Which Insurance Carriers Offer SR-22 Coverage?

Maybe you have recently been ordered by a court or the state to get an SR-22. But do you know what this is and how to get started?

An SR-22 form can make a difference in whether you are legally allowed to keep driving. Keep reading to discover more about what this is, how you can get it, and why it is so important.

We’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about SR-22. And that means starting with the obvious question: what is it?

On the most basic level, an SR-22 is a document you can file with your state. This document certifies that you have insurance that meets the bare minimum coverage legally required by your state.

Part of the confusion surrounding SR-22s comes from the name. This document is also referred to as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, while others simply refer to it as an SR-22 bond, SR-22 filing, or SR-22 form.

Another term that is often mistakenly used is SR-22 insurance. That term is a misnomer because the form is not actually any kind of insurance. However, insurance carriers can help provide the SR-22 form you need.

Now you know more about what the SR-22 is. But do you know who needs an SR-22 insurance form and how you can find out if you need it?

Most people don’t need an SR-22. And if you do need one, it will be legally required of you by a state or court.

That’s because an SR-22 is typically required of someone who has been caught driving without a license or insurance. It is also required of drivers who have received a conviction for DUI or DWI.

There are other scenarios where you might be required to get an SR-22. This includes being caught driving without sufficient insurance, committing too many offenses over a short period of time, having multiple violations or at-fault accidents, having a hardship license, and failing to pay child support as ordered by the court.

The following is a list of insurance carriers or agencies that offer SR-22 coverage:

• 21st Century
• Allstate
• Dairyland Insurance
• Freeway Insurance
• Geico
• Infinity Insurance
• Liberty Mutual
• Nationwide Insurance
• SafeAuto
• State Farm
• Progressive
• USAA

Understanding the SR-22 insurance requirements is very important because you must obtain the relevant paperwork as soon as possible. If you have been ordered to get an SR-22 and fail to do so, it can cause some very severe penalties.

The exact nature of the penalties depends on the state you live in. But an SR-22 violation in any state can easily lead to a suspension of your license.

Additionally, you may not be able to register a vehicle if you do not have an SR-22 on file. Between the registration freeze and the license suspension, a lack of SR-22 can very easily keep you from driving. This, in turn, can affect things like your employment and education.

The biggest penalty for an SR-22 violation, though, comes in the form of fees and additional costs. You will eventually need to get the SR-22 to get back on the road, and you may need to pay significant fees to get it reinstated after it has lapsed. You may also need to pay more for insurance, and it will take longer for you to be removed from your high-risk status.

One of the primary reasons drivers need to get an SR-22 is because they have been convicted of a DUI. Local and state governments take this so seriously because of the large number of fatalities and accidents caused every year by drunk drivers.

According to the CDC, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2016 alone. By their calculations, this accounted for 28% of all traffic fatalities that year.

The reason for this is the sheer number of DUI cases reported each year. The CDC found that a million drivers were arrested and found to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. And that is a tiny number compared to the 111 million “self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving” that occur every year.

While driving under the influence of drugs is a major issue, it only accounted for 16% of motor vehicle crashes. The CDC found that the overwhelming percentage (84%) of these crashes were caused by driving while intoxicated.

At what point does someone become an alcohol-impaired driver? The exact legal limits vary from state to state. However, governmental research has found that there are more fatalities when a driver has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. Therefore, a driver is considered alcohol-impaired under these conditions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 8,027 driver fatalities in 2008 involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher. Additionally, there were 1,875 passenger deaths where the driver was alcohol-impaired. Finally, there were 1,179 occupants of other vehicles who died in these crashes and 692 non-occupants.

This meant at least 11,773 people died that year due to alcohol-impaired drivers. This accounted for 32% of all motor vehicle crashes in the United States that year.

What is the exact punishment for a DUI? As you might expect, the exact punishment varies from state to state. But there are a few common factors when it comes to punishment.

The first factor is jail time. While some states such as Pennsylvania will not jail first-time DUI offenders, most states classify a DUI as a misdemeanor that requires 6-12 months in jail.

The minimum jail time usually increases for repeat violations, though the maximum jail time is usually still one year. But the minimum and/or maximum amounts may be higher if the driver has a very high BAC.

If you hurt or kill someone due to a DUI, it may be classified as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. In this case, a violation can require multiple years in prison.

You are considered alcohol-impaired if you have a BAC of .08 or higher. The table below provides additional information about different BAC levels and how they may affect your behavior.

.01 – .03: At this point, you may only feel pleasantly “buzzed.”

.04 – .06: You will feel warm and relaxed but may not be thinking quite as clearly as usual.

.07 – .09: At this point, your motor control, balance, vision, and speech are all impaired. It is not safe to drive in this BAC range or higher.

.10 – .12: Impairment is enhanced and paired with poor judgment. Some drinkers begin slurring their words at this stage.

.13 – .15: Very severe motor control impairment. Blurred vision is likely, and balance impairment is worse. Additionally, you may start feeling restless or anxious instead of feeling good.

.16 – .20: You may be nauseated at this point, and those feelings of restlessness and anxiety are likely to be getting worse. At this point, others can easily tell that you are very impaired.

.25 – .30: You are likely to be very sick (including vomiting) and need help walking. Intense confusion is common at this stage.

.35 – .40 and beyond: At this stage, you may pass out or even enter into a comatose state.

To increase awareness about DUI and the dangers of impaired driving, the National Safety Council provides informational materials and specialized training. They also sponsor Distracted Driving Awareness month each year.

There are many non-profits dedicated to fighting the practice of drunk driving. And one of the largest non-profits is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

MADD provides great resources to help you learn more about drunk driving. Additionally, they provide opportunities for you to get the help you need to put impaired driving in your own rearview mirror.

If you receive a DUI conviction, there is more to it than penalties and the need for an SR-22. You may also be ordered to attend a DUI school.

DUI schools are non-profits that provide drug and alcohol education to the community. DUI offenders must often enroll in one of these schools and complete a short program before they can get their license reinstated.

Most DUI schools have two areas of focus. This includes a program for first-time offenders and a program for multiple offenders.

When your license is reinstated after a DUI conviction, it may come with an additional requirement. Specifically, the court may order that your car be fitted with a special interlock device.

The interlock device attaches to your car and comes with a breathalyzer. And thanks to the device, you won’t be able to start the car unless you blow into the breathalyzer and prove that you are not impaired at that time.

The exact interlock device requirements vary from state to state. Fortunately, these requirements are not permanent. You can usually have the device removed after a certain amount of time, though multiple offenses will increase the amount of time the device is legally required.

If you have more questions about DUIs, SR-22s, and everything related, we can help.

SR-22 Adviser is your resource for navigating the often-confusing world of SR-22 insurance. When you’re ready to get back on the road, contact our insurance partner online or over the phone at 877-822-2049 to get a quote that you can afford.