SR22 Auto Insurance is Important Because……

An SR22 document proves that a person who has had their driver’s license suspended for any reason is financially responsible and has acquired auto insurance. The insurance company will inform the state that the policy holder is covered by the minimum liability insurance. Once this is done, the driver’s license suspension will be lifted and the driver can legally drive again.

The most common reasons that a SR22 is required are for drivers being caught driving without insurance and driving under the influence of alcohol. Insurance purchased with an SR22 form is considered high risk by the insurance companies and costs more than regular car insurance.

SR22 Time Period:

An SR22 car insurance policy will be required for a specific period of time. This time period may vary in different states. The most common period is three years. This is a similar amount of time as a probationary period after being convicted of a criminal offense.

The SR22 insurance must be carried continuously during the specified period of time for the SR22 status to be removed at the end. If, for any reason, the policy is canceled by the insurance company or the policy holder allows it to lapse, the insurance company is obligated to inform the state, and the policy holder’s license will be suspended again.

Change of Insurance Company:

During the time period that a driver has SR22 insurance, they may change insurance carriers as long as the SR22 insurance is continuously held. The driver must get their new insurance carrier to send an SR22 form to the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Once they are insured by the new carrier, they may cancel their policy from their old carrier. This is the way to avoid a lapse in the SR22 coverage that will cause the license to be suspended again.

Change of State of Residence:

The rules for SR22 insurance vary from state to state. A person with SR22 insurance in one state who moves to another state must fulfill the first state’s SR22 requirements. Drivers must file a new SR22 form in the new state. If the new state does not require an SR22 form, a new insurance policy in the new state must meet the liability requirements of the previous state. The new state will also require proof of minimum liability insurance.

Traffic Penalties Requiring SR22 Forms:

There are several reasons a DMV would require a driver to submit an SR22 form before they may continue to drive. During a court appearance, a judge could also order the driver to submit an SR22 form. The reasons are:

• Conviction for driving under the influence (DUI)
• Driver’s license suspension
• Excessive points on the driver’s license because of traffic accidents or excessive traffic tickets for speeding
• Driving without the legal minimum car liability insurance
• Insurance lapse of more than 30 days in some states

The SR22 Form:

As soon as a driver has been asked to file an SR22 form, they must contact their auto insurance company. The form must be dated and signed by an authorized representative from the insurance company. The information required on the form is the driver’s:

• First and last names
• Driver’s license number
• Date of birth
• Street address
• Social Security number
• Make, year and model of the vehicle
• Policy number for car insurance
• Beginning and ending dates for the car insurance

The driver should make sure he or she receives a copy of the completed form from the insurance representative.

A Lapsed SR22 Policy:

If an auto insurance policy expires, the driver should immediately stop driving. Driving without insurance is very serious and could result in vehicle impoundment, tag seizure, license revocation or suspension. In many states, a fine is charged of between $150 and $500. The uninsured driver is responsible for any damages or medical bills that are the result of an accident.

The insurance company should be contacted immediately for renewal of the policy. Once the policy is renewed, the driver should carry a copy of the policy in their car until they receive an insurance card in the mail.

If a driver cannot afford to renew their SR22 policy, they should stop driving until they can renew it. However, the longer they wait to renew, the more difficult it will be to find an insurance company willing to give them insurance. This is especially true if the driver is caught driving with an expired SR22 policy.

SR22 auto insurance is important because it means the difference between driving and not driving for people who have had their driver’s license suspended.