Contrary to popular belief, SR 22 is not an auto insurance policy. It is essentially a document submitted with the state by an auto insurance provider to certify that a person has an insurance scheme in place. It also implies that this individual satisfies the required liability limits or financial obligation standards of the state.
The "SR" in SR 22 stands for "safety responsibility." An SR 22 insurance form is also often referred to as an insurance certificate or a financial responsibility filing.
Every state has various criteria for auto insurance policies, but usually, a court or state will need an SR 22 insurance form to be filled out if:
It's essential to maintain a clean driving record once you reclaim your driving privileges. Your SR 22 insurance form is in order and has been submitted. Your car insurance provider is supposed to alert the authority of your state whether your SR 22 insurance policy is discontinued, lapses, or expires. (They can do this by issuing an SR 26 form certifying the policy's cancellation.) Failure to do so could see your license being revoked again, or worse, more drastic steps may be taken by the state that would hinder your right to drive.
There is a charge for filing an SR 22 insurance form in most jurisdictions, which is typically about $25. However, it may be higher in your state. You will be needed to buy more than the minimum liability limits, depending on the sort of financial liability certificate you require. Expect the rates to be more for this. Your rate will rely on and differ depending on your individual circumstances. Start online or over the phone with an insurance estimate to get a clearer picture of the expenses involved in submitting an SR 22 insurance form.
If you already have an SR 22 insurance form filed in one state but you are going to another state, you'll need to get in touch with your insurance agent at the earliest. You are required to maintain the SR 22 for the state in which you first submitted the SR 22 insurance document. Keep in mind that you will also need to uphold the SR 22 provisions to ensure sure the car insurance policy actually follows the new state's specific minimum coverage standards. Your auto insurance provider will help you take care of this.
As long as you have the insurance policies in place, and until you no longer have the certificate on paper, the SR 22 insurance document will remain valid. If your SR 22 cancels, lapses, or expires whilst you are already expected to have one in place, the insurance provider is obligated to alert the authorities in the state. You will forfeit your driving rights again if you refuse to uphold your insurance policy. What's more, the state will take further legal action against you. It's always better for the whole mandated amount of time to retain the SR 22 and ensure a timely renewal.
State regulations may be confusing when it comes to SR 22 insurance documents. This is why having accurate advice and assistance from licensed insurance brokers at credible SR 22 insurance firms is so critical. Taking the advice of your insurance agent or insurance company will help prevent the loss of any driving privileges. What's more, you'll get easy access to an authorized cheap SR 22 insurance package from seasoned brokers who can get you a good deal.
An SR-22 insurance form is not necessarily an auto insurance policy, although it is often referred to as "SR-22 insurance". It is an official declaration to show that you have acquired the minimum liability insurance needed in your jurisdiction. It is often also called a certificate of financial responsibility.
Insurance providers assure your state's motor vehicle or insurance agency via an SR-22 insurance document that you can maintain coverage for a certain amount of time. The insurance can warn the state if you don't, and the driver's license could be revoked or canceled.
After severe or repetitive offenses, an SR-22 insurance document helps you maintain or reinstate your driving rights. You will need to have an SR-22 insurance document in place if:
You could be ordered to file a similar form called FR-44 on such prosecutions in Florida and Virginia, which allows a greater degree of liability coverage than the state's minimum. An SR-22 or FR-44 is not needed by all states. If you need one, you can get more information about it from your state's motor vehicle department or traffic court.
The protocol for procuring an SR-22 insurance document may vary by state, but here's how it normally unfolds. Start by calling the car insurance agent when you are told that you need an SR-22. Few insurers don't sell this program, but for a business that does, it's best to shop around a bit.
If you do not already have car insurance in place, in order to have your driving rights returned, you would need to purchase a new policy. The insurer may ask you to pay 6 or 12 months' worth of the whole premium upfront. The insurance firm will then file the SR-22 insurance report with your state's traffic authority.
SR-22 insurance document filing is usually provided by insurers who specialize in services for high-risk drivers. Some of these companies include:
SR-22 forms are also sold by many of the major automobile insurance providers, including:
It usually costs around $25 to file an SR-22 insurance document with the state, but that one-time charge is not the only additional expense you may face. Insurance quotes can be higher than average when you need an SR-22 insurance document. That depends on where you live and the type of violation that led to your SR-22. Depending on the auto insurance company you choose, insurance quotes can also vary. It's important to compare offers from different insurers to get the best deal that works for you.
In most states, drivers must file an SR-22 for at least three years. As long as you don't get pulled over during that time, you won't have to keep an SR-22 on file after that time is up. But if you break the law again in a serious way, your time to file may be extended. In 12 states, you don't need an SR-22 or an FR-44.
There are some exceptions to keep in mind.
In Massachusetts, drivers who have to file an SR-22 in another state are the only ones who can do so. It depends on the state where the driver was found guilty.
After a DUI in Florida or Virginia, a driver must file an FR-44 instead of an SR-22. An FR-44 is like an SR-22 in that it proves that a driver has insurance but requires higher coverage limits than the state minimum.
| State | SR-22 Required? | Cheapest company | Yearly Rate After a DUI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Progressive | $1,696 |
| Alaska | Yes | Allstate | $2,548 |
| Arizona | Yes | Nationwide | $2,613 |
| Arkansas | Yes | Allstate | $2,693 |
| California | Yes | State Farm | $4,525 |
| Colorado | Yes | State Farm | $3,266 |
| Connecticut | Yes | Allstate | $2,602 |
| Delaware | No | Progressive | $2,642 |
| District of Columbia | Yes | Allstate | $2,986 |
| Florida | Yes | State Farm | $4,136 |
| Georgia | Yes | Country Financial | $2,795 |
| Hawaii | Yes | State Farm | $3,213 |
| Idaho | Yes | Allstate | $1,653 |
| Illinois | Yes | Country Financial | $1,624 |
| Indiana | Yes | Allstate | $2,194 |
| Iowa | Yes | Nationwide | $2,173 |
| Kansas | Yes | Farm Bureau | $2,321 |
| Kentucky | No | Allstate | $3,199 |
| Louisiana | Yes | Nationwide | $4,852 |
| Maine | Yes | Nationwide | $2,927 |
| Maryland | No | Progressive | $3,040 |
| Massachusetts | Yes | Farmers | $1,577 |
| Michigan | Yes | Nationwide | $7,007 |
| Minnesota | No | Allstate | $2,891 |
| Mississippi | Yes | Nationwide | $3,591 |
| Missouri | Yes | Farm Bureau | $2,322 |
| Montana | Yes | Nationwide | $2,409 |
| Nebraska | Yes | Farm Bureau | $3,699 |
| Nevada | Yes | Nationwide | $2,254 |
| New Hampshire | Yes | Allstate | $3,106 |
| New Jersey | No | Progressive | $1,453 |
| New Mexico | No | Nationwide | $3,453 |
| New York | No | American Family | $2,308 |
| North Carolina | No | Farm Bureau | $3,797 |
| North Dakota | Yes | Nationwide | $2,296 |
| Ohio | Yes | Allstate | $1,762 |
| Oklahoma | No | Farmers | $2,631 |
| Oregon | Yes | Farm Bureau | $2,203 |
| Pennsylvania | No | State Farm | $2,498 |
| Rhode Island | No | Farm Bureau | $2,898 |
| South Carolina | Yes | Allstate | $2,437 |
| South Dakota | Yes | Nationwide | $2,396 |
| Tennessee | Yes | Farm Bureau | $2,163 |
| Texas | Yes | State Farm | $3,027 |
| Utah | Yes | Allstate | $2,481 |
| Vermont | Yes | Progressive | $2,054 |
| Virginia | Yes | Nationwide | $1,784 |
| Washington | Yes | State Farm | $2,304 |
| West Virginia | No | Allstate | $2,923 |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Farm Bureau | $2,192 |
| Wyoming | Yes | Nationwide | $2,973 |
If you move to another state, you must take your SR-22 insurance. Even if you move to a state that doesn't require SR-22 insurance, you will still have to follow the rules of your old state. To get your insurance transferred, you will need to find an auto insurance company in your new state that can also file SR-22 forms in your old state.
Because the laws of each state are distinct, the essential thing to keep in mind is to adhere to the prerequisites set forth by the state in which you initially submitted an SR-22 form.
In other words: If you move to another state, your SR-22 needs will follow you. Your new auto insurance company must be licensed in your old and new states. If you don't meet your SR-22 requirements, your auto insurance rates could go up, and your license could be removed.
Some states might not need you to submit a new SR-22 form; rather, they can ask you to submit an affidavit declaring that you will continue to maintain the SR-22 on file in the state where it was initially issued.
Even if you move to a state that does not use SR-22s, you are still obligated to keep your SR-22 on file where it was originally issued for as long as the original state requires it.
Some states demand that you pay additional fees, obtain additional insurance, and file your SR-22 form with them again.
Can you cancel your SR22 insurance if you have an active SR-22 certificate and move to another state? No, you cannot. Getting a driver's license or car insurance in the new state will be hard. You must keep paying your SR-22 insurance premiums for as long as possible. If you didn't get the SR-22 insurance you needed from another company, the new state could take away your driving privileges as a punishment for your lack of coverage.
If you look around, you can find cheap SR-22 car insurance, even if you still need it. Rates vary from company to company, so shopping around will help you find the best deal.
In pursuit of a cheap SR-22 insurance document? Insurance providers who gave you a low rate may not be able to give you the best rate after you've filed an SR-22 insurance document. Your location and state you're in matters.
Consider a driver with a recent DUI as an example. That is a violation that could result in an obligatory filing of an SR-22 insurance document. A recent study shows that for 40-year-old drivers with a new DUI, insurance premiums were cheapest on average for firms selling an SR-22 insurance document from American Family. However, if the individual lived in Idaho, 40-year-old drivers with a DUI will obtain better prices on average from Safeco than American Families.
Therefore, it's prudent to search around and find the right car insurance rate for you after a DUI or other violation that results in an SR-22 insurance document requirement.
With regard to an SR-22 insurance document, you'll notice that the existing insurer cancels your plan or refuses to extend your policy. You may also be refused benefits by insurance agencies that specialize in protecting high-risk drivers. You should turn to the state's high-risk insurance pool in this situation. To start, locate your state in the Car Insurance Plan Service Office directory.
You will require an SR-22 insurance document or FR-44 filed on your behalf to get your driver's license restored even if you do not own a vehicle. When you purchase non-owner auto insurance, certain auto insurers can file it for you. This insurance will cover whatever accidents you're involved in, even if it is a car you have leased or rented or when driving a vehicle that you don't own.
Non-owner policies can also help you to prevent policy lapses. Drivers with a coverage deficit will pay higher premiums when they are perceived as a liability by insurers. If you don't have a coverage break, after the SR-22 insurance document requirement is over, you'll get access to better deals on auto insurance.
In most states, the requirement for an SR-22 insurance document lasts three years. Your insurer is supposed to warn the state of your coverage lapses when you have an SR-22, and if it has lapsed, your license will be revoked.
The SR-22 would not immediately come off your insurance coverage until the mandate expires. Be sure to let the insurance provider know that you don't need it anymore. This is also a good opportunity for you to browse for the best insurance deals. Rates usually stay high until you've caused an injury or had a driving offense for three or five years. You could see lower prices if you shop around just after the three and five-year period.
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
For "high-risk" drivers, the SR-22 (also known as a certificate of insurance or a financial responsibility file) is a vehicle liability insurance endorsement needed by most state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices. SR-22 is not a genuine insurance policy, contrary to popular belief. A file, or add-on, to a personal car liability insurance policy is an SR-22.
If you've been convicted of DUI, DWI, or any significant traffic infraction, you may be forced to have an SR-22. While driving without insurance, you caused an accident. You've received an excessive number of traffic violations in a short period, such as three or more speeding tickets in the last six months.
SR22 insurance firms charge a one-time filing fee of $25, and this is the usual SR22 insurance rate. Your auto insurance rate will be affected by the violation that resulted in an SR22 requirement. In other words, it's your infraction, not the SR22, that'll raise your charges.
The SR-22 filing is usually available from insurance companies that specialize in coverage for high-risk drivers. They are as follows: 21st Century, Dairyland, Direct Auto, Gainsco, Infinity, Kemper, National General, Safe Auto, Allstate, American Family, Progressive, State Farm, and USAA.
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