Garage liability insurance and dealer bonds
Garage liability insurance
Vehicle liability for road use
- Bodily injury / person
- $25,000
- Bodily injury / accident
- $50,000
- Property damage
- $25,000
These are Ohio’s vehicle financial-responsibility minimums. Garage operations, dealer plate use and contractual limits also need to be covered by the policy.
Insurance requirementsDealer bond
$75,000
Bond face amount. The premium you pay is priced separately.
Add a bond quote to your dealer insurance application.
Bond requirementsIn Ohio, insurance and licensing requirements depend on your dealer category. Independent used-auto, wholesale, broker, RV, motorcycle, truck and boat businesses can have different requirements. Confirm your license category with Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Dealer Licensing.
Insurance and proof of coverage
Vehicle liability for road use: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident and $25,000 property damage.
These are Ohio’s vehicle financial-responsibility minimums. Garage operations, dealer plate use and contractual limits also need to be covered by the policy.
UM, UIM and medical coverage
BI means bodily injury. PD means property damage. For example, 25/50 BI means $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
- Uninsured motorist (UM)
- Optional
- Underinsured motorist (UIM)
- Optional
- PIP / first-party medical
- Not required
Ohio does not require auto policies to include UM or UIM. Both are optional under §3937.18. The road-use liability minimum is separate from the limits you choose for other garage operations.
Your lease, lender or exposure to a serious accident may call for higher limits. Garage liability does not automatically insure the value of inventory or customers’ vehicles.
The dealer bond is a separate requirement
Surety bond filed with Attorney General
The bond amount is its face amount, not the price you pay. A surety prices the bond separately, and you may have to reimburse it for claims it pays. A dealer bond does not replace garage liability or inventory insurance. You can add a bond quote to the dealer insurance application.
State licensing fees
Check the linked licensing agency for the current application, renewal and plate fees.
These state fees are separate from insurance and bond premiums. Other licensing and startup expenses may apply. Confirm the payable amount in the current state application or portal.
A practical filing detail
The current bond rule, effective April 1, 2026, states $75,000 for covered used-dealer applications, subject to the rule’s exemptions. Older versions show $25,000. Check the current rule before ordering a bond.
What does dealer insurance cost in Ohio?
An Ohio startup and an established dealer may receive different quotes even with the same number of plates. Prior insurance, claims, employee driving records and how vehicles are used all matter. Adding open-lot coverage changes the comparison from liability-only to a broader package.
Real quotes issued by our agency, Pro Risk Solutions dba dealership.insure. Your price depends on your dealership and coverage.
| Dealer example | Annual premium | Down payment | Monthly payments | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Established dealer Without inventory coverage | $963 | $403 | 9 payments of $71 | $75,000 garage liability per accident. Inventory coverage not included. |
| Ohio Startup dealer Without inventory coverage | $1,299 | $259 | 9 payments of $130 | $75,000 garage liability per accident. Inventory coverage not included. |
| Ohio Established dealer Liability + inventory | $4,685 | — | — | $300,000 garage liability per accident. $250,000 inventory limit; $20,000 maximum per auto. Flood excluded. |
| Ohio Startup dealer Liability + inventory | $7,825 | $2,088 | 9 payments of $712 | $75,000 garage liability per accident. $500,000 inventory limit; $40,000 maximum per auto. |
Ohio $963 example: coverage and business details
1 year in business · 3 dealer plates · $75,000 garage liability per accident.
Inventory coverage not included.
$1,000 liability deductible.
State requirements and official sources
Quoted October 2, 2026.
Ohio $1,299 example: coverage and business details
New business · 3 dealer plates · $75,000 garage liability per accident.
Inventory coverage not included.
$1,000 liability deductible.
State requirements and official sources
Quoted September 25, 2026.
Ohio $4,685 example: coverage and business details
1 year in business · 4 dealer plates · $300,000 garage liability per accident.
$250,000 inventory limit; $20,000 maximum per auto.
$50,000 UM; $75,000 UIM; $100,000 damage to rented premises; $300,000 personal/advertising injury.
$1,000 liability deductible. Collision: $1,000 per auto. Other covered causes: $1,000 per auto / $5,000 per event. Theft: $2,500 per auto / $12,500 per event. Wind/hail: $1,000 per auto, with no event maximum. Flood is excluded.
State requirements and official sources
Quoted August 21, 2026.
Ohio $7,825 example: coverage and business details
New business · 2 dealer plates · $75,000 garage liability per accident.
$500,000 inventory limit; $40,000 maximum per auto.
$40,000 false-pretense coverage per auto.
$1,000 liability deductible. Collision: $1,000. Other covered causes: $1,000 per auto / $5,000 per event. Theft: $2,500 per auto / $12,500 per event. Wind/hail and flood: $1,000 per auto, with no event maximum.
State requirements and official sources
Quoted July 31, 2026.
Ohio dealer insurance costs and coverage comparison · What affects your insurance premium
Get your dealer insurance quote
Complete the dealer insurance application online. You can add a dealer bond quote in the same application.
Keep reading
Sources & resources
- Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-3-11: Net worth and bond
- Ohio Revised Code 4517.05: Used dealer application and training
- Ohio Revised Code 4517.10: License forms
- Ohio BMV dealer licensing fees
- Ohio Department of Public Safety: Financial responsibility
- Ohio Department of Insurance: automobile insurance guide
- Ohio Revised Code §3937.18: optional UM/UIM
Policy wording controls actual coverage.