You might have to carry SR-22 insurance in Ohio for three to five years if the state suspends your driving privileges for various traffic violations, including:
- Failing to show proof of car insurance at a traffic stop or at an accident
- Accumulating 12 points or more on your driving record within a two-year period
You’ll learn more about when and why you have to get SR-22 insurance, or file an SR-22 form, in Ohio as well as the following topics in this article:
- Where to get an SR-22 bond in Ohio
- How long you need to file an SR-22 in this state
- How to file an SR-22 in Ohio
- How much Ohio SR-22 insurance costs
What is Ohio SR-22 insurance?
Most states require drivers to file an SR-22 form if their licenses are suspended for certain reasons. This form proves they’re carrying at least the minimum amount of liability car insurance the state requires.
In other words, SR-22 insurance doesn’t exist. It’s a phrase many people use when discussing the need to file an SR-22.
To make matters even more confusing, an SR-22 is called both a “certificate of insurance” and an “SR-22 bond” in Ohio. So, certificate of insurance, SR-22, SR-22 insurance, SR-22 bond — even SR-22 form — all mean the same thing here.
Where can I get an SR-22 bond in Ohio?
You can get an SR-22 bond from most insurance companies that are licensed to do business in Ohio.
Something to keep in mind here: Not all insurance companies file SR-22 forms or bonds. As such, if you need an SR-22, make sure you ask any company you contact while shopping for a policy if it will file it for you. If the company can’t or won’t, find one that will.
How long do I need to file an SR-22 bond in Ohio?
Ohio might make you file an SR-22 for three to five years after it suspends your driving privileges.
If you need to file an SR-22 bond with the state because of a 12-point suspension, for instance, you’ll have to do so for three years. The same is true if your SR-22 requirement is tied to your first non-compliance suspension, which results from failing to show proof of insurance at a traffic stop or accident.
If you’re convicted of a second non-compliance offense within a five-year period, though, you’ll have to file an SR-22 bond with the state for five years.
You also may need to file an SR-22 bond in Ohio for up to five years if the state hits you with a judgment suspension. This happens if you’re in an accident that causes injuries or property damage, the victim sues you and you don’t pay the judgment from the lawsuit within 30 days.
How do I file an SR-22 in Ohio?
Here’s how to file an SR-22 in Ohio:
- Buy a car insurance policy that provides at least the minimum amount of liability coverage the state requires.
- The company that sold you the policy will then file an SR-22 bond with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
In other words, you don’t file the SR-22 bond with the state yourself. Instead, you buy an auto insurance policy from a company, and then it files the SR-22 bond with the Ohio BMV for you.
Many insurers file SR-22 bonds with the state electronically, too, so the process usually is as quick as it is painless.
How much does SR-22 insurance cost in Ohio?
What you pay for SR-22 insurance in Ohio depends on why you have to file an SR-22 bond with the state.
For example, if the state requires you to file an SR-22 bond because you were convicted of a DUI or OVI twice within a two-year period, it could cause your monthly car insurance premium to be three to five times higher than what a driver with a clean driving record pays.
Other convictions or infractions could raise your car insurance rates, too, like if a lot of speeding tickets or accidents caused you to accumulate 12 or more points on your driving record within a two-year period.
How much is an SR-22 bond in Ohio? Or how much does it cost to file an SR-22 bond with the state? You may not have to pay anything at all for this, actually. That said, many insurance companies charge at least a small fee for filing an SR-22 form or bond for you. This fee usually is $50 or less, and you’ll probably only need to pay it once, but it’s still something to consider.
Non-owner SR-22 insurance in Ohio
If the state requires you to file an SR-22, you need to do so even if you don’t own a car or have a driver’s license.
You have to meet the other requirements tied to this SR-22 requirement, too. You need to carry at least the state-minimum amount of car insurance, for instance. And one way to do that without a car or license is to get a non-owner policy.
Some people buy non-owner car insurance because it keeps them from being penalized for a lapse in auto coverage. In this case, you’ll buy non-owner coverage to fulfill your SR-22 requirements.
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