What will happen next if you have repetitive traffic violations or engage in reckless driving within a short time? There is a high chance that your driving license will be suspended temporarily or revoked.
In such a case, you might need SR-22 insurance to confirm sufficient coverage before getting your license back. Obtaining such coverage helps avoid hefty penalties associated with coverage gaps during a license suspension.
What is SR-22 insurance, and how does it work? Discover the basics of SR-22 insurance, including its definition, function, and SR-22 insurance requirements by state.
SR-22 Insurance Form: Everything You Need to Know
What Is SR-22 Insurance?
Untrue to its name, SR-22 insurance is not a form of insurance but a certificate of financial responsibility verifying that the policyholder has purchased law-required minimum liability auto coverage following their license suspension.
Liability coverage varies from state to state but typically includes bodily injury and property liability coverage. This ensures the driver is financially protected against legal liability if they cause injury to another driver or damage someone else’s property.
Except for New Hampshire, drivers in all states of the U.S. must carry liability coverage in addition to their primary coverage when operating on the road.
Types of SR-22 Insurance Forms
Depending on the situation, a driver can file one of the following types of SR-22 insurance:
- Owner forms are for drivers who own their cars.
- Non-owner or operator forms are for drivers who don’t have a car but rent or borrow a car for commuting.
- Owner-operator forms are for drivers who drive their own cars and cars owned by others.
How Does SR-22 Insurance Work?
Drivers convicted of serious traffic violations and qualifying offenses are required to get SR-22 insurance.
Following a license suspension or revocation, you will receive a court order to obtain an SR-22 document within a time period.
Typically, it is your responsibility to file the form. Still, you may request your current insurer to directly submit the form on your behalf to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Not every insurance company offers SR-22 insurance, so you might want to shop around for a new policy.
Who Is Likely to Need an SR-22 Insurance Form
After repeated moving offenses, you might need an SR-22 insurance form to reinstate your driving privileges once the suspension period expires.
Here are common reasons you might need SR-22 insurance:
- You have been convicted of a DUI, DWI, and other serious violations.
- You have got repetitive traffic fines within a short time frame.
- You have lapses in auto coverage.
- You have had your license suspended or revoked.
- You have caused too many accidents.
- You are at fault for an accident while driving uninsured.
- You didn’t fulfill court-order child support.
How Much Does SR-22 Insurance Cost?
Aside from monthly premiums, you may be responsible for the filing fee, mainly if your insurer handles the paperwork. Again, the one-time filing fee may vary from one insurer to another, averaging between $15 and $50.
Despite being created for high-risk drivers, SR-22 insurance is relatively less expensive than other types of insurance. However, the cost may largely depend on insurers, states, and some determining factors.
In addition to determining factors like age, sex, driving record, marital status, car make and model, and financial status, insurance companies may assess your driving record and the type of event or violation resulting in your SR-22 requirement to calculate premium rates.
The more serious the violation, the higher the policy premiums. In other words, DUI/DWI or multiple infractions can drive up policy premiums. For example, drivers with a DUI/DWI are more likely to pay higher policy premiums than drivers with repetitive speeding tickets. To get the best rates, shopping around and asking for as many quotes as possible is crucial.
According to the national analysis of mandated SR-22 insurance forms for drivers convicted of a DUI, Idaho has the cheapest annual rate at $2,174. Conversely, drivers from expensive states must pay twice the amount. For example, the cost of SR-22 insurance for drivers from California is $5,593, and for New York is $4,840, respectively.
| State | Average annual cost with a DUI & SR-22 |
| Alabama | $3,250 |
| Alaska | $3,036 |
| Arizona | $3,414 |
| Arkansas | $3,451 |
| California | $5,593 |
| Colorado | $3,882 |
| Connecticut | $3,130 |
| Delaware | $3,883 |
| Florida | $4,717 |
| Georgia | $3,689 |
| Hawaii | $3,208 |
| Idaho | $2,174 |
| Illinois | $3,419 |
| Indiana | $3,015 |
| Iowa | $2,709 |
| Kansas | $3,318 |
| Kentucky | $4,677 |
| Louisiana | $5,402 |
| Maine | $2,340 |
| Maryland | $3,781 |
| Massachusetts | $3,542 |
| Michigan | $5,397 |
| Minnesota | $3,328 |
| Mississippi | $3,173 |
| Missouri | $3,413 |
| Montana | $3,100 |
| Nebraska | $3,368 |
| Nevada | $3,705 |
| New Hampshire | $3,109 |
| New Jersey | $4,095 |
| New Mexico | $2,902 |
| New York | $4,840 |
| North Carolina | $5,093 |
| North Dakota | $3,180 |
| Ohio | $2,718 |
| Oklahoma | $3,363 |
| Oregon | $2,948 |
| Pennsylvania | $3,708 |
| Rhode Island | $4,055 |
| South Carolina | $3,949 |
| South Dakota | $3,271 |
| Tennessee | $3,079 |
| Texas | $3,583 |
| Utah | $3,417 |
| Vermont | $2,663 |
| Virginia | $2,797 |
| Washington | $2,666 |
| West Virginia | $3,221 |
| Wisconsin | $2,799 |
| Wyoming | $2,540 |
How to Get SR-22 Insurance?
Getting an SR-22 insurance form is easy. While you can file the form all by yourself using simple guidance from the court order, it is possible to touch base with your insurer to let them know that you need SR-22 insurance, and they should take care of the paperwork for you with a minimal fee, as discussed above.
If you do not have a car insurance policy, you will need to get a new one before filing for the SR-22 insurance form.
How Long Does SR-22 Last?
The requirement for SR-22 insurance lasts at least three years, and no reapplication is needed.
If you have a clean record with no violations during that set period, you will no longer have to carry your SR-22 after that period expires. Conversely, your time to file SR-22 insurance may be extended if you keep paying no mind to your surroundings while driving.
The form doesn’t automatically lapse even if you stop paying premiums. Instead, it remains on DMV or BMV files until the insurer or policyholder cancels it. It is important to keep up with the form and be sure to ask your insurer to help remove it when the time comes.
Aside from the SR-22 form, Florida and Virginia have a similar form of financial responsibility called FR-44 which requires drivers to get more liability coverage than minimum amounts.
SR-22 Insurance Requirements By States
| State | SR-22 Insurance Required? |
| Alabama | Yes |
| Alaska | Yes |
| Arizona | Yes |
| Arkansas | Yes |
| California | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes |
| Connecticut | Yes |
| Delaware | No |
| Florida | Yes |
| Georgia | Yes |
| Hawaii | Yes |
| Idaho | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes |
| Kentucky | No |
| Louisiana | Yes |
| Maine | Yes |
| Maryland | No |
| Massachusetts | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes |
| Minnesota | No |
| Mississippi | Yes |
| Missouri | Yes |
| Montana | Yes |
| Nebraska | Yes |
| Nevada | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes |
| New Jersey | No |
| New Mexico | No |
| New York | No |
| North Carolina | No |
| North Dakota | Yes |
| Ohio | Yes |
| Oklahoma | No |
| Oregon | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | No |
| Rhode Island | No |
| South Carolina | Yes |
| South Dakota | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes |
| Texas | Yes |
| Utah | Yes |
| Vermont | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes |
| Washington | Yes |
| West Virginia | No |
| Wisconsin | Yes |
| Wyoming | Yes |
If you have any questions about SR-22 insurance, please contact us for a free consultation.
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