An SR-22, also known as a certificate of financial responsibility, proves you meet your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. You may need to file an SR-22 with your state if you’re convicted of certain motor vehicle offenses.
Read on to learn what SR-22 forms are, when you need one, how they impact your insurance rates, and more.
Learn more: What to do after a car accident: Your step-by-step guide
An SR-22 is a form filed by auto insurance carriers with the state. It confirms that you have car insurance and the coverage meets your state’s minimum requirements.
Insurers do not file SR-22 forms automatically, nor does everyone need one. Your state will notify you of an SR-22 requirement — usually after an accident or moving violation. You must contact your insurer and request the filing. Or, if you don’t have insurance, you must buy coverage from a provider that’s willing to send in the SR-22 on your behalf.
States set the rules for when SR-22 is required. Therefore, these rules can vary based on where you live or where you were involved in a moving violation or accident. Typically, the SR-22 requirement follows a serious incident or multiple driving infractions. Examples include:
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Driving with a suspended license or revoked license
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Driving without insurance
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Driving under the influence (DUI) or while intoxicated (DWI)
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Several at-fault accidents
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Several speeding tickets in a short time frame
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Multiple reckless driving offenses
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Failure to pay court-ordered child support
If you go to court for any of these situations, the judge will inform you when an SR-22 is required. Alternatively, your state’s motor vehicles department may also provide that information. Often, you’ll need an SR-22 certificate on file to reinstate your driver’s license.
You may also need an SR-22 if you’re awarded a hardship license. A hardship license restricts your driving to certain locations only, such as work or school. The restriction usually follows a license suspension, but some states provide hardship licenses to unlicensed minors who must drive for school, work, or caregiving.
Florida and Virginia require an FR-44 filing after serious infractions, such as DUI or DWI convictions. Like the SR-22, the FR-44 serves as proof you have auto insurance. Unlike the SR-22, the FR-44 certifies you have higher insurance limits than the state minimum.
Learn more: What is the difference between DUI and DWI?
For example, the minimum car insurance limits in Florida are $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 per person in property damage liability. If you are subject to an FR-44 requirement in Florida, you will need liability limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $50,000 for property damage.
Learn more: Florida car insurance: Why experts recommend more than just minimum coverage
A mandated SR-22 filing can impact your car insurance in a few ways, almost always making it more expensive.
Learn more: How much does car insurance increase after an accident?
Maintaining your coverage
If your current insurer allows you to maintain your coverage, your premiums will probably go up because you’ll likely be classified as a high-risk driver. The amount of the increase will vary depending on where you live, what you did to prompt the SR-22 requirement, and your previous driving record.
A state-by-state analysis from SR22 Insurance Quotes concludes that insurance premiums can rise between 31% and 375%.
There’s also a possibility your insurance company will cancel your coverage. In that case, you’d need to find a new insurer, and your choice of providers may be limited. Chances are, your new insurance company will also charge higher rates due to your past offenses behind the wheel.
It can be difficult to avoid high insurance rates with an SR-22, though you can take positive steps to reduce your rates in the future. Avoiding additional offenses and policy lapses as much as possible will help. Ensure your coverage meets the minimum liability insurance requirement in your state and have proof of insurance on hand at all times.
Learn more: Car insurance discounts: 17 ways to save
SR-22s are typically required for three years, though time frames can range between one and five years, depending on your state. If you have questions about how long an SR-22 is required, contact your state’s motor vehicles department for more information.
Your history of traffic offenses can also impact the duration of your SR-22. For instance, in Ohio, drivers are required to maintain an SR-22 for three years if it’s their first offense and five years for a second offense.
During the time frame in which your SR-22 is required, you’ll need to maintain adequate car insurance coverage. If your policy is canceled or lapses, your insurance company will notify your state, and you’ll likely get hit with a license suspension, which could impact the duration of your SR-22.
Expert tip: Once you’ve met your state’s requirements for maintaining an SR-22, you’ll need to contact your insurance company to have the designation removed. This step is essential because the SR-22 doesn’t automatically drop off after a set period.
While it may be referred to as SR-22 insurance, an SR-22 isn’t an actual auto insurance policy; it’s simply a certificate your insurer must file if you commit certain driving offenses. Drivers who need an SR-22 on file will likely see their insurance rates rise, but it’s the past infractions and not the form itself that increases insurance costs.
How to obtain and maintain an SR-22
Here’s how to obtain and maintain your SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility:
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Learn about your state’s SR-22 requirements, including time frames and insurance minimums.
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If your insurance company offers SR-22s, call them to file one. If they don’t offer them, you need to find another insurance provider. Contact your state’s motor vehicles department for a list of possible insurers.
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Submit any necessary documentation, including personal and insurance information and information about your driving offenses.
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Pay an SR-22 filing fee. These fees vary by state but are generally around $25.
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Comply with your state requirements, including maintaining continuous car insurance coverage for the duration of your SR-22 filing. Most states require a minimum amount of liability coverage, including bodily injury and property damage, to maintain driving privileges.
Learn more: How to switch car insurance companies
You may have to file an SR-22 in a different state if you committed a driving offense while away from home. The SR-22 must be filed by an insurer licensed in the state that’s requiring the form.
Start by contacting your current insurance carrier. If your company is licensed in the state where the accident occurred, it can handle your request. If not, the carrier may be able to refer you to a provider who can file for you.
Likewise, if you move to a new state, you may be required to maintain the SR-22 in your former state of residence for a set period.
SR-22 is not insurance, though it is described that way. An SR-22 is a form states require after serious driving infractions. The filing certifies that the driver has car insurance meeting the state’s minimum requirements. When someone uses the term “SR-22 insurance,” it refers to a car insurance policy in place while an SR-22 filing is in effect.
Insurers charge a filing fee to submit an SR-22 on your behalf. The fee varies by state, but they are usually small — $25 is common. The larger cost will be an increase in insurance premiums related to the driving infraction or accident that prompted the SR-22 requirement. These increases also vary by state and can be influenced by your prior driving record. Expect your premiums to rise by 30% or more.
Once your SR-22 filing requirement expires, you can contact your insurer to cancel the filing.
An FR-44 is a form required by Florida and Virginia following serious accidents and driving violations. The form confirms you have auto insurance with higher liability limits than state minimums.
An SR-22 is valid until the filing is canceled. If you stop paying your insurance premium and your auto insurance lapses, you could lose your license. After an SR-22 is filed, the insurer is legally required to let the state know if you no longer have coverage. You’ll have to keep the insurance and the filing in place for a number of years, typically three, but this varies by state.
A non-owner SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility for drivers with non-owner insurance coverage. This is auto liability insurance for drivers who don’t own a car.
This article was edited by Tim Manni.
