Understanding SR22 Insurance

Nobody’s driving record is actually perfect. If you know someone who claims they have never sped, ran a red light, or violated any traffic laws…it’s probably just because they have never been caught.

But at what point does someone need to think about SR22 insurance?

Why Should I Care About SR-22 Coverage?

Unfortunately some driving records are more imperfect than others, which can lead to sky-high insurance costs, or worse…an auto insurance company could outright refuse to insure the driver in question.

Without insurance, you can’t (or certainly shouldn’t) drive, it’s not worth the risk.

Think of all the inconveniences of not being able to drive:

• You can’t commute to work
• You can’t travel…or if you do…you have to travel light.
• You have to find a ride to doctors or other appointments
• Public transportation and services like Uber can get expensive
• Your friends always have to come get you for nights out

What Is SR-22 Insurance?

SR-22 Forms are also known as “Certificates of Financial Responsibility”

First it should be established that while an SR-22 is commonly referred to as SR-22 insurance, the SR22 is actually not an auto insurance policy in itself.

Rather, an SR-22 is a rider or endorsement of an existing or newly-established car insurance policy

SR22 insurance, can be understood as high-risk car insurance. It provides coverage to those who have had their driver’s license revoked for one reason or another, or for some other reason the state has mandated it.

The SR22 rider is a certificate that insurance companies attach to your auto policy to show the state that you’ve purchased insurance acknowledging your high-risk driving habits.

This usually indicates that you are financially responsible for your vehicle and driving.

Who Has to Carry SR22 Insurance?

In most cases, anyone who’s had their driver’s license revoked or suspended will usually be ordered to carry an SR22 rider. There can be exceptions to this.

How does your driver’s license get revoked? Here are a few common offenses that lead to this punishment:

• Caught driving without proof of insurance
• Getting involved in a car accident as the at-fault party
• Any DUI or DWI charges you’ve faced
• Racking up moving violation points in a short period
• Failure to pay child support
• Your insurance doesn’t meet state requirements

Once you’ve been flagged by the law, you are usually court ordered or mandated by the state to carry SR22 insurance.

While it varies from state to state, you will usually have to carry it for a minimum of 3 years.

If your coverage lapses or you commit another offense, it might stretch for longer.

What Does SR22 Insurance Cover?

Let’s face it: we all want to know what our car insurance covers in the event something were to happen to us.

So, since the SR22 isn’t an insurance policy itself, what does it cover?

The simple answer is that it offers as much coverage as your auto policy itself. More accurate, but slightly more complex, is that an SR22 certificate shows the state that you’re carrying insurance with at least the state’s minimum liability requirements.

If you don’t know your state’s minimum liability requirements check out our quick reference!

Some states, rather than using an SR-22, use a form called an FR44. The two forms follow a similar function, however, the requirements for an FR-44 typically exceed the state’s minimum liability limits.

SR-22 and FR-44 forms both concern themselves with potential damage to others. As such, they don’t require comprehensive or collision coverage.

However, you as a motorist may want to invest in this coverage for your own protection.

How Do You Get SR-22 Coverage?

• You can get SR22 coverage the same way you get any other auto insurance: by getting a quote from an agent.

• You’ll need to research and find a company that offers the rider, as not all of them do.

Auto Insurance Company	SR-22 Offered?
Mendota Ins. Company	yes
Farmers	yes
Allstate	unsure
Safeco	no
Bristol West	yes
Geico	yes
Progressive Insurance	Yes
USAA	no
State Auto	no
The General	yes
State Farm	unsure
American Family	no
AssuranceAmerica	yes
Acceptance RTR	yes
National General	yes
Liberty Mutual	yes
21st Century	no
Dairyland	yes
Nationwide	no

• Once you’ve found a company that offers the SR-22 form, complete and finalize a quote with them.

• After the policy gets drafted in full, a copy of the SR22 gets filed electronically with the state DMV for their records.

Do I need SR-22 Coverage Even If I Don’t Own a Car?

No car doesn’t excuse you from driving without coverage

Let’s say that your car got impounded as a result of the situation that revoked your license.

Do you still need to carry SR22 insurance?

If you intend to drive, then yes.

You’ll still need to file for a non-owner SR22 policy and carry that SR22 endorsement for the required period.

If you don’t do this and get caught driving someone else’s vehicle, the consequences could be dire. 

Why Is SR22 Insurance So Expensive?

Many people have the misconception that SR22 insurance is ridiculously expensive because of the SR22 itself. This is not entirely accurate.

The SR22 rider, on its own, does not always affect your premium. Some companies however, will rate you higher: call us to find out for sure if you are interested in a particular company.

However, SR22 or not, you’re still rated like any other policy applicant. This means that the incidents leading to your need for an SR22 form will contribute to your premium.

The higher the driver’s risk, the higher the premium is a pretty solid rule of thumb when it comes to auto insurance rates. 

How Long Do I Need SR-22 Coverage?

As mentioned above, three years is standard for most SR22 endorsements.

However, the required carrying period varies from state to state.

Some have periods that vary by reason for license revocation. Others stick to a certain time period, regardless of the inciting incident.

You’ll need to research your state’s laws for further insight on this matter.

SR-22 In Review

Sifting through auto insurance terminology can be tricky, so let’s take a moment and review what we’ve learned:

• The SR22 is not auto insurance itself, but rather, a rider offered to those considered high-risk drivers who have had their license revoked. 
• SR22 insurance coverage varies depending on what you purchase as part of your auto policy.
• The cost of your SR22 insurance can vary from state to state.
• You must carry the SR22 endorsement for the full period, because if you don’t, your license will be revoked, and you might end up serving time in prison.

We here at A Plus Insurance want to help keep you and your family safe on the road. If you or a loved one needs auto insurance, SR22 or not, contact us today for a quote. We’d be happy to assist you!

Last Updated on February 15, 2023 by Veronica Moss