Minimum car insurance in Ohio.
What Ohio requires, in plain words, and why the minimum may not be enough.
The minimum limits
In Ohio, the minimum liability limits are written 25/50/25 (in thousands): $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to everyone in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage.
How the system works
Ohio is generally an at-fault (tort) state, so the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other party’s losses. That is why liability limits matter so much.
Tort (at-fault) state. No other coverage required.
What the minimum means in practice
Say a crash you cause injures three people. The Ohio minimum pays at most $25,000 to any one of them and $50,000 in total, shared between all three. Any medical bills above that could become your responsibility. Property damage stops at $25,000.
If you drive without insurance in Ohio
A first no-proof violation brings a license suspension and plate impoundment, with reinstatement fees of $40 for a first violation, $300 for a second and $600 for a third or later (plus a $10 deputy registrar service fee). The BMV also requires an SR-22 or bond certificate on file for one year after a first non-compliance suspension.
Proof of insurance
Ohio law requires proof of financial responsibility to be maintained continuously through the registration period, and proof may be shown on an electronic wireless device, with officers allowed to view only the proof.
SR-22 and similar filings
Ohio requires an SR-22 or bond certificate on file for one year after a non-compliance suspension (first, second or third offense), and for judgment suspensions.
Also worth knowing in Ohio
An uninsured driver in a crash with more than $400 in property damage or a listed injury claim can face a security suspension of up to two years.
Your state regulator
Ohio Department of Insurance is the official place for consumer questions and complaints about insurers.
Sources we checked (October 2026)
Requirements change. We checked the pages below. Confirm with your state insurance department or an agent.
Questions
Is Ohio a no-fault state?
Ohio is generally an at-fault state.