio's minimum liability coverage requirements.

The only difference is that your insurer will also file an SR-22 form with the Ohio BMV showing evidence that your policy is in place. The form is filed electronically and is typically processed within three days, at which time you should be notified and able to drive legally again, once you've taken any other required actions.

Non-owner SR-22 insurance in Ohio

Non-owner SR-22 insurance, also called a named operator policy, is similar to any other SR-22 policy except that it's tied to a driver instead of a vehicle. So, if you need to file an SR-22 to legally drive again in Ohio but don't own a car, non-owner SR-22 insurance will satisfy the requirement and provide liability coverage for you when driving another person's vehicle.

Non-owner SR-22 policies are typically cheaper than standard policies since they only provide liability coverage, not coverage for damage to your own vehicle. They are usually needed by people who don't drive often.

Just note that if you own a car or drive a particular vehicle regularly, you'll need to buy an owner's SR-22 policy. Otherwise, your insurer may not provide coverage if you're involved in an accident.

SR-22 bond in Ohio

As an alternative to insurance, drivers in Ohio can attach an SR-22 filing onto a financial responsibility (FR) bond. You can also get these bonds from insurers. They are typically the cheapest way to meet an SR-22 requirement.

SR-22 bond quotes may vary among insurers, so you should compare rates from multiple companies. Buying SR-22 bond coverage is similar to having a non-owner auto insurance policy that meets Ohio's minimum liability requirements.

For instance, if you want higher liability limits than the state-required $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury coverage and $25,000 property damage coverage, you wouldn't be able to add this to a bond. You would instead need to buy a non-owner SR-22 insurance policy. Since an SR-22 bond only provides liability insurance, any injuries to you or damage to the vehicle you were driving would not be covered if you were at fault in an accident.

A financial responsibility bond also only protects you. It does not cover any passengers, nor does it cover someone else who drives your car.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

To find Ohio's cheapest SR-22 car insurance rates, ValuePenguin gathered and studied thousands of quotes from top companies across every ZIP code in the Buckeye State. Quotes are for a 30-year-old single man with good credit who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX. Policies are for minimum coverage in Ohio.

Data was collected using Quadrant Information Services. Rates should be used for comparative purposes only, as information is sourced from public insurer filings. Your quotes will likely differ.

Sources Ohio BMV