DUI/DWI Insurance
Posted on April 12, 2010
When a person is convicted for drinking and driving, otherwise known as DUI or DWI, he or she will need DUI/DWI insurance. A person that has been convicted of this type of traffic violation is considered to be a high risk driver. Insurance companies do raise the rates on coverage when this occurs. Most people will still need insurance, as they will have to travel back and forth to work. A Judge can grant a work license to a person that has lost his or her license and that person will only be allowed to drive to and from work. If a person is caught driving for any other reason, the work license will be revoked, which could be another traffic violation and will cause rates to go up again.
Along with DUI/DWI insurance, there will be a requirement to file an SR22 form, as well. Most insurance companies offer this service with policies. The insured will tell the agency that he or she is required to file an SR22 form and the insurance company files the form with the DMV, which verifies that this individual is insured to legally drive an automobile. All insurance companies use what is called a risk calculator to determine what rates will be, and they go by how many points a person has lost on his or her license, due to traffic violations and/or convictions of DUI or DWI.
There are some companies that will cancel a person’s policy when they have been convicted for DUI, so if this does happen, there is not any need for stress. It might be difficult to find an agency to acquire DUI/DWI insurance, but it is possible. If it is a huge struggle, or companies keep turning a person down, that person can contact the state insurance commissioner. Insurance is mandatory and it is also mandatory for an insurance agency to offer this service. It is a good idea to find the best quote. Obtain three or four quotes from three or four different companies.
When a person looks for DUI/DWI insurance and mentions an SR22, the insurance company will assume this is for a drinking and driving conviction, as this is usually the case when someone is required to file an SR22 form. The rates will be a lot higher than they were before, for people seeking new insurance or ones that already have insurance. There is no way around that. There are discounts for some things, though, so it is worth asking an agent about.
Also, most insurance companies will include a section in the paperwork, when someone firsts acquires insurance, that will state that a company can terminate a customer/policy at any time, for any reason. It has been said by some that an insurance company is not allowed to cancel a policy until the renewal period, but this is not true if it has been written and has been mailed to the insured. Generally, people do not read all the paperwork they receive, but it is a good idea to read it all. One never knows what the future might hold. A person could have insurance for several years and then have a traffic incident which requires them to file an SR22 and have DUI/DWI insurance. If a person knows what the paperwork said, he or she will know what to expect from the insurance company at that time. It certainly does not hurt to read everything, for other reasons, at any rate.
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Top 5 Ways to Save on an SR22 Insurance Policy
Posted on April 5, 2010
Top 5 ways to save on an SR22 insurance policy and more
Whether a person is filing an SR22, or they are simply looking for automobile insurance, everyone wants ways to save on an insurance policy. There are a few ways to save on an SR22 insurance policy, too. In the list below are the top 5 ways to save on an SR22 insurance policy and these tips can be used for regular types of policies, as well.
Shop around for SR22 filing coverage
The number one way to save money when finding insurance is to shop around and gather several different quotes from multiple companies.
Discounts when applying for SR22 coverage or in the midst of an active policy
Out of the top 5 ways to save on an SR22 insurance policy, most companies offer discounts and provide a wide variety of options.
Safe driving discounts (previous DMV records will show this), adding more than one vehicle or other items to a policy, automobiles that have the most safety features will cost less to insure (seatbelts, airbags-side and front), automobiles that have anti-theft systems installed into them will cost less, and then there are discounts for people of certain age brackets, like 65 or older. A person could qualify for discounts for SR22 insurance if he or she is 55 and has already retired, too.
In some states, a person might qualify for discounts regarding buying a new vehicle, insuring a utility vehicle or ranch vehicle, and some insurers offer discounts for economy vehicles.
Save on an SR22 insurance policy or regular insurance by paying in full or selecting different payment plans
Pay the policy in full, for the entire year, or change the policy payment plan so that you would make three to four payments throughout the year. An example would be if a person was to do a four-pay plan, he or she would make four payments throughout the year and could have a break for two months after every four payments. Some insurance agencies offer plans in this form and some do not.
Auto-pay and online-pay are easy and convenient and a favorite out of the top 5 ways to save on an SR22 insurance policy, for most people
Make payments with auto-pay. Most companies will charge three to five dollars per month, as a service fee for mailing and/or processing paperwork, if the bill is mailed and the payment is done by mail. When people pay by phone, with a phone check or debit/credit card, there can be a fee for this, too, like $10.00 every time.
Paying online is another option and is generally free, with most companies. Not all insurers are set up to accept debit card payments, honestly, but most of them are set up for that and to use a check for payments. This will save a person approximately $36-60 per annum on fees.
Another good one in the top 5 ways to save on an SR22 insurance policy is credit scores
All insurance agencies will check a person’s credit scores when he or she is requesting automobile insurance, no matter what type of coverage is requested. Good credit scores will help a person to get lower rates. Excellent credit scores will help a person to get even better rates. Low or poor credit scores will affect the rates and could cause them to be higher, sometimes two to three times higher for SR22 insurance and for regular types of coverage.
There is a sixth way to save on an SR22 insurance policy, or on insurance not requiring this form to be filed
Another type of discount available via some auto insurance agencies: Are you a student and are 25 or younger? Are you also single and have a high GPA? You could qualify for more discounts on your premiums.
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What is an SR22 Form?
Posted on April 1, 2010
When a person has to file an SR22 form, insurance companies and the DMV are a part of the insurance coverage details. Most insurance companies will ask, in their list of questions, if a person is required by the state to file for an SR22. If the answer is yes, the person requesting insurance does not have to send any information to the DMV, because that insurance company will file the form on his or her behalf.
An SR22 form is proof that a person that has had a license suspended, for any reason, has the state required insurance coverage to operate an automobile. Generally, an insurance form like the SR22 is required for those who have been convicted of a drinking and driving violation, but some people have their license suspended due to medical reasons, too, and are required to have insurance with a company that will file this form via the DMV.
An SR22 form might be required for one year, or it might be required for three years. It might depend on what violation occurred or what each state has set for requirements. As with most traffic related violations, insurance rates will be higher than they were before the incident occurred. If a person already has insurance at the time of a conviction and he or she is required to file this type of form when the license is reinstated, the rates will be higher. Some insurance companies do request that a person locate a new company, but that rarely happens. It is a good idea to ask insurance agents if they have SR22 filing services. If a person has more than one OUI on his or her driving record, usually within a three year period, the rates could be a lot higher. There are some ways that a person can gain extra points back onto the driver’s license. An insurance agent can offer information about this and about discounts that are available.
An SR22 form basically means being responsible for someone and validating that the person has the proper insurance to drive his or her vehicle, as required by the state in which he or she resides in. An insurance company that works with these forms will verify that the person is covered and if the person fails to make premiums, the insurance company is responsible for reporting this to the DMV. Some people do continue to make premiums on existing insurance, especially if a vehicle is worth a lot, because the vehicle needs to be covered for life occurrences that might happen. It might be a good idea to contact the insurance company and change the policy, especially if the vehicle is not driven for a while. Otherwise, the insurance premiums will remain the same. If a vehicle is not being used at all, then that person can get lower rates.
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