Why would you need an SR-22? This question is about SR-22 Insurance Guide

You need an SR-22 if you were convicted of a serious moving violation, such as reckless driving, DUI or driving without insurance. An SR-22 allows you to keep or reinstate your license after serious driving offenses and proves to the state that you have at least the minimum amount of car insurance required by law. It’s also referred to as a “Certificate of Financial Responsibility.” Why You Would Need an SR-22 You are convicted of DUI , DWI, hit and run, reckless driving, or other serious offenses You accumulate too many moving violations in a short period of time (four speeding tickets in 12 months, for example) You are caught driving without the required amount of insurance You need to get a suspended license reinstated Drivers who need their insurance company to file an SR-22 with the state on their behalf are considered high-risk and often pay above-average rates . The amount of time you’re required to have an SR-22 on your insurance varies by state but is generally around three years. If you practice safe driving, you will begin to see your insurance premiums decrease after that. To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to SR-22 insurance .

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Why would you need an SR-22?

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This question is about SR-22 Insurance Guide

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@WalletHub • 10/20/21 This answer was first published on 08/04/21 and it was last updated on 10/20/21.For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

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You need an SR-22 if you were convicted of a serious moving violation, such as reckless driving, DUI or driving without insurance. An SR-22 allows you to keep or reinstate your license after serious driving offenses and proves to the state that you have at least the minimum amount of car insurance required by law. It’s also referred to as a “Certificate of Financial Responsibility.”

Why You Would Need an SR-22

You are convicted of DUI, DWI, hit and run, reckless driving, or other serious offenses
You accumulate too many moving violations in a short period of time (four speeding tickets in 12 months, for example)
You are caught driving without the required amount of insurance
You need to get a suspended license reinstated

Drivers who need their insurance company to file an SR-22 with the state on their behalf are considered high-risk and often pay above-average rates. The amount of time you’re required to have an SR-22 on your insurance varies by state but is generally around three years. If you practice safe driving, you will begin to see your insurance premiums decrease after that.

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

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People also ask

How can you get an SR-22 removed?

To get an SR-22 removed, a driver needs to contact their insurance company once they are no longer required to have the SR-22 on file with their state DMV. While each state has its own rules for how long drivers must maintain an SR-22, it can usually be removed after 3-5 years. Since individual drivers do not handle SR-22 forms themselves, the insurance company will take care of the cancellation.… read full answer

You can contact your state’s DMV to find out exactly when your SR-22 filing period ends. Once you confirm that you no longer need an SR-22, you can call your insurance company and let them know. Your insurer will then notify the DMV that they have cancelled the SR-22 filing.

You should never try to remove your SR-22 before the state-mandated period ends. If the DMV finds out that you cancelled your SR-22 insurance early, you could face serious consequences that include a driver’s license suspension, vehicle registration suspension, and hefty fees. In addition, you will likely have to start the SR-22 filing period all over again.

Finally, if you cancel your SR-22 insurance because you are switching insurance companies, you should cancel the old policy a few days after the new one begins. It can take some time for your state DMV to receive the new filing, and having the policies overlap by a few days helps you avoid a lapse in SR-22 coverage.

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What's the difference between SR-22 and regular insurance?

The difference between SR-22 and regular insurance is that SR-22 insurance is for high-risk drivers who are convicted of major moving violations, while regular insurance is for anyone who drives a car. The underlying insurance coverage is the same, but the SR-22 designation will make that coverage more expensive. An SR-22 is a form that an insurer files with the state to show that a driver has the legally required amount of insurance. Regular insurance does not require any sort of form.… read full answer

Key Differences Between SR-22 Insurance and Regular Insurance

Category	SR-22 Insurance	Regular Insurance
Average Cost Per Year	$741 - $1,465	$720
Who Needs It?	High-risk drivers	Anyone who drives a car
Where Is It Required?	39 States and the District of Columbia	Every state, though some allow you to forgo it by showing proof of financial responsibility
How Long Is It Required?	1 to 5 years, on average	As long as you own and drive a car

People who drive under the influence, drive without insurance, or are habitual traffic law violators may end up needing an SR-22 to help reinstate their license or meet their state’s legal requirements. SR-22 insurance usually costs significantly more than regular insurance because of the high-risk designation that comes along with offenses such as DUI and reckless driving.

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

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How do I find out if I still need an SR-22?

To find out if you still need an SR-22, contact your local DMV office and ask if your SR-22 form has been filed for the required period of time. If it has, you can then contact your car insurance company and request that they remove your SR-22 filing with the state. Each state has its own requirements, but you usually only need an SR-22 for about … read full answer three years.

You should never cancel your SR-22 filing if the DMV says you still need it. Doing so would result in penalties such as driver’s license suspension, vehicle registration suspension, and hefty fees. In addition, you would likely need to start the SR-22 filing period all over again.

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