An FRA suspension is a penalty in Ohio for lack of financial responsibility. Your driving privileges are taken away if you are on an FRA suspension.
Driving under an FRA suspension is illegal, and if you are caught, you could face further penalties.
The acronym FRA is often used but isn’t an official term in the Ohio statutes. The code “F” describes the suspension class for driving without insurance. “FR” is an acronym for “financial responsibility.” The Ohio BMV refers to it as a non-compliance suspension.
Section 4509.101 of the Ohio Revised Code prohibits an individual from operating a motor vehicle in Ohio without maintaining proof of financial responsibility (FR) continuously throughout the registration period with respect to that vehicle, or, in the case of a driver who is not the owner, with respect to that driver’s operation of that vehicle.
Ohio car insurance law requires financial responsibility in the minimum amount of $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Failure to provide proof of financial responsibility when required in Ohio will result in the following civil penalties imposed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV):
For a first offense:
- Suspension of driving privileges until reinstatement requirements are met
- If caught driving under FRA suspension, a minimum 30-day suspension of plates and registration
- $100 reinstatement fee
- SR-22 filing for three years
For a second offense:
- One-year suspension of license
- If caught driving under FRA suspension, a minimum 60-day suspension of plates and registration
- $300 reinstatement fee
- SR-22 filing for five years
For third and subsequent offenses:
- Two-year suspension of license
- If caught driving under FRA suspension, vehicle is forfeited and sold and the driver will not be allowed to register another car for five years
- $600 reinstatement fee
- SR-22 filing for five years
Additionally, there is a $50 penalty for failing to surrender the license, plates or vehicle registration to the BMV. If you are involved in an accident when uninsured or while driving with an FRA suspension, the penalties can be even more severe.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
Ask the Insurance Expert
John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Leslie Kasperowicz
Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
Ask the Insurance Expert
Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
