Cheap Car Insurance in Defiance, OH

How Many Fatal Accidents Happen in Defiance?

There was one fatal accident in Defiance in 2022.

How Are the Road Infrastructure and Bridges in Defiance?

The City of Defiance Streets Division and the Pavement Repairs Program maintain over 200 miles of streets on a seasonal schedule to keep the city’s travelers safe on roads and sidewalks.

• Winter: Monitoring snow and ice on streets. Pothole patching when temperatures permit. Street sweepers operate daily.
• Spring: Road maintenance and construction.
• Summer: Pavement of crosswalks and other features in school zones.
• Fall: Vacuum trucks pick up fallen leaves throughout the city.

The city also works on large-scale projects to enhance traveler safety, such as the Clinton Street Bridge replacement. This recently replaced bridge over the Maumee River was renamed the Purple Heart Bridge.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) maintains local highways, such as geological maintenance and slide repair off highway U.S. 24.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Defiance

Ohio requires its residents to carry the minimum following protection to drive legally:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability for one person
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability

It’s a good idea to purchase additional coverage to protect your assets in case of a serious accident with damage beyond the minimum limits. In Ohio, those you injure can take your assets, including your home, to pay for damage you cause that insurance doesn’t cover. Your wages may also be garnished.

It’s also a good idea to purchase full coverage to pay for your own vehicle damage and medical expenses.

Statistics show about 17% of Ohio drivers are uninsured. If you’re one of these uninsured drivers, expect to face serious consequences if you’re caught by a police officer, including:

• Suspended driver’s license for at least 90 days
• Loss of vehicle license plates
• Loss of vehicle registration
• License reinstatement fee
• High-risk coverage for three to five years
• Repeat offenders may be required to forfeit their vehicles
• Court costs

You may, as an alternative to liability insurance, show financial responsibility in the way of a surety bond for $30,000, a BMV bond secured by real estate for at least $60,000, a BMV certificate for $30,000 on file with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, or a BMV certificate of self-insurance for persons who own at least 26 motor vehicles.

Defiance underwriters consider various factors when determining your premium, including:

• Your age
• Your profession
• Vehicle age, make, and model
• Driving record
• Credit score
• Mileage
• Current medical care costs

If you live in the city, your premiums are likely to be higher, as city residents tend to have more accidents.

While some factors, such as age, are not behavior-based, you may be able to get cheaper coverage if you cut the number of miles you drive, for instance, by carpooling or taking public transportation, or if you drive a car that’s less expensive to repair or replace.

Ohio has distracted driving laws, which outline the use of cell phones when you’re behind the wheel. According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), drivers can perform the following actions on the road:

• Those over 18 can make or receive phone calls through a hands-free device
• Listen to audio streaming apps on a cell phone if turned on before driving
• Use a GPS if it’s turned on before driving, or you can use a single touch to operate

There are some exceptions to these rules, such as a driver involved in an emergency situation — in this case, a driver can hold a cell phone while stopped. Be sure to read up on the specifics of the distracted driving law before you get on the road.