Ohio Car Insurance Laws
In the United States of America, the state of Ohio hosts the most drivers. This state currently ranks seventh with a total driving population of 7,656,362. It is, however, shocking that over 16 percent of these drivers lack motor vehicle insurance, or they under insure their vehicles. To find affordable auto insurance to stay covered, enter your ZIP code into our FREE car insurance comparison tool!
The Necessity of Car Insurance
Under the state of Ohio’s laws, people who lack insurance can face many penalties. For instance, first offenders can have their licenses revoked for a period not less than 90 days. This penalty increases to one year if previous offenders fall victim for a second time. Drivers who have overdue insurances can also face these penalties. Get a quote right away for car insurance if you are gambling by driving without it!
Whenever the penalized individuals apply for reinstatement, they must pay a reinstatement fee of 75 to 500 US dollars. In addition, they will have to purchase a three to five years mandatory high-risk special FR coverage. Failure to do so, individuals can have their vehicles sold or impounded.
However, people who break the law multiple times will have their registration and license plates revoked indefinitely. Check out our car insurance guide to find out more about the types of coverage that can keep you legal.
Getting Car Insurance
Car insurance should be a necessity for all drivers in Ohio. However, before people engage in this important exercise, they should do a detailed comparison to get the best deals. Individuals can easily request for quotes online and compare rates and services. They can also use comparison websites to ease their work. Enter your ZIP code into our FREE auto insurance search tool to get great rates today!
In addition, individuals should look out for promotions or discounts that can help them cut down on cost. People can secure these promotions by being responsible drivers and heightening their vehicle security. However, once they find insurance policies that fit their budget brackets, people should make sure they conform to the minimum requirements requested by Ohio’s authorities.
The regulations governing car insurance in Ohio come under three sections:
- Section 1 covers the drivers’ injury costs
- Section 2 handles passenger coverage in the event of an accident
- Section 3 deals with damage to property if a collision occurs
People should make sure that they adhere to the specifications stipulated in these sections to avoid unnecessary penalties.
People can conform to Ohio’s regulations by buying liability insurance. People who decide to self-insure their vehicle must highlight their financial responsibilities (FR). This means that Ohio’s authorities expect these drivers to shoulder all damages when involved in accidents. These people, therefore, have to prove that they can adhere to such minimum obligations.
Minimum Liability Cover
Even though authorities in Ohio champion for financial responsibility, all drivers should have the minimum liability cover. In summary, this type of auto insurance cover involves:
- $12,500 bodily injury liability for one individual injured in one accident
- $25,000 bodily injury liability for more than one individual injured in one accident
- $7,500 property damage liability in case of a collision
When compared to other States, Ohio currently ranks as one of the cheapest states that people can attain car liability cover.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
Under the Ohio state law, liability bodily injury insurance covers:
- Accidental harm to individuals in, outside, or with affected vehicles
- All the affected people, whether alive or deceased
Property Damage Liability Laws
Under Ohio laws, this covers the damage subjected to people’s properties. These can include house, fences among other valuables. This amount helps to cover drivers if the affected parties file for lawsuits. Though the stipulated amounts by the Ohio authorities stand at 7,500 dollars, many prefer quoting their damage to property liability at 100,000 dollars.
People consider paying higher damage to property liability because Ohio operates under a tort system. Under its set of laws, they must lay blame on a person whenever an accident occurs.
The person they deem as being responsible then settles all the damages experienced in the accident. However, since insurance companies will settle these damages, they advise their clients to buy higher coverage.
In case of an accident, individuals deemed to be at fault but have low coverage settle their deficits using their own money. This can be substantial amounts. Many people thereby play safe by buying over $300,000 damage to property and #100,000 bodily injury insurance.
Laws Governing Self Auto Insurance
Car insurance laws in Ohio also stipulate that individuals voluntarily decide to drive without insurance must have security bonds. People can buy these bonds from authorized surety companies that can cost up to $30,000. In addition, these individuals must have an Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) certificate valued at $60,000. They can obtain this via bonds through real estate equities. These BMV certificates signify the financial responsibility of the self-insured individual.
Laws Governing Leased vehicles
Though the state of Ohio does not require other insurances apart from auto liability, they have an exception when dealing with leased vehicles. The law governing leased vehicles require them to have both collision and comprehensive insurance. People should buy these in addition to the minimum liability insurance that all vehicles in the state of Ohio mush have.
Uninsured Motorist Cover
Individuals should have bodily injury insurance that covers them against uninsured motorists. Obtaining this insurance will help them cater for medical costs while treating physical injuries resulting from accidents with under insured people. People can buy cover valued between 100,000 to 300,000 dollars. To get great protection above the minimum, enter your ZIP code into our FREE car insurance comparison tool today!
People who want to buy auto insurance in Ohio should abide by these laws. First, they should make sure that they get the minimum required coverage after which they can decide to add other covers to their policy.
This will not only help them avoid numerous problems with the law but will also ensure that they have at most protection while on the road. Enter your ZIP code into our FREE auto insurance search tool to find affordable liability insurance for your area!