Driving and drinking do not mix well.
Drivers who make the mistake of committing a serious traffic violation will receive several penalties and fines, and one of the more costly penalties is the requirement to file an SR-22 form and carry SR-22 insurance. This is a required level of insurance coverage for drivers whose driving history includes one or more convictions for an accident or traffic offense where they could not show evidence of financial responsibility. A judge may order an SR-22 for other reasons, such as drivers with repeat offenses.
SR-22 Certificate Defined
The SR-22 is a certificate rather than an insurance policy. The document is required by many states, to show that a high-risk driver has proof of financial responsibility in the case of an accident. For people convicted of certain types of traffic violations, the form will need to be filed by their insurer at their request, verifying that the proper amounts of liability coverage are in effect. Each state has its variation of the form, along with its own specific requirements.
SR-22 Insurance Policies
Drivers who are convicted of a DUI or other serious traffic violation are often required to carry high-risk auto insurance, known by insurance companies as SR-22 insurance, as part of their penalties. To get this insurance, a driver needs to have his insurance company file the SR-22 certificate and then provide him with an insurance policy. SR-22 certificates require a driver to carry at least the minimum amount of liability insurance mandated by the state where he was convicted.
SR-22 Recipients
Each state has a different set of rules, but generally SR-22 insurance is required for drivers who have been convicted of a high-risk traffic violation such as a DUI (driving under the influence) or reckless driving, being involved in or causing an accident without insurance, or getting a high number of points on their driving record in a short time frame. Additionally, drivers who repeatedly get arrested and become labeled as habitual offenders may be required to maintain SR-22 insurance. The benefit of having SR-22 insurance with proof of liability coverage is that it enables a high-risk driver to get his license back after it has been suspended.
SR-22 Coverage Requirements
An SR-22 requirement means convicted drivers have to provide proof of financial responsibility in case of an accident. This condition may apply even if the driver does not have his own car, meaning he will have to carry liability insurance that covers him if he drives anyone else's car. People who can afford to may deposit a large cash balance with their state's Department of Motor Vehicles in lieu of carrying insurance, otherwise they will need to carry at least the minimum amount of liability coverage required by the state where they committed the offense. Every state has different minimum liability coverage requirements. For example, the state of California currently has minimum required liability insurance coverage of $15,000 for bodily injury or death to one person, $30,000 bodily injury or death for two or more people, and $5,000 for damage or destruction to the property of others.
SR-22 Term
Drivers who are required to carry SR-22 insurance should expect to maintain it for about three years, which is a bit like a probationary period after a criminal offense. The insurance needs to be carried continuously and renewed in a timely manner throughout the required period, as insurance companies typically will cancel or terminate an SR-22 policy within 10 to 15 days before the policy's expiration.
If the driver experiences a lapse in his liability coverage, his insurer is required by law to inform the DMV in his state. The DMV will then immediately suspend or revoke the driver's license again and a driver will have to pay a new fee, and the insurance company will have to file a new SR 22 form, to reinstate his insurance coverage. In addition, in most states, if the policy is allowed to lapse, the SR-22 period will re-start from the beginning, meaning if the driver had completed two years of a three-year SR 22 time requirement, he will have to begin the entire three-year period again once he gets his insurance re-instated.
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