Does SR-22 cover any car I drive?

SR-22 insurance covers the cost of other people’s injuries and property damage after accidents that you cause, and it does not cover damage to your own vehicle. If the court or state tells you that you need SR-22 insurance certification, your minimum coverage requirements are still the same as for any other resident.… read full answer

SR-22 is actually the name of the form the court or state requires from drivers convicted of certain violations, such as DUI/DWIs, reckless driving, and driving without a license or insurance. The SR-22 must be filled in by your insurance company and certifies that you have the legally required coverage.

What SR-22 Insurance Covers Depending on State

Many states only require liability insurance. In these states, SR-22 insurance covers the costs of the other driver’s injuries or property damage if you’re at fault in an accident. Some states, like Florida and Michigan, also require Personal Injury Protection, which pays medical expenses for you and your passengers. States such as New Jersey and New York mandate uninsured or underinsured motorist protection, as well. This kind of insurance pays for your losses if another driver is at fault and either has no/low liability insurance or is a hit-and-run driver.

SR-22 Insurance Limits

Like all insurance, SR-22 insurance policies are written with limits. These limits are the maximum amounts the insurance company will pay out for losses. The coverage limits for your SR-22 insurance policy will follow the requirements of the state in which you were convicted or now live, whichever are higher.

Even though it’s minimal, SR-22 coverage can be expensive. The violation you committed will put you into the insurance company’s high-risk pool of drivers. This can raise your insurance costs 25% or more.

No, you cannot get an SR-22 without insurance. An SR-22 is a form verifying that a high-risk driver has the minimum amount of car insurance required by their state, and it has to be filed with the state DMV by the driver’s insurance company. After the SR-22 is filed, drivers need to maintain their coverage for 1-5 years, depending on the state.… read full answer

If you need an SR-22 and you don’t already have an active car insurance policy, you should start shopping around for coverage. Even if you don’t own a car and don’t plan on driving, you still need insurance coverage in order to fulfill your state’s requirement. This can be done through a non-owner SR-22 policy.

Keep in mind that because an SR-22 designates you as high-risk, you should expect to pay more for coverage than the average driver. But if you don’t file an SR-22 at all, you will be unable to reinstate your license or registration after being convicted of a serious moving violation.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to SR-22 insurance.