If you’ve had your driver’s license suspended due to a high-risk violation, you likely need SR22 insurance. A violation of this severity could be reckless driving, driving without insurance, driving under the influence, and more.
In order to get your license reinstated, you’ll need to prove that you have adequate car insurance to meet the state’s minimum liability requirements. This means that the state wants to be sure that if you get into an accident as a risky driver, your insurance will be able to cover the consequences.
Your insurance provider will need to submit an SR22 form to the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) on your behalf to show that you’ve secured the necessary insurance to continue driving. This shows that you have either an owners policy with the minimum liability, a non-owners insurance policy with the minimum liability, or a financial responsibility bond.
For SR22 car insurance, Ohio requires you to keep your insurance coverage the entire time you’re court-ordered to have an SR22. Your insurance provider is required to report to the BMV if you have any lapse in coverage, which will cause your license to be suspended again.
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The cost of SR22 insurance in Ohio can be high. While the fee for the form submitted by your insurance provider is minimal, your insurance premiums will very likely spike. This is because a driver requiring an SR22 form is considered a high-risk driver that’s hard to insure.
Putting an exact figure on the cost isn’t easy. It varies not only by the insurance provider but also based on your driver’s history and what caused you to have your license suspended. You could be looking at an increase of anywhere from 5-30% in insurance premiums.
The good news is, this spike won’t last forever. Eventually, the infraction will be wiped from your driver history and your insurance premiums will go back to normal—as long as you don’t incur any more moving violations in the meantime.
Because SR22 insurance in Ohio can vary so much, it’s important that you get multiple quotes for coverage. While your insurance is definitely going to be higher than it was before you needed SR22 insurance, at least you can find the most cost-effective option by shopping around.
Keep in mind that usually within three years you can get rid of the SR22 insurance in Ohio. It depends on the severity of the offense, but typically within 3-5 years, you’ll see your insurance rates drop again.
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If you’ve had your license suspended, you’ll still need SR22 insurance in Ohio to reinstate it, even if you don’t own a car. In this case, you’d want non-owner SR22 insurance for Ohio. It’ll protect you if you happen to borrow a car but you’ll save more on car insurance than if you have an owner’s policy.
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SR22 insurance in Ohio is necessary if you have a severe driving violation, like a DUI or a hit-and-run. Being upfront with your insurance provider is important so that they can help you get your license back and ensure you’re covered should something happen (knock on wood).
You won’t need SR22 insurance forever, but make sure to drive safely in the meantime and avoid any violations at all.
Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
