An SR22 is a document filed by your insurance company with the state DMV proving you have car insurance. You may need to file an SR22 if you have been convicted of a DUI, had your license suspended, or have been involved in multiple accidents. If you are required to file an SR22, your insurance company will notify you and provide you with the necessary paperwork. To determine whether or not you need to file an SR22, you should first consider why you might need one. Generally, an SR22 is required when an individual has been convicted of a DUI or other serious traffic offense. If you have been convicted of a DUI, your insurance company will likely require you to file an SR22 to continue your coverage. Additionally, if you have been involved in a severe car accident or have received multiple traffic tickets, you may be required to file an SR22.
If you have recently moved to a different state and one of the above scenarios applies to you from your previous state, you will need to get an SR22 from your new state of residence as well. It is essential to check with your current DMV office or insurance provider if this applies. If you are still determining whether you need to file an SR22, you can always contact your insurance company or the DMV for more information. Your insurance company can tell you if they require an SR22, and the DMV can let you know if your state requires one to reinstate your license.
If you need to file for an SR22, you will likely need to maintain it with your current car insurance carrier before the form can be removed from your record. All premiums must be paid on time, and any additional violations must be reported. Please do so to avoid fines and a lapse in coverage, which could result in higher premiums when reapplying for car insurance. It’s important to understand that filing an SR22 is not necessarily permanent; after completing the specified time frame, most states will remove the requirement and allow drivers to return to their standard policies. However, insurance rates may remain higher than those who did not require filing an SR22 due to previous offenses on their driving records. Anyone still determining whether to file for an SR22 form must contact their local DMV or auto insurance agent for more information about the required steps and how long it will take before they can return to regular policies and rates.