SR22 Requirements & General SR22 Information

An SR22 is not actually an insurance policy as it is often referred to as SR22 insurance. An SR22 is an add-on to a traditional auto insurance policy often called an SR22 form or SR22 certificate that your insurance provider will provide you with as proof of coverage that is then filed with the DMV.

An SR22 filing will be required by the DMV in order to reinstate a driver’s license that has been suspended or revoked due to a number of reasons such as DUI, DWI, being involved in an accident without proof of insurance or too many traffic violations within a certain period of time.

After your suspension period is up you will need to apply for an auto insurance policy with an SR22 form add-on. Your SR22 insurance policy provider will either give you a copy of the SR22 form to file at the DMV office when you go down to reinstate your driver’s license or they will perform the SR22 filing directly with the DMV themselves so that you don’t have to be involved in the process.

It should be noted that not every insurance company will perform SR22 filings; you may find that an insurance company that you have used for years will not provide you with coverage because of your SR22 requirement. Not to worry, we can help you find an insurance carrier who does SR22 filings.

While the laws vary from state to state regarding SR22 filings, most states will require you to carry the SR22 for three years. If at anytime during the three-year period there is a lapse in your insurance coverage, your insurance provider is required by law, due to the SR22 filing to inform the DMV of the lapse in coverage.

The DMV will then send you a letter in the mail letting you know that your driver’s license has once again been suspended. If this happens you will have to pay any outstanding premiums due to your insurance company and then you will have to go through the SR22 filing process all over again in order to reinstate your license.
What Happens to My SR22 if I Move out of State
Lets say that you currently live in Colorado where you currently have an SR22 filing and the minimum liability coverage limits are 25k/50k/15k and you are going to move to California where the minimum liability limits are 15k/30k/5k.

Even though you are moving out of Colorado, you will still be required to complete your SR22 filing period in Colorado and your new insurance policy in California must meet the Colorado minimum liability limits. Failure to meet the state minimum liability limits where your SR22 is filed will result in your license being suspended.
Can I Switch Insurance Carriers While I Have An SR22 Filing
You may switch insurance carriers during your SR22 filing period, but the important thing to remember is that if there is any lapse in your coverage, even for one day your license will be suspended.

If you want to switch insurance companies, what you’re going to want to do is to get your new insurance policy enforce and have your new insurance company complete the SR22 filing with the DMV office before you cancel your old policy.
What Happens if I Get Stopped by the Police during My SR22 Requirement Period
When the officer asks you for your driver’s license, registration and insurance, you will also need to give the officer a copy of your SR22 form. So it is important that you keep a copy of the SR22 form in your vehicle at all times during the required filing period. Failure to provide proof of your SR22 filing to the officer can result in increased fines or possibly a license suspension.
Additional SR22 Considerations
The most important thing to remember is that during your SR22 requirement period you want to avoid any lapse in your SR22 insurance policy at all costs. Causing a lapse in your coverage is just one additional headache you don’t need.

We strongly recommend trying to pay your insurance premiums every 6 months to 12 months as a way to lessen the chance of a lapse in coverage. If you are financially unable to pay for 6 to 12 months of insurance premiums in advance, you will at least want to setup some sort of a system to help you avoid causing a lapse in coverage.

Say for instance, if your premium is due on the 15th of every month, you can make sure that it is paid by the 5th of every month. Any thing you can do to avoid a lapse in coverage will help to give you the peace of mind you deserve and hopefully allow you to sleep better at night.