Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 3937
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31 (2026)

Policy period or guaranteed renewable successive policy periods

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
September 22, 2013
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 278 - 129th General Assembly
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(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a period of not less than one year or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than one year. Where renewal is mandatory, "cancellation," as used in sections 3937.30 to 3937.39 of the Revised Code, includes refusal to renew a policy with at least the coverages, included insureds, and policy limits provided at the end of the next preceding policy period. No insurer may cancel any automobile insurance policy except pursuant to the terms of the policy, and in accordance with sections 3937.30 to 3937.39 of the Revised Code, and for one or more of the following reasons:

(1) Fraud, concealment, or misrepresentation by the insured to the insurer of any material fact in the procurement or renewal of the insurance or in the submission of claims thereunder;

(2) Loss of driving privileges through suspension, revocation, or expiration of the driver's or commercial driver's license of the named insured or any member of the named insured's family covered as a driver; provided that the insurer shall continue the policy in effect but exclude by endorsement all coverage as to the person whose driver's license has been suspended, revoked, or has expired, if the person is other than the named insured or the principal operator;

(3) Nonpayment of premium, which means failure of the named insured to discharge when due any of the named insured's obligations in connection with the payment of premiums on a policy, or any installment of such premiums, whether the premium is payable directly to the insurer or its agent or indirectly under any premium finance plan or extension of credit;

(4) The place of residence of the insured or the state of registration or license of the insured automobile is changed to a state or country in which the insurer is not authorized to write automobile coverage.

This section does not apply in the case of a cancellation if the insurer has indicated its willingness to issue a new policy within the same insurer or within another insurer under the same ownership or management as that of the insurer that has issued the cancellation.

(B) Sections 3937.30 to 3937.39 of the Revised Code do not prohibit:

(1) Changes in coverage or policy limits, cancellation, or nonrenewal for any reason at the request or with the consent of the insured;

(2) Lawful surcharges, adjustments, or other changes in premium;

(3) Policy modification to all policies issued to a classification of risk which do not effect a withdrawal or reduction in the initial coverage or policy limits;

(4) An insurer's refusing for any reason to renew a policy upon its expiration at the end of any mandatory period, provided such nonrenewal complies with the procedure set forth in section 3937.34 of the Revised Code.

(C) Sections 3937.30 to 3937.39 of the Revised Code do not apply to any policy or coverage that has been in effect less than ninety days at the time notice of cancellation is mailed by the insurer, unless it is a renewal policy.

(D) Renewal of a policy does not constitute a waiver or estoppel with respect to grounds for cancellation that existed before the effective date of such renewal.

(E) Nothing in this section prohibits an insurer from incorporating into a policy any changes that are permitted or required by this section or other sections of the Revised Code at the beginning of any policy period within the one-year period set forth in division (A) of this section.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 42 cases, 1983–2015 · leading case: Wolfe v. Wolfe, 725 N.E.2d 261 (Ohio 2000).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 725 N.E.2d 261 (Ohio 2000). · cites it 55× “R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 2000 Ohio 322 (Ohio 2000). · cites it 59× “{¶ 7} R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Shay v. Shay, 863 N.E.2d 591 (Ohio 2007). · cites it 22× “31 by adding subsection E, which provides: “Nothing in this section prohibits an insurer from incorporating into a policy any changes that are permitted or required by this section or other sections of the Revised Code at the beginning of any policy period within the two-year…”
Advent v. Allstate Ins., 862 N.E.2d 871 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 22× “31(A), holding that the commencement of each two-year guarantee period brings into existence a new contract of insurance, whether the policy is categorized as a new policy or a renewal, and that R.C. 3937.31 applies “regardless of the number of times the parties previously have…”
Arn v. McLean, 825 N.E.2d 181 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 9× “267 to R.C. 3937.31. It states: *667 {¶ 18} “Nothing in this section prohibits an insurer from incorporating into a policy any changes that are permitted or required by this section or other sections of the Revised Code at the beginning of any policy period within the two-year…”
State v. South (Slip Opinion), 2015 Ohio 3930 (Ohio 2015). · cites it 4× “LANZINGER, J., concurs in the foregoing opinion.”
Anderson v. Barclay's Capital Real Est., Inc., 2013 Ohio 1933 (Ohio 2013). · cites it 4× “Is a mortgage servicer a “supplier”? {¶ 27} The second question presented asks, “Are entities that service residential mortgage loans, ‘suppliers * * * engaged in the business of effecting or soliciting consumer transactions’ within the meaning of the Ohio Consumer Sales…”
Shay v. Shay, 843 N.E.2d 194 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 28× “2d 261 : {¶ 19} “One of the purposes behind R.C. 3937.31 is to ensure that consumers of automobile liability insurance are able to maintain the level of coverage and policy limits that they had originally contracted for.”
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. v. Ingle, 904 N.E.2d 934 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 6× “{¶ 19} R.C. 3937.31(A) requires all automobile insurance policies to be issued for a period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
State v. Ferguson, 896 N.E.2d 110 (Ohio 2008). “2d 591, ¶ 25 (noting that the General Assembly amended R.C. 3937.31 in specific response to our decision in Wolfe v.”
DeBose v. Travelers Ins. Companies, 451 N.E.2d 753 (Ohio 1983). · cites it 4× “R.C. 3937.31 provides, in relevant part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Bigler v. Pers. Serv. Ins. Co., 2014 Ohio 1467 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 3× “33 (prior to effective date of cancellation, insurer shall tender any refund premium and other sums due).”
Show all 42 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(A) — 18 cases
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 725 N.E.2d 261 (Ohio 2000). “R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 2000 Ohio 322 (Ohio 2000). “{¶ 7} R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Shay v. Shay, 863 N.E.2d 591 (Ohio 2007). “31 by adding subsection E, which provides: “Nothing in this section prohibits an insurer from incorporating into a policy any changes that are permitted or required by this section or other sections of the Revised Code at the beginning of any policy period within the two-year…”
Advent v. Allstate Ins., 862 N.E.2d 871 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). “31(A), holding that the commencement of each two-year guarantee period brings into existence a new contract of insurance, whether the policy is categorized as a new policy or a renewal, and that R.C. 3937.31 applies “regardless of the number of times the parties previously have…”
Shay v. Shay, 843 N.E.2d 194 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “2d 261 : {¶ 19} “One of the purposes behind R.C. 3937.31 is to ensure that consumers of automobile liability insurance are able to maintain the level of coverage and policy limits that they had originally contracted for.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(A)(1) — 1 case
Vietzen v. Victoria Auto. Ins. Co., 2014 Ohio 749 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(A)(3) — 4 cases
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. v. Ingle, 904 N.E.2d 934 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008). “{¶ 19} R.C. 3937.31(A) requires all automobile insurance policies to be issued for a period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Casto v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 594 N.E.2d 1004 (Ohio Ct. App. 1991).
Clarke v. Smith, 690 N.E.2d 604 (Ohio Ct. App. 1997).
Bauer v. Grange Mut. Cas. Co., 514 N.E.2d 913 (Ohio Ct. App. 1986).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(B) — 2 cases
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 725 N.E.2d 261 (Ohio 2000). “R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 2000 Ohio 322 (Ohio 2000). “{¶ 7} R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(B)(1) — 1 case
Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Song, 2012 Ohio 1062 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(B)(3) — 4 cases
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 725 N.E.2d 261 (Ohio 2000). “R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Shay v. Shay, 863 N.E.2d 591 (Ohio 2007). “31 by adding subsection E, which provides: “Nothing in this section prohibits an insurer from incorporating into a policy any changes that are permitted or required by this section or other sections of the Revised Code at the beginning of any policy period within the two-year…”
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 2000 Ohio 322 (Ohio 2000). “{¶ 7} R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Shay v. Shay, 843 N.E.2d 194 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “2d 261 : {¶ 19} “One of the purposes behind R.C. 3937.31 is to ensure that consumers of automobile liability insurance are able to maintain the level of coverage and policy limits that they had originally contracted for.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(B)(4) — 2 cases
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 725 N.E.2d 261 (Ohio 2000). “R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
Wolfe v. Wolfe, 2000 Ohio 322 (Ohio 2000). “{¶ 7} R.C. 3937.31 provides in part: “(A) Every automobile insurance policy shall be issued for a policy period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(C) — 4 cases
Bigler v. Pers. Serv. Ins. Co., 2014 Ohio 1467 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014). “33 (prior to effective date of cancellation, insurer shall tender any refund premium and other sums due).”
Lewis v. Motorists Ins. Companies, 645 N.E.2d 784 (Ohio Ct. App. 1994).
Casto v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 594 N.E.2d 1004 (Ohio Ct. App. 1991).
Canter v. Christopher, 609 N.E.2d 609 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(D) — 1 case
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. v. Ingle, 904 N.E.2d 934 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008). “{¶ 19} R.C. 3937.31(A) requires all automobile insurance policies to be issued for a period of not less than two years or guaranteed renewable for successive policy periods totaling not less than two years.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 3937.31(E) — 5 cases
Advent v. Allstate Ins., 862 N.E.2d 871 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006). “31(A), holding that the commencement of each two-year guarantee period brings into existence a new contract of insurance, whether the policy is categorized as a new policy or a renewal, and that R.C. 3937.31 applies “regardless of the number of times the parties previously have…”
Arn v. McLean, 825 N.E.2d 181 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “267 to R.C. 3937.31. It states: *667 {¶ 18} “Nothing in this section prohibits an insurer from incorporating into a policy any changes that are permitted or required by this section or other sections of the Revised Code at the beginning of any policy period within the two-year…”
Shay v. Shay, 843 N.E.2d 194 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “2d 261 : {¶ 19} “One of the purposes behind R.C. 3937.31 is to ensure that consumers of automobile liability insurance are able to maintain the level of coverage and policy limits that they had originally contracted for.”
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Smeltzer, 2011 Ohio 2632 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
Advent v. Allstate Ins., 888 N.E.2d 398 (Ohio 2008).
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