Ohio has long required drivers to carry auto insurance as proof of financial responsibility on the roads. Yet, despite that statutory mandate, Ohio has an uninsured motorist problem. According to the Insurance Information Institute, our state ranked the 10th highest in the nation in 2022 with an uninsured motorist rate of 17.1%. Despite this troubling statistic, Ohio does not have a system in place to effectively address and reduce this issue.
Ohio’s independent agents have played a critical role in helping Ohio drivers find auto insurance, but the system used to verify coverage is outdated and inefficient. Too often, drivers are only asked for proof of insurance after an accident, during a traffic stop, or while renewing their license at the BMV, leaving significant gaps where uninsured drivers go undetected. To modernize the process and to reduce the rate of uninsured motorists, OIA believes Ohio should implement an online auto insurance verification system. This system would ensure compliance and provide an accessible way for drivers to prove they meet state requirements.
What makes this situation even more concerning is that Ohio requires insurers to offer both underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage, per Ohio Revised Code Section 3937.18 Meanwhile, law-abiding drivers are required to carry proof of financial responsibility, yet they remain vulnerable to accidents involving uninsured motorists. Ohio should look to states like Texas, Utah and Wyoming, that have successfully implemented online verification systems to see how these systems have helped the traveling public and the insurance industry.
The state of Texas took meaningful legislative action to address their uninsured motorist problem. The Texas legislature voted on Senate Bill 1670 in 2005 that established the TexasSure program. The bill passed unanimously in the Texas House and Senate. The TexasSure program was implemented in late 2008 and created a system that matched vehicle registrations with insurance policies, which has allowed law enforcement and state agencies to identify uninsured drivers more effectively.
In June 2009, the Texas Department of Insurance estimated that 23.22% of Texas motorists were uninsured. Now as of 2025, the Texas Department of Insurance estimates that roughly 13.8% of Texas drivers are uninsured. That significant decrease in the uninsured motorist rate is a testament to the TexasSure program and is an incredible improvement for the traveling public and to the insurance industry.
Other states, like Utah and Wyoming, have successfully implemented online auto insurance verification systems. These states have two of the lowest uninsured motorist rates in the country. Utah began establishing their online auto insurance verification system in 2003. Utah’s Insure-Rite program enabled real-time checks and enforcement and is responsible for lowering Utah’s uninsured motorist rates to one of the lowest in the country for over a decade. Utah currently boasts an uninsured motorist rate of 6.5%.
A common concern with implementing an online auto insurance verification system is the cost – however the experience of other states shows that it’s a smart investment. Let’s continue to use Texas as an example. According to a 2009 report from the Texas State Auditor, the implementation cost for the TexasSure program was approximately $11 million. Around $6.5 million went toward building the database and integrating it with key state agencies.
That investment led to a nearly 10% reduction in uninsured motorists, significantly improving public safety and reducing the financial burden on insured drivers and insurers alike. The impact of having fewer uninsured motorists on the road is incredibly vital to stabilizing rising insurance premiums, having lower uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage costs, and having fewer uninsured claims. If Ohio were to follow suit, the upfront investment would be a well warranted trade-off with the impact of increased transparency, better enforcement, and safer roads.
OIA believes that Ohio should take legislative action to enact online verification for auto insurance. Our advocacy team is actively talking to legislators and has identified a potential bill sponsor. We are advocating for a system that works best for Ohio while looking to the successes of other states and their implementation. Our drivers deserve better.
Please reach out to George Christy at George@ohioinsuranceagents.com if you’d like to provide your support or feedback on this key issue.
About the Author:
George Christy joined the Ohio Insurance Agents (OIA) as the new Government Affairs Manager, starting on January 6, 2025. George brings experience from his previous roles at the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). At ODOT, he was part of the communications team, and he worked on legislative and regulatory issues with the Legislative Affairs team. George brings experience from his work on state legislative campaigns, his time as a Legislative Aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, and his roles at a state agency. George grew up in Delaware County and is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he studied Political Science and Economics.
