Consumers generally come across the term SR22 insurance when they are looking to earn back their driving privileges. Since the term generally only comes up in specific situations, there is a lot of confusion around what SR22 means and what the insurance options are.
If you’re in the process of earning back your driving privileges, you’re probably wondering what exactly SR22 insurance is and how SR22 insurance can help you. You want to get back on the road as soon as possible, and you need SR22 insurance to get you there.
Non-owner SR22 insurance allows those without a vehicle to satisfy the state’s SR22 requirement. It provides liability coverage for borrowing cars to regain driving privileges after an offense.
SR22 isn’t actually a type of insurance — it’s a form that your insurance provider must fill out and file as proof to the government that you’re adequately insured, so your driver’s license can be reinstated. You may also hear SR22 insurance referred to as an SR22 document, an SR22 certificate, an SR22 bond or a certification of financial responsibility. You may also see it written as SR-22 insurance or an SR-22 form. These terms are interchangeable, and all refer to the same thing.
An SR22 is a certificate your insurance provider files to the state on your behalf. Of course, your insurance provider must be willing and able to file this paperwork with the state to notify them that you have coverage, but not every insurance carrier offers SR22 filing with their insurance policies.
Insurance providers that do offer SR22 filing will keep the state updated on any renewals and cancellations of your auto insurance policy, as the state requires this for a few years following the incident that compromised your driving privileges. This is because the state wants to know that you remain in good standing with your insurance company and that you are keeping the state-mandated amount of insurance at all times.
With this filing, your insurance provider is informing the state that you are financially responsible and maintaining coverage for any accidents. Your provider will notify the state if you are not maintaining coverage.
How do you know if you or someone you know needs SR22 insurance? When your driving privileges are suspended, you’ll be informed by the court or the state that you’re required to file an SR22. When you receive this notification, you’ll be informed about why you are required to file an SR22, what the insurance requirements are, and how long this SR22 needs to stay on file with your state.
Common situations that require SR22 filing include:
Though many associate SR22 with a DUI, there are various reasons why a driver may be required to file an SR22. If you get too many points on your license after multiple small incidents or fail to pay court-ordered child support, for example, you may also be required to obtain SR22 coverage.
The Mandatory Insurance Law in Missouri requires that every driver must carry a minimum level of insurance coverage. If you fail to carry the proper amount of insurance coverage in Missouri, your license may be suspended, and you’ll be required to file an SR22.
If you want to get back to driving and the state requires that you file an SR22 form, this is a step that cannot be skipped. When you meet the SR22 requirement, you’ll make progress toward getting your license reinstated and returning to the road.
Is SR22 insurance the same as an SR22 certificate? Part of the confusion surrounding SR22 insurance is the many terms that insurance companies and states use to describe the same thing. SR22 insurance is the same as an SR22 certificate. These terms are also used synonymously with SR22 form and SR22 document. An SR22 form is also the same as a certificate of financial responsibility, often referred to as a CFR.
What about the FR44? It’s important for drivers to note that, though very similar, the FR44 and the SR22 are not the same. Where the FR44 differs is in its liability limit requirements, which are usually double the state minimum. For example, if the minimum liability limit in a state is $25,000 per person, the requirement with an FR44 would be $50,000 per person.
Once you’ve determined that you need SR22 insurance, you’ll need to know where to get SR22 insurance. The only way you can obtain an SR22 form is by purchasing a car insurance policy with an insurance company. An SR22 cannot be obtained in any other way. Fortunately, purchasing an auto insurance policy that includes filing an SR22 certificate isn’t complicated — or at least, it shouldn’t be with the right insurance carrier.
For an existing policy, you may be able to request that the SR22 is added on to your policy. Simply contact your insurance agent to make this request, and ask that they file an SR22 on your behalf.
Since many insurance companies don’t file SR22 and don’t want to insure a driver who has a serious driving infraction on their record, you may want or need to compare auto insurance quotes from different providers.
If you’re currently uninsured or your insurance provider doesn’t file SR22, you will need to purchase a new policy.
Depending on how you’re purchasing your policy, you can make the selection for this policy online or tell your insurance agent what you’re looking for. Your insurance provider should then handle the rest of the process. When purchasing insurance that includes SR22 filing, you may want to deal directly with your agent, as the process may move a little faster and you should be able to get a more accurate price.
Since SR22 fees are different for each state, you may need to wait for a precise rate if you purchase your auto insurance online. In fact, you may not know what the fee is until you’ve already purchased the policy. To be sure you’re getting the best insurance solution, you may want to meet with an insurance agent who has experience working with high-risk drivers and can get you the coverage options you seek.
After you select your auto insurance provider, the company will file the SR22 on your behalf.
If you don’t own a vehicle or have access to one, obtaining an SR22 can be trickier. You’ll need to provide proof of insurance to obtain an SR22 certificate, but how can you be insured if you don’t own a vehicle?
Fortunately, you may also be able to purchase non-owner auto insurance to satisfy the SR22 requirements. Because a non-owner auto insurance policy doesn’t protect against damage to a vehicle, this insurance policy is usually cheaper than standard coverage.
If your current insurance provider doesn’t offer SR22 insurance, you may be able to purchase a non-owner policy with SR22 insurance from a different company. Your original policy with your auto insurance provider is still your primary insurance, while your SR22 policy allows you to satisfy the SR22 requirement with the state without leaving your primary insurance provider.
As stated in the name, a non-owner policy will not cover any vehicles. You’ll be required to purchase the same liability limits from your primary policy on your SR22 policy.
Some drivers may not want to lose their primary insurance provider. This may be because they’re receiving excellent discounts, or they have bundled coverage with this provider. As such, purchasing a separate non-owner insurance policy to satisfy the SR22 requirement may be the best option for them.
The good news is you won’t need SR22 insurance forever. In fact, depending on the state, you’ll only need SR22 insurance for one to five years.
The length of time you’ll need SR22 insurance may also depend on the offense. Three years is the typically required length of time that you’ll need to have SR22 insurance as long as you don’t have any major violations during that timeframe. Depending on the state, this time period will start on the date of your offense, the date of your conviction, the date of your suspension or the date when your license is reinstated.
In Missouri, an SR22 certificate is needed for two years after you’ve been suspended due to a Motor Vehicle Accident Judgment. This time period begins the date that your driver’s license is suspended. If your license was suspended for Mandatory Insurance or False Insurance, you’re required to keep your SR22 certificate for three years. Depending on the exact circumstances of your situation, you may be required to carry an SR22 on file for a longer amount of time.
What if you just skip the insurance and choose not to drive for two or three years? Unfortunately, choosing not to drive won’t waive the SR22 requirement. After your three-year driving hiatus, you may return to the DMV to find that you still need to obtain an auto insurance policy with an SR22 for three years to reinstate your driver’s license.
Before canceling your insurance policy, know exactly how long you’re required to have SR22 insurance. If you cancel your policy with the SR22 filing before the required amount of time is up, your insurance provider will notify the state. Your license may then be suspended or revoked, and you may have to start over on the amount of time you’re required to have SR22 insurance.
If your SR22 certification expires, you may need to contact your insurance provider, so they can issue a new one.
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What if you move or you’re required to have SR22 insurance in a different state? SR22 insurance is not mandated across all states. SR22 insurance isn’t used in the following states:
But don’t think you’ll be able to get out of your SR22 requirement by moving to another state. The states that don’t require SR22 filing have their own insurance requirements and version of the form. One example is the FR44. In states like Virginia and Florida, the FR44 is required in place of the SR22. To obtain an FR44, you must carry coverage that totals twice the minimum liability limit of that state.
When you have an SR22 in one state and move to a different state, you’ll likely still be required to carry SR22 insurance in the state where you committed the offense. If you move, out-of-state SR22 filing will be required.
If you’re living in a state without SR22 filings, but you’re required to carry SR22 insurance in a different state, you may be unable to secure SR22 insurance. If so, you’ll need to get permission from the requesting state to provide certified documentation in lieu of the SR22 that shows your current auto insurance policy meets the limits you’re required to carry. On the other hand, some national insurance providers may be able to provide you with an SR22 for a different state quite easily.
After the violation that required your SR22 insurance is no longer on your driving record, contact your insurer to let them know you no longer need SR22 insurance. The SR22 doesn’t automatically fall off your policy, so you’ll need to inform your provider when it’s no longer needed. Once the violation and the SR22 are off your record or policy, your auto insurance rate will drop, making insurance more affordable for you again.
There are a few costs that come with SR22 insurance, including:
Most insurance carriers have the capacity to sell SR22 insurance, but some prefer not to. Depending on the company, you may get turned away or simply receive no response to your request.
Drivers who find themselves in this situation should instead seek an insurance provider that offers high-risk auto insurance. Insurance agents who handle filings on a daily basis are more likely to have options for you and perform the job efficiently.
When you find an insurance provider that is willing to work with you, what can you expect in terms of cost for SR22 insurance? With many insurance providers, purchasing an auto insurance policy with SR22 filing can be expensive, though the high cost is generally because of your driving violation rather than because of the state filing fee.
If you’ve been charged with multiple traffic violations, a DUI or an at-fault accident, you face high-risk insurance rates. High-risk drivers pay more for insurance than drivers who don’t have any violations on their records because an insurance company now sees you as a liability. Serious violations — and violations that result in the requirement of an SR22 are — significantly hike up a driver’s insurance rate. A single DUI conviction can increase your rate dramatically. Add an additional charge for SR22 filing on top of a high-risk insurance rate, and you’ll likely be paying much more for car insurance than the average driver.
In Missouri, the following are estimates for increases you can expect on your average annual rate after certain violations:
If you are with any of the major auto insurance companies, you may want to shop around for SR22 insurance, as moving to a different insurance provider can potentially save you thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, you won’t have to pay this penalty forever. As long as you remain insured and keep your record clean, you’ll be paying standard car insurance rates in a few short years.
The cost of the state filing fee depends on the state. In Missouri, for a Motor Vehicle Accident Judgement, the fee to reinstate is $20. Generally, drivers pay this fee only when they set up their policy. If you lapse in coverage or switch insurance providers, however, you will be required to pay another processing fee.
Depending on your insurance company, you may also be expected to pay your policy in full if it includes an SR22 filing. You may also need to pay additional fees to reinstate your license.
In Missouri, drivers can avoid prohibitively expensive SR22 insurance by choosing a policy with David Pope Insurance. At David Pope, we offer SR22 insurance free with existing policies.
Our existing policyholders can enjoy SR22 insurance free with their existing auto insurance policies. We find affordable, flexible policies for your vehicle, life, home and commercial insurance needs.
Because we’re a local, family-owned insurance provider, you won’t have to wait days for an insurance quote. Instead, you’ll have your quote within a matter of hours. We’ve become one of the most respected insurance providers in Missouri because of our flexible coverage options and our unparalleled customer service. We know our clients have different needs for their insurance, which is why we take every individual’s circumstances into consideration to find the best coverage options.
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Are you in need of SR22 insurance? Contact us today at David Pope Insurance to file your SR22 certificate in Missouri.
