Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 4509
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01 (2026)

Financial responsibility definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
April 15, 2021
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 295 - 133rd General Assembly
PDF:
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As used in sections 4509.01 to 4509.78 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Person" includes every natural person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation.

(B) "Driver" means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.

(C) "License" includes any license, permit, or privilege to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of this state including:

(1) Any temporary instruction permit or examiner's driving permit;

(2) The privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not such person holds a valid license;

(3) Any nonresident's operating privilege.

(D) "Owner" means a person who holds the legal title of a motor vehicle. If a motor vehicle is the subject of a lease with an immediate right of possession vested in the lessee, the lessee is the owner. A person listed as the owner on a certificate of title on which there is a notation of a security interest is the owner. A buyer or other transferee of a motor vehicle who receives the certificate of title from the seller or transferor listing the seller or transferor thereon as the owner with an assignment of title to the buyer or transferee nonetheless is the owner even though a subsequent certificate of title has not been issued listing the buyer or transferee as the owner.

(E) "Registration" means registration certificates and registration plates issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of motor vehicles.

(F) "Nonresident" means every person who is not a resident of this state.

(G) "Nonresident's operating privilege" means the privilege conferred upon a nonresident by the laws of this state pertaining to the operation by such person of a motor vehicle, or the use of a motor vehicle owned by such person, in this state.

(H) "Vehicle" means every device by which any person or property may be transported upon a highway, except electric personal assistive mobility devices, low-speed micromobility devices, devices moved by power collected from overhead electric trolley wires, or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, and except devices other than bicycles moved by human power.

(I) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle propelled by power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead electric trolley wires, except motorized bicycles, electric bicycles, road rollers, traction engines, power shovels, power cranes and other equipment used in construction work and not designed for or employed in general highway transportation, hole-digging machinery, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, farm machinery, threshing machinery, hay baling machinery, and agricultural tractors and machinery used in the production of horticultural, floricultural, agricultural, and vegetable products.

(J) "Accident" or "motor vehicle accident" means any accident involving a motor vehicle which results in bodily injury to or death of any person, or damage to the property of any person in excess of four hundred dollars.

(K) "Proof of financial responsibility" means proof of ability to respond in damages for liability, on account of accidents occurring subsequent to the effective date of such proof, arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident, in the amount of fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars because of injury to property of others in any one accident.

(L) "Motor-vehicle liability policy" means an "owner's policy" or an "operator's policy" of liability insurance, certified as provided in section 4509.46 or 4509.47 of the Revised Code as proof of financial responsibility, and issued, except as provided in section 4509.47 of the Revised Code, by an insurance carrier authorized to do business in this state, to or for the benefit of the person named therein as insured.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 81 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1955–2026 · leading case: Davidson v. Motorists Mut. Ins., 91 Ohio St. 3d 262 (Ohio 2001).
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Davidson v. Motorists Mut. Ins., 91 Ohio St. 3d 262 (Ohio 2001). · cites it 3× “18 was amended effective September 3,1997 (after the policy in this case was issued) as follows: “(L) As used in this section, ‘automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof…”
Dolly v. Old Repub. Ins. Co., 200 F. Supp. 2d 823 (N.D. Ohio 2002). · cites it 7× “(L) As used in this section, “automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance” means either of the following: (1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof of financial responsibility, as proof of financial responsibility is defined by division (K) of…”
Davidson v. Motorists Mut. Ins. Co., 2001 Ohio 36 (Ohio 2001). · cites it 3× “18 was amended effective September 3, 1997 (after the policy in this case was issued) as follows: “(L) As used in this section, ‘automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof…”
Lawler v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 163 F. Supp. 2d 841 (N.D. Ohio 2001). · cites it 4× “18 provides (L) As used in this section, 'automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: (1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof of financial responsibility, as proof of financial responsibility is defined by division…”
Griewahn v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co., 827 N.E.2d 341 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 5× “” It provided: {¶ 18} “(L) As used in this section, ‘automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: {¶ 19} “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof of financial responsibility, as proof of financial responsibility is…”
Delli Bovi v. Pac. Indem. Co., 708 N.E.2d 693 (Ohio 1999). · cites it 5× “Further, in reviewing the legislative history of more recent amendments, it appears that this section is related to the financial responsibility laws in R.C. 4509.01 et seq. See Bulletin, 120th General Assembly of the State of Ohio (1993-1994), S.”
Selander v. Erie Ins. Grp., 85 Ohio St. 3d 541 (Ohio 1999). · cites it 2× “18(L) now defines “automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of-insurance” as either “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof of financial responsibility, as proof of financial responsibility is defined by division (K) of section 4509.01 of the Revised…”
Jones v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Companies, 738 N.W.2d 840 (Neb. 2007). · cites it 2× “2007); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4509.01 (K) (LexisNexis 2003); Okla.”
Globe Mut. Cas. Co. v. Teague, 237 N.E.2d 614 (Ohio Ct. App. 1967). · cites it 8× “The nucleus of plaintiff’s argument is found in Section 4509.01, Bevised Code, the definitions section of Chapter 4509, dealing with financial responsibility.”
Meridian Mut. Ins. Co v. Richie, 540 N.E.2d 27 (Ind. 1989). · cites it 2× “Vehicle and Traffic § 311 (McKinney 1986); Ohio ($12,500/$25,000), Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4509.01 (Baldwin 1986); Oklahoma ($10,000/$20,000), Okla.”
Bob-Boyd Lincoln Mercury v. Hyatt, 513 N.E.2d 331 (Ohio 1987). · cites it 3× “” However, in our view, a thorough reading of the Financial Responsibility Act (R.C. 4509.01 et seq.), Moyer and Iszczukiewicz v.”
Hillyer v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 780 N.E.2d 262 (Ohio 2002). “” “[T]he fact that an automobile may be involved is incidental to coverage * * Id. Therefore, the policies at issue are not subject to the requirement of former R.”
Show all 81 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(A) — 1 case
Intercommunity Just. & Peace Ctr. v. Registrar, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehs. (S.D. Ohio 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(B) — 2 cases
Southerland v. Rankin, 2014 Ohio 2542 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
Southerland v. Rankin, 2014 Ohio 2506 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(C) — 2 cases
Southerland v. Rankin, 2014 Ohio 2542 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
Southerland v. Rankin, 2014 Ohio 2506 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(C)(2) — 1 case
State v. Lewis, 2020 Ohio 4633 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(C)(3) — 1 case
State v. Hutchings, 2013 Ohio 5432 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(D) — 2 cases
W. Reserve Mut. Cas. Co. v. Mueller, 249 N.E.2d 73 (Ohio Ct. App. 1969).
Armentrout v. Tokio Marine & Fire Ins., 824 N.E.2d 117 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(E) — 5 cases
Griewahn v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co., 827 N.E.2d 341 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “” It provided: {¶ 18} “(L) As used in this section, ‘automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: {¶ 19} “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof of financial responsibility, as proof of financial responsibility is…”
Giant Eagle, Inc. v. Genesis Ins., 252 F. Supp. 2d 559 (S.D. Ohio 2003).
Burkholder v. German Mut. Ins., 789 N.E.2d 1100 (Ohio 2003).
Fratilla v. Owners Ins., 951 N.E.2d 461 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
Armentrout v. Tokio Marine & Fire Ins., 824 N.E.2d 117 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(H) — 3 cases
Delli Bovi v. Pac. Indem. Co., 708 N.E.2d 693 (Ohio 1999). “Further, in reviewing the legislative history of more recent amendments, it appears that this section is related to the financial responsibility laws in R.C. 4509.01 et seq. See Bulletin, 120th General Assembly of the State of Ohio (1993-1994), S.”
Delli Bovi v. Pac. Indemn. Co., 1999 Ohio 380 (Ohio 1999).
Fisher v. United Ohio Ins. Co., 2025 Ohio 812 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(J) — 4 cases
In re Bellisari, 554 B.R. 440 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2016).
State v. Maioriello, 597 N.E.2d 185 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992).
State v. Murphy, 2023 Ohio 4825 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).
State v. West, 943 N.E.2d 597 (Ohio Ct. App. 2010).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(K) — 13 cases
Lawler v. Fireman's Fund Ins., 163 F. Supp. 2d 841 (N.D. Ohio 2001). “18 provides (L) As used in this section, 'automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: (1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof of financial responsibility, as proof of financial responsibility is defined by division…”
Griewahn v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co., 827 N.E.2d 341 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). “” It provided: {¶ 18} “(L) As used in this section, ‘automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: {¶ 19} “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof of financial responsibility, as proof of financial responsibility is…”
Bob-Boyd Lincoln Mercury v. Hyatt, 513 N.E.2d 331 (Ohio 1987). “” However, in our view, a thorough reading of the Financial Responsibility Act (R.C. 4509.01 et seq.), Moyer and Iszczukiewicz v.”
Safe Auto Ins. v. Koroma, 864 N.E.2d 703 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).
State v. Revere, 2022 Ohio 3803 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(L) — 11 cases
Davidson v. Motorists Mut. Ins., 91 Ohio St. 3d 262 (Ohio 2001). “18 was amended effective September 3,1997 (after the policy in this case was issued) as follows: “(L) As used in this section, ‘automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof…”
Davidson v. Motorists Mut. Ins. Co., 2001 Ohio 36 (Ohio 2001). “18 was amended effective September 3, 1997 (after the policy in this case was issued) as follows: “(L) As used in this section, ‘automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policy of insurance’ means either of the following: “(1) Any policy of insurance that serves as proof…”
Delli Bovi v. Pac. Indem. Co., 708 N.E.2d 693 (Ohio 1999). “Further, in reviewing the legislative history of more recent amendments, it appears that this section is related to the financial responsibility laws in R.C. 4509.01 et seq. See Bulletin, 120th General Assembly of the State of Ohio (1993-1994), S.”
Bob-Boyd Lincoln Mercury v. Hyatt, 513 N.E.2d 331 (Ohio 1987). “” However, in our view, a thorough reading of the Financial Responsibility Act (R.C. 4509.01 et seq.), Moyer and Iszczukiewicz v.”
Iszczukiewicz v. Universal Underwriters Ins., 182 F. Supp. 733 (N.D. Ohio 1960).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4509.01(j) — 1 case
Murray v. Landenberger, 215 N.E.2d 412 (Ohio Ct. App. 1966).
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