Getting a SR-22 Insurance Quote

What happens when you get a DUI or accumulate too many serious traffic citations? These factors can affect your ability to keep your driver’s license and raise the cost of your car insurance. Depending on your state’s laws, you might also have to obtain an SR-22 policy to prove that you have the required insurance coverage.

Read on to find out where you can get SR-22 insurance quotes and what it means for your record — and your pocketbook.

An SR-22, also known as a certificate of financial responsibility or FR-44 (depending on the state), is a certificate of insurance filed within the state you live to show that you meet the minimum car liability insurance requirements.

Although most people refer to it as SR-22 insurance, in reality, it’s just a document provided by the insurance company that proves you meet your state’s car insurance coverage requirements for a certain period of time. In relation to the SR-22 state filing, the insurance company keeps the state updated on your car insurance policy, its renewals, and its cancellations. The state will normally require you to file it for a few years to ensure that insurance is maintained in good standing.

While SR-22 insurance isn’t actually insurance, it’s more of a type of coverage to fulfill the law of financial responsibility. Plus, SR-22 is the exact title of the form, also known as a “Certificate of Financial Responsibility” or an “SR-22 Certificate.” Specifically, the initials stand for “Safety Responsibility.”

An SR-22 provides proof you have insurance when you have engaged in behavior such as reckless driving or driving while intoxicated. One important bit of advice to acquaint yourself with the regulations for SR-22 filing is the timespan of its validity. Most often, regulations vary from one state to the next, so you will need to check on your local laws.

The purpose of the SR-22 insurance policy is to cover any liabilities or property damages resulting from an accident in which the insured driver is involved. In other words, it covers the driver’s obligation if he or she caused the accident. This is why it is commonly considered a financial responsibility that is required in most states.

However, it won’t necessarily cover the entire cost of the replacement or repair of the insured person’s car or the other vehicle involved in the accident.

An SR-22 is usually ordered by a court or state. You may need SR-22 coverage if you have one of these driving violations or have dealt with other legal issues:

• A DWI or a DUI conviction
• Serious and/or repeated traffic violations
• Causing too many collisions
• Causing a car accident while driving without insurance
• Driving after your license has been revoked or suspended
• Possessing a hardship license, such as a temporary license that severely limits your driving hours because of revocation or suspension of your driver’s license
• Not paying child support that has been court-ordered or not paying it on time

Since these offenses require SR-22 coverage, the change usually results in the surcharge of your auto insurance. However, your state might also require SR-22 for reasons not listed above. You might also require SR-22 if you have several incidents pile up over time, but the rules differ for every state.

Not all auto insurance companies offer SR-22 quotes. If you work through an agent, they will provide options for you, but if you are looking on your own, do your research and contact insurance companies to find out their coverage options.

You will need to check with your insurance company who already has your policy. Since not all companies offer an SR-22 policy, you can ask your agent if he or she knows of a company that offers this coverage. Also, you might need to do some research on the internet (for example, an SR-22 Insurance Company List) or call some of your local insurance companies to see who offers this service.

If you need to file an SR-22, you’ve most likely been charged with a serious violation and, as a result, have been stamped as a high risk. This higher perceived risk results in higher insurance rates. But you can take a few measures to lower your rates gradually. Some of these steps involve:

• Taking a driving course. Sometimes, this class could decrease the points on your driving record and help you get a discount through your insurer.
• Maintaining a clean driving record. Once you have established a consistent history of low risk, your rates will decrease.
• Buying a less expensive vehicle and staying clear of sports cars.
• Considering non-owners car insurance coverage. Perhaps you don’t own a car, but you still have to keep a driver’s license. Non-owner car insurance coverage can be helpful if there’s a car you can borrow from a friend or relative. There are also many rental or sharing programs in metropolitan areas that can help reduce your cost.
• Comparing SR-22 quotes from various companies. Each company has its own process of evaluating a driver that might help you find a difference in hundreds of dollars from one SR-22 quote to the next.
• Closely reviewing each SR-22 quote, especially if you think your rates are too high. If your insurer allows you to keep your policy with an increased premium, you might need to compare quotes from other insurance companies.

Just because your agent offers SR-22 policies for high-risk drivers, it doesn’t guarantee the lowest price. So, asking many questions and doing research will pay off in the long term for getting the best quote and choosing what’s best for you.

On average, the cost of an SR-22 is $230. However, when you’re looking at a policy that’s connected with an SR-22, you don’t have a specific set premium. Instead, the cost is determined by factors similar to those used when calculating an insurance rate. These include:

• Driving record
• Geographical location
• Risk (driving habits)
• The type of vehicle

To obtain an accurate quote, you still need to talk to your insurance agent to find out if your company offers SR-22 coverage.

If you don’t own a car and have been ordered to obtain an SR-22, you can research non-owner car insurance. At some point, you might have to drive and will need to fulfill your state’s requirements for financial responsibility. In this situation, you will have met your state’s minimum liability for car insurance.

Some states don’t require a driver to take out an SR-22 policy. These include:

• New Mexico
• Delaware
• Minnesota
• North Carolina
• New York
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Kentucky

There is a catch, however. If you move out of a state that requires SR-22 to another state that does not require it, you still have to fulfill the requirement of your previous place of residence that involves filing in that location.

On the other hand, if you move from a state that doesn’t mandate SR-22 coverage to a state that does require it, you won’t have to file.

You should check with your state’s DMV to find out more information on any changes to the laws. Plus, you should also be aware that some states charge a fee for filing for SR-22. Again, checking with your state’s DMV would be wise.

When you miss a payment on your SR-22 or cannot maintain the coverage, you’ll get penalized. If this happens, your insurance agent has to report it to the DMV. This situation could lead to your license getting suspended and a possibility of the DMV revoking your license, which renders you unable to drive.

Having as much information as possible is key to dealing with the regulations relating to SR-22. Our insurance partner can help you find SR-22 quotes the will gauge affordability and what to expect price-wise. You can also give them a call at 877-822-2049

Do you have more questions about SR-22? Explore our guides and tips to learn more!