Poly(o-anisidine)-dodecylbenzenesulfonate (POA-DBSA) coatings were synthesized on stainless steel from aqueous solution containing o-anisidine and dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid by using cyclic voltammetry. These coatings were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Corrosion tests of these coatings were carried out in aqueous 3% NaCl solution by using open circuit potential (OCP) measurements, potentiodynamic polarization technique, cyclic potentiodynamic polarization measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results reveal that POA-DBSA acts as a corrosion protective coating on steel and reduces the corrosion rate (CR) of steel almost by a factor of 14.5. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.