SR22 Insurance - What Is It?

An SR22 filing is a form issued by an insurance company which removes a suspension order placed on your driving privilege.

The filing provides a guarantee that:

1. An insurance company has issued liability coverage for the person making that filing.

2. That the insurance company will notify the Dept. of Motor Vehicles should the insurance ever lapse for any reason.

The State is basically saying, "At this time, we cannot trust you to keep insurance on your own. Therefore, we have to have proof from the insurance company that you are keeping insurance at all times". Since it costs the insurance company more in terms of paperwork and manhours, SR22 insurance is more costly than regular insurance on your vehicle would be. You can not get an SR-22 filing without buying insurance.

The SR-22 filing is evidence of liability insurance. People whose license is under suspension need an SR-22 filing to reinstate their license.

This includes the following suspension reasons:

1. Minor violations in one year that exceed what the law permits

2. Drunk driving violations

3. Suspensions from unpaid fines

4. Being uninsured at the time of an accident

5. Failure to comply with other Motor Vehicle laws or regulations.

You must purchase minimum liability coverage on all vehicles you own. If you do not own a motor vehicle you may purchase a "non-owners" policy. Normally the SR-22 filing period is between one to three years. Each individual case will dictate the length.

How Do I Get SR22 Insurance and What Will It Cost?

Many insurance companies offer SR-22 coverage. Look in the phone book or online. It can often be done over the phone with "same-day" service and with flexible payment plans. You must purchase minimum liability coverage on the vehicle you own.

Again, the most frequent question we are asked about SR22 is, "how can I buy insurance when I don't own a car?" If you do not own a motor vehicle, you must purchase "non-owners" liability coverage, which simply means that you are covered by insurance even though you don't own a car. This fulfills your SR22 Insurance requirement.

The price is based on the severity of your driving record (accidents and violations), where you live, and the number of years of driving experience, as well as other factors.

How long must I maintain an SR-22 Insurance filing?

Under normal circumstances the SR22 Filing period is one to three years and varies with offense and state jurisdiction. This twelve month "proof of insurance filing" SR-22 required by the state must be maintained continually throughout the year with no lapse in coverage. If even a one day lapse occurs and the State is notified, the twelve month SR-22 filing requirement re-starts, requiring a new twelve months of filing. This requirement applies whether or not such person owns a motor vehicle.

It is much easier to comply with the SR-22 requirement if you pay your auto insurance premiums quarterly or semi-annually. Although it is a larger expense at the time, it may help prevent the costly fees that occur with a lapse in coverage, not to mention the fines, hassle, and legal cost that can occur if your license is Suspended for non-compliance of this statute.

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