Ohio Auto Insurance Requirements
Reader’s Question:
I moved to Ohio for a job. I’m wondering if there would be changes to my auto insurance now that I am here. (I’m from South Carolina). Care to enlighten me?
Godfrey
Akron, OH
Hello there, Godfrey. Of course, there will be differences in how auto insurance is done in South Carolina and Ohio. Let us start with where you hail from to get a better perspective on things.
South Carolina is one of the states where liability auto insurance is not considered as a requirement. As a refresher, liability auto insurance covers damages sustained in a motor vehicle accident caused by the driver of the policy holder. This may include the bystanders, passengers and drivers of other cars involved in the accident. There is also coverage for property damage (usually the other car). Now, if you read up about this liability insurance on the internet, you would usually see numbers like 15/30/10. These just represent the limits that the auto insurance will cover. That set of number is read as $15,000 per head per accident with a limit of $30,000 for injured people involved. The 10 is $10,000 maximum property damage that the auto insurance company will shoulder. In South Carolina, underinsured/ uninsured motorist auto insurance coverage is a requirement. This type of coverage simply protects the policy holder from damage sustained from other motorists who don’t carry auto insurance.
Now, since you moved to Akron, Ohio, auto insurance will definitely change. In Ohio, the state will require you to carry 12.5/25/7.5 liability insurance on you. But the opposite is true for underinsured/ uninsured motorist auto insurance coverage.
Now, depending on how much your paycheck will allow, it is usually recommended that you get higher limits. Better be prepared than to get caught in a tricky situation like sustaining more damage than what your auto insurance company will shoulder.
Getting Cheap Ohio Auto Insurance Rates
Reader’s Question:
I know that I am required to have auto insurance coverage here in Ohio because I now have my own car. But what do I need to know? I don’t know much about this. What are the current Ohio auto insurance rates?
Nina
Cleveland, OH
Nina, the scope of your question is just too wide. I won’t be able to answer that properly. What I’ll tell you is the auto insurance coverage that I have. To really know more about auto insurance coverage, I suggest you do online research or contact an insurance agent there in Ohio.
I have liability insurance. This also required by all states, so you will definitely need this. This coverage takes care of things when you get in an accident and you hurt other people or damage other properties. For example, if you hit a car and you’re the one at fault, liability insurance will pay for the repair of the other driver’s car. Now, if the accident was the other guy’s fault, his liability insurance will cover the damages on your car. If you get sued because of this, liability insurance will also cover the expenses.
Now, what about the damage to your own car, you ask. That will be taken care of the collision coverage part of you auto insurance policy. This is the one that will pay for the repair of your car.
And if something happens to your car while it is parked, somebody defaces it, it gets stolen, etc, you will need comprehensive coverage to take care of that. Comprehensive coverage takes care of damages to your car not caused by collision accidents.
Will My Liability Auto Insurance Cover Tornado Damage
Reader’s Question:
My vehicle is paid off and I only have a liability auto insurance in Cincinnati, OH. What if a tornado hits and damages my vehicle, Will my insurance cover any damages? Thank you
Jennifer
Cincinnati, OH
Unfortunately no, your liability only auto insurance coverage in Cincinnati, OH will not cover your car if it is damaged from a tornado.
Liability coverages as part of your car insurance only covers those that you may damage; this type of coverage provides no coverage to your car in any way. Bodily injury and Property Damage liability coverages are the minimum types of coverages that the state require.
With only liability insurance you don’t have any coverages that will protect your car, only those that you may harm when you are driving your vehicle. So your auto insurance carrier would not be able to accept a car insurance claim to repair your car after a tornado caused damage to it.
Always remember that if a tornado is on the way and your state is already under a storm warning then insurance carriers will not offer physical damage coverages to be bought during that time. If you want to have comprehensive on your car you will need to do so before the hurricane is approaching and your area in Cincinnati, Ohio is under a warning.
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