After being involved in a serious car accident, you may be required to file an SR-22 with your insurance company. This form verifies that you have the minimum amount of liability insurance coverage required by your state.
And it’s important in order to remain compliant with your state’s laws!
In fact, if you’re found to be driving without it, you may face severe penalties, including the loss of your driver’s license.
Finding Affordable SR-22
While an SR-22 can make your insurance rates increase, there are ways to keep your rates affordable. Many insurance companies offer discounts to drivers who have an SR-22 on their record. In addition, some states offer programs that help low-income drivers pay for their liability insurance. As a result, you may still be able to find affordable insurance coverage even if you’re required to file an SR-22.
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What Is an SR-22?
An SR-22 is a certificate of insurance that proves you have the minimum amount of liability coverage required by your state. It’s usually required by the court or state after a negligent accident, DUI, or other major violation.
An SR-22 can be obtained through your insurance company and must be filed with the DMV. There’s typically a fee associated with filing an SR-22, and you’ll be required to maintain your insurance for a period of time in order to keep the SR-22 on file. If your insurance lapses, the DMV will be notified and your driver’s license may be suspended.
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How Is an SR-22 Filed?
An SR-22 typically costs between $15 and $25 to file, and the required form must be filed with your state’s DMV by your insurance company. Once it’s on file, your insurance company will notify the DMV if your policy is canceled or lapses for any reason. In that case, your driver’s license may be suspended.
An SR-22 typically stays on file for three years. After that, you may be able to get a regular car insurance policy again.
Find Cheap SR-22 Auto Insurance Quotes
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What Are the Implications of an SR-22?
If you’re required to file an SR-22, it means your car insurance premiums will be higher than average.
Your insurance rates could increase by the following percentages, depending on the driving infraction. For example, speeding more than 25mph over the limit comes with an average insurance increase of 33.5%; a DUI will cost you an average of 54.8% annually if an SR-22 needs to be filed; and multiple accidents could cost you as much as 68.5% more.
However, not all SR-22 insurance rates are the same. Some insurers can offer lower SR-22 rates so you won’t have to break the bank.
Who Needs to File an SR-22?
There are several different reasons you might need to file an SR-22.
The most common ones are:
- Having had multiple collisions; causing too many car accidents
- Driving while uninsured
- Having an excessive number of traffic violations on your record; or reckless driving
- Not paying child support
In other words, needing to file an SR-22 means you messed up in a big way. And now the state is holding your insurance company accountable for you.
But don’t fret! An SR-22 isn’t the end of the world. And just because you had to file one doesn’t mean your insurance rates can’t bounce back.
Want to lower your insurance rates after an SR-22? Here’s how to do it.
How Do You Get Your Insurance Rates Back Down After an SR-22?
As we already stated, once you have an SR-22, your insurance rates will likely go up.
However, there are some things you can do to get your rates back down.
First, shop around and compare rates from different insurers. You may be able to find a better deal with another company. A quick search online will garner tons of results. A independent insurance agent can help you with this research, which may save you some time.
Second, ask your insurer about discounts. Many insurers offer discounts for safe driving, good student discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Perhaps, over time, you can prove yourself to be a safe driver and have your SR-22 insurance rates reduced.
And, finally, make sure you keep your driving record clean going forward. If you can avoid accidents and traffic violations, your rates will gradually go down over time.
If you follow these tips, you can get your insurance rates down to a more manageable level.
What If You Don’t Own a Car and You’re Ordered to File an SR-22?
The bad news is that you must still file an SR-22 even if you don’t own a car. There are a few different ways to do this. First, you can ask the court to allow you to file a non-owner SR-22. This type of SR-22 does not require you to have car insurance, but it does require you to maintain a certain level of financial responsibility.
Alternatively, you can purchase what is known as a non-owners liability policy. This type of policy will provide coverage in the event that you’re responsible for damages caused by your actions. Once you have obtained the necessary insurance, you will need to provide proof of insurance to the DMV in order to have your SR-22 filing processed.
Get Lower Rates After an SR-22 With SR-22 Adviser
SR-22 Adviser can help you get back on the road sooner. We navigate our customers through the process of filing an SR-22 and moving forward through auto-related legal issues. We can also help them by offering solutions to lower their insurance rates after an SR-22.
Start the important process of shopping for the best deal available and get a quote from our insurance partner.