California SR22 Insurance Quotes & SR22 Information

There are many actions in the State of California that can result in the suspension, revocation, or cancellation of your driving privileges (license). We want to outline many of these actions and provide some background information about those actions, as well as which ones may require a SR22 Insurance policy.

Actions That May Result in a Loss of Your Driver’s License

ADMIN PER SE states, that as a California licensed Driver you consent to take a blood or breath test, or under certain circumstances a urine test, if you get arrested for the suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Other actions include:

• Evading a Police officer


• Under 21 DUI - Zero Tolerance for Alcohol Use

For a complete list of actions that could cause you to lose your license visit California DMV Actions.

After a DUI conviction how do I get a California Restricted License issued?

Depending on if this is a California first offense DUI or your second and/or subsequent DUI, the requirements to get a restricted licensed issued will vary.

A general rule is if you are over 21 and this is your first DUI you can get a restricted non-commercial driver’s license issued, if you:

• Wait until the 30-day mandatory suspension period has expired before applying for a restricted license


• Enroll in and complete a licensed DUI First Offender Program. (when you call the program provider you will need to tell them you will be applying for a restricted driver’s license)


• Ask that the program provider file a Proof of Enrollment Certificate (DL 107) in a licensed DUI First Offender Program with the California DMV. (VC §23538[b])


• File for an SR22 Insurance Policy (California Insurance Proof Certificate) or other form of financial responsibility


• Pay the reissue fee of $125.00


• Request a To/From/During Course of Employment and DUI Program Restriction. This will allow you to drive only to and from the treatment program and your employment. This restriction will be valid for 5 months

Important: If for some reason you fail to participate in the DUI Program or do not complete this program, the DMV will revoke your restricted license and reinstate the suspension.

If this is your 2nd or subsequent DUI conviction, the result of such a conviction has increased penalties such as a 2-year suspension or a revocation of up to 4-years. After these periods have expired and you have enrolled in and, or, completed a DUI program then you may be able to obtain a restricted license. If you want to be able to drive anywhere necessary after the suspension/revocation period has expired with your restricted license, you will need to:

• Get an IID installed on your vehicle


• Agree not to drive any vehicle without an IID


• Complete the prescribed DUI Program


• Pay the reissue and restricted license fees


• File for an SR22 Insurance policy

Important: If you get caught and convicted of driving a vehicle without an IID you may face an immediate jail sentence, additional fees, a longer suspension/revocation period, a possible cancellation of your driving privileges, and a longer DUI Treatment program.

Failure to report that you have been in an accident can result in the need for you to carry a SR22 Insurance Policy.

If you have been in an accident, you are required to report this to the DMV within 10 days if:

• There was $750 in damage occurred to anyone’s property


• If anyone was injured (no matter how slight the injury was)


• Or if someone was fatally injured (killed)

You will be required to fill out this SR-1 accident form yourself; CHP or local law enforcement will not do it for you. Call 1-800-777-0133 and ask for the SR-1 form or you can fill out and submit this form online.

Your driving privileges will be suspended if you do not file this SR-1 form and can be suspended for up to four (4) years. Where upon the last three (3) years of the required suspension your driver’s license can get returned to you if you obtain and maintain a SR22 Insurance policy (California Insurance Proof Certificate) during this period.

What happens to my license after the Officer takes it?

Once the officer confiscates your driver’s license you will receive an order of suspension/revocation, either from the officer or from the DMV (The DMV will mail you a copy, this will take a few days). This order serves as your 30-day temporary license from the date your license was confiscated.

If you have other court imposed or DMV actions in effect, the temporary license will not be issued.

The DMV will automatically conduct an administrative hearing, and if the review shows there was no basis for the suspension/revocation, the suspension /revocation will not be enforced. You will receive notification in the mail from the DMV only if this suspension/revocation has been set aside.

What can I do about the suspension and/or revocation?

You have 10 days from the date of the suspension/revocation to request a hearing that will allow you the opportunity to prove (show) that the suspension/revocation was not justified.

Once you have scheduled the hearing you may request to obtain copies of the DMV’s evidence against you. It would be a good idea to take this evidence and contact an experienced criminal attorney in your area who can help you understand this evidence and provide the appropriate rebuttal at the correct time to increase your chances of retaining your driving privileges. Also if you need to go to court for a DUI related offense, you will want to retain the services of an attorney to represent you in this process.

What happens at the DMV hearing? (Administrative hearing)

At this hearing you will have the opportunity to present any evidence and/or witnesses you have in your favor to rebut the evidence the arresting officer has against you. Once both sides have presented their evidence, the hearing officer will close the hearing and make a final decision on whether to suspend/revoke your driving privileges or dismiss the suspension/revocation and reinstate you license.

After the hearing decision, you may make a written request for a department review within 15 days, or a court review within 30 days, from the date shown on your hearing results notice. The fee for a department review is $120.

To get your driving privilege reinstated after you have served the suspension/revocation period, you will need to:

• Pay the $125.00 reissue fee


• File for a SR22 Insurance policy. This is also referred to as proof of financial responsibility or California Insurance Proof Certificate

You will be required to maintain a SR22 Insurance policy for three (3) years.

What are California’s Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements?

• $15,000 for injury/death to one person


• $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person


• $5,000 for damage to property.
  (California Insurance Code §11580.1b)
  

What are the types of financial responsibility in California?

• A motor vehicle liability insurance policy


• A cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV


• A DMV issued self-insurance certificate


• A surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California

To locate a company that issues surety bonds, contact the Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357 or visit insurance.ca.gov.

For information regarding cash deposits, or self insurance, contact:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Financial Responsibility MS J237
PO Box 942884
Sacramento, CA 94284-0884
(916) 657-6520

Or call one California's Driver Safety Offices:

Commerce (323) 724-4000

El Segundo (310) 615-3500

Fresno (559) 445-6399

Irvine (949) 440-4416

Oakland (510) 563-8900

Oxnard (805) 488-0863

Sacramento (916) 227-2970

San Bernardino (909) 383-7413

San Diego (858) 627-3901

San Francisco (415) 557-1170

San Jose (408) 229-7100

Van Nuys (818) 376-4217

What will happen if I fail to maintain my SR22 Insurance policy?

Your insurance provider is required by law to immediately report any lapse in your SR22 Insurance policy to the DMV. After this notification the DMV may:

• Suspend the registration of the motor vehicle


• Issue a citation if you fail to provide proof of financial responsibility when Law Enforcement/Peace Officer requests this information. These fines could reach up to and over a $1000. If this happens the DMV cannot clear or sign these citations, only a court is able to do so


• Impound your motor vehicle and you are likely to incur more fees in addition to the impound fees


• Require you to compensate the persons involved for any damages and/or injuries if you are a factor (contribute to) an accident and do not or cannot provide proof of financial responsibility


• Required you to start the mandatory SR22 period of three (3) years from the beginning again, no matter if you were 2 months into the period or 2 years


• Recommend that the court sentence you to additional jail time

This is not a complete list of actions that could be taken against you. To avoid these penalties and others do not forget to pay your SR22 Insurance policy premium as far in advance as you can, we suggest at least 2-3 months at a time.

If your vehicle registration is suspended, you will need to contact the Vehicle Registration Responsibility Program at 1-866-664-4545, as this type of service cannot be handled at your local DMV office.

Additional California Resources:

DMV Programs

DMV Field Offices (All)

Driver Fees

Driver License Fees

Driver License Forms

DUI Program Service Providers

DUI Re-portability Requirements

Evidence of Financial Responsibility

New Laws in California for 2009

Online Services

Unsafe Driver Consequences

Vehicle Registration Forms

Vehicle Registration Financial Responsibility Program