What is SR-22 Insurance and Who Needs It?
If you have been arrested for a DUI or some other traffic violation involving an accident that requires you to show proof of responsibility you likely have been asked to obtain what is called an SR-22.
What is an SR-22? Simply put, an SR-22 is a document that you must obtain to show financial responsibility that is ordered by the court or under state law. An SR-22 isn’t a type of automobile insurance, so keep that in mind. An SR-22 is, once again, a document that offers proof that you are carrying liability insurance; it is a form, which must be filed by your insurance company to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles showing that you are carrying auto liability insurance.
Typically, an SR 22 form will be required when you attempt to obtain insurance after a DUI, DWI, or some other kind of accident when there is a conviction of a traffic violation and you were unable to show financial responsibility, or if a judge orders you to obtain one for other purposes.
It is important to keep in mind that the requirements for showing proof of liability insurance, or an SR 22 liability form, vary from state to state, and each state has its own requirements for obtaining an SR-22 form and for how long it must remain in effect.
Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania don’t require SR-22s, but if you have an SR-22 and then move to one of these states, you must continue to meet the requirements of the SR-22 state where the offense was committed.
New York and North Carolina do not require SR-22 documentation and most insurance companies do not offer out-of-state SR-22, and most companies don’t offer out-of-state SR-22 filings for policies in these states.
If you currently carry an SR-22 in one state but move to another state, you must fulfill the SR-22 filing period for your former state, even though you no longer reside there. Also, your insurance policy for your new state must have liability limits which meet the minimum requirements by law in your former (SR-22) state.
You can only get an SR-22 form from an insurance company that is filed with the state to issue SR-22s. Most states list SR-22 status on your driving record, so law enforcement always run a check to find out if you have a court-ordered requirement to obtain and keep one.
Typically, it is the state motor vehicle department enforcing the requirement, not the police, but if you are arrested while driving without proof of insurance and liability under your SR-22 guidelines, your fines for that arrest and penalties could be much more severe than they otherwise would be.
Likely, your license will have either been suspended or revoked if you have been ordered to carry an SR-22 document on your insurance policy, and you will not be able to drive a car until your license is reinstated. Under most suspension or revocation conditions, you will need to prove that you have liability insurance prior to having your license reinstated. In order to prove you have the required insurance, your auto insurance company submit the SR-22 form on your behalf.
In addition to the fines you would be likely ordered to pay for the traffic violation, DUI classes and other fees, the SR-22 document by nature makes obtaining liability insurance more expensive than it normally would be. The SR-22 requirement may be imposed on you for different periods of time, depending on the state you live in and the related traffic violation. For example, in California, if you are arrested for a DUI, you would likely be expected to hold an SR-22 document on your insurance policy for a minimum of seven years. This time frame can also increase for second, third and multiple offenses.
Even if you do not own a vehicle, you can be ordered to obtain and show proof of liability insurance by filing an SR-22 form with an auto insurance company to certify that you have the ability to pay any future claims up.
If this pertains to your situation, you would be required to purchase what is called non-owners SR-22 documentation. Your car would not be covered by an SR22 or a non-owners policy. Many readers get confused and believe that a non-owners liability policy is the magic bullet of coverage. I t is not, it only covers liability up to the limits purchased. It does not cover the vehicle that you are driving, but only the liability that the driver may cause.
To know more about California Auto Insurance please browse California Auto Insurance
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