SR-22 Insurance — Ohio

Covers medical bills, lost wages, and legal defense when you injure someone in an at-fault accident. Ohio's 25/50 minimum covers less than one night in intensive care. Most suspended drivers reinstating after a serious violation carry 50/100 or higher to avoid personal exposure, since a severe crash can exceed state minimums in minutes.

Pays for damage to other vehicles, buildings, or property when you cause an accident. Underinsured claims against you go to court if your limit is exhausted, which is common in highway collisions.

SR-22 is not insurance — it is a certificate your carrier files electronically with the Ohio BMV confirming you maintain continuous liability coverage. The BMV requires SR-22 after DUI, driving under suspension, accumulating 12+ points in 2 years, or being uninsured in an at-fault accident. Your carrier monitors your policy and must notify the BMV within 24 hours if coverage lapses, which triggers automatic suspension.

Covers your medical bills and lost income when an uninsured driver hits you. Ohio does not require this coverage, but carriers must offer it at policy inception and you must sign a written rejection form to decline. Verbal rejection does not count — if you skip the rejection form, the carrier adds UM coverage automatically and charges you for it.

Non-owner policies provide liability coverage and SR-22 filing when you do not own a vehicle but need to satisfy reinstatement requirements. Ohio allows non-owner SR-22 for license reinstatement in most suspension scenarios except commercial driver sanctions. This is the correct option if you sold your car during suspension or use borrowed vehicles. Once you purchase a vehicle, you must switch to a standard owner policy within 30 days or the SR-22 becomes invalid.