an sr-22 is proof of financial responsibility that may be required by the state or by court order after someone’s driver’s license has been suspended or revoked or after a serious violation. If you need an SR-22, your auto insurance rates will increase by an average of $993 per year. the cause of this increase is not sr-22 itself. Your rates will increase due to the violation that resulted in the sr-22 requirement.
for example, if you have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, you must obtain an sr-22 certificate to retain your driving privileges. but it’s the dui that makes the rates go up, not the sr-22.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about an sr-22, including what it is, how much insurance costs with an sr-22, and the cheapest companies for sr-22 insurance.
what is sr-22 insurance?
an sr-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility required by the state to show that you have the minimum required auto insurance. The insurance company will file this form on your behalf and will also report any breaks in your coverage. SR-22 insurance is not really a type of auto insurance; your policy remains the same in terms of coverage.
The term sr-22 insurance is generally used to describe any policy where the company has to file an sr-22 for the insured driver.
how much does sr-22 insurance cost?
For an SR-22, insurance companies may charge a one-time filing fee. the standard sr-22 filing fee is $25, but can be higher. the sr-22 itself does not increase your auto insurance rates.
However, the violation that resulted in an SR-22 requirement will affect your auto insurance premium. In short, it is your violation and not the SR-22 that will increase your rates. Your rate will increase, on average, 57% or $993 a year for a DUI, according to a 2022 rate analysis by Insurance.com. With an SR-22 or FR-44 (a similar form required in some states), you may need to carry more than the state minimum, further increasing your rates.
how much sr-22 insurance costs per month is simply dividing the annual rate into 12 payments. However, your state or insurer may require you to pay the full amount up front when your auto insurance policy includes an SR-22 or FR-44 filing.
why is sr-22 insurance required?
there are several reasons why you might need an sr-22:
- dui or dwi or other major alcohol or drug traffic violation conviction
- conviction of a serious traffic violation, such as reckless or negligent driving
- multiple traffic violations in a short period of time
- driving without insurance
- being involved in an accident without insurance
- to obtain a hardship or probationary license
- to reinstate your driver’s license after a suspension or revocation
- delaware
- kentucky
- minnesota
- new mexico
- new york
- north carolina
- oklahoma
- pennsylvania
many think of an sr-22 as something you only need to get insurance after a dui. Actually, there are many reasons why you might need an SR-22.
if you need an sr-22, you will receive a notice from the state or the court. This notice will tell you why an sr-22 is required, the minimum insurance requirements, and how long the sr-22 form must remain on file with the state.
A form called the FR-44 is similar to the SR-22 but requires drivers to have much higher liability limits. It is currently only required in Florida and Virginia for drivers who have been convicted of certain alcohol-related violations.
how to get an sr-22 insurance statement
To file an SR-22, you will need to have an insurance company file it on your behalf. only an insurance company can file an sr-22.
Call your insurance company as soon as you are notified that you need an sr-22.
Most auto insurance companies will file an SR-22, although some do not provide that service. If that’s the case with your current company, you’ll need to shop around. Since an sr-22 is associated with a traffic violation that will affect your rates, you may want to shop around either way.
how long is sr-22 insurance required?
How long you’ll need an sr-22 on file depends on the state and why you need it.
normally, an sr-22 is required for three years. when the clock starts also varies by state. It can start with the date of the crime, the date of the conviction, the date of the suspension, or the date the state reinstated your license.
Make sure you know how long your SR-22 is required by the state. If you cancel your auto insurance policy before the time is up, your SR-22 filing will no longer be valid. Your license and/or registration may be suspended or revoked and the clock could start over on how long the sr-22 must be held.
another piece of good news is that the offense that resulted in sr-22 will not haunt you forever. When the violation is removed from your driving record, your auto insurance rates will also decrease.
what is auto insurance for non-owners with an sr-22?
if you don’t own a car but must carry an sr-22, non-owner auto insurance is one option to meet your sr-22 filing requirements.
A non-owners policy insures you as a driver when behind the wheel of a car owned by someone else. Since you can’t get a regular auto insurance policy if you don’t own a car, a non-owners policy allows you to get the required coverage and file your SR-22 with the state.
what happens to an sr-22 if you move to another state?
Not all states use an sr-22 certificate of financial responsibility. the sr-22 presentation is not used in:
If you have an SR-22 in one state and move to another state, you will generally still need to keep an SR-22 on file in your old home state. You’ll need to seek an out-of-state sr-22 filing from a nationwide auto insurance company.
how your sr-22 is handled will depend on the state. Some states will waive the requirement, while others will require you to file a new SR-22. talk to your insurance company and the dmv to find out what to do.
what insurance companies offer sr-22 filings?
Most auto insurance companies can and will file an sr-22 form for you, including some of the more well-known insurers. all companies in the table below will file an sr-22.
You can see the rate increase varies, based on insurance.com’s 2022 analysis. For example, you could pay 166% more for a Geico SR-22 policy than for standard auto insurance without the SR-22 requirement.
An insurance company is more likely to deny you coverage because of the violation on your record than because you need an sr-22.
frequently asked questions about sr-22 insurance
