{"id":783,"date":"2022-06-03T19:00:08","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T19:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sr22adviser.com\/guidance-and-tips\/?p=783"},"modified":"2022-07-14T13:41:51","modified_gmt":"2022-07-14T13:41:51","slug":"timeline-for-completing-sr-22-paperwork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sr22adviser.com\/guidance-and-tips\/sr-22-tips\/timeline-for-completing-sr-22-paperwork\/","title":{"rendered":"A Timeline on Completing SR-22 Paperwork\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When you have to file <\/span>an SR-22<\/span><\/a> with your state, it can be a life-changing event. First, you may be dealing with legal drama before the court forces you to file. Afterward, it can be very difficult to find an insurance carrier, and you\u2019ll end up paying way more for automobile insurance than you paid before.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, you\u2019ll be asking yourself, \u201cwhen will this all be over?\u201d In order to give you a better idea of how long everything will take, we put together this complete timeline for completing your SR-22 paperwork.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting the SR-22<\/h2>\n

Your SR-22 timeline technically begins before you get the SR-22 in the first place. That\u2019s because, for most drivers, the SR-22 begins with their time in court.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Traffic court moves quicker than you might expect. You will be given a day to appear in court. Rather than a jury trial, a judge will decide your case. One way or another, the judge usually makes a decision that same day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike what you have seen on television, this particular trial likely won\u2019t have any opening statements. Instead, a police officer will either answer a prosecutor\u2019s questions or, in the absence of a prosecutor, answer the judge\u2019s questions about what you allegedly did. This will include presenting any evidence they may have.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Afterward, you get a chance to present evidence. You may also testify on your own behalf. Unfortunately, most people who must get SR-22s have to do so after getting convicted of moving violations <\/span>like a DUI<\/span><\/a>. If the state also has evidence about your blood\/alcohol level at the time, there may be little you can do to persuade the judge you are innocent.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The judge will decide any penalties, including whether you must get an SR-22. If they decide you must get one, your trial in traffic court becomes \u201cday one\u201d of your SR-22 timeline.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finding a High-Risk Insurance Provider<\/h2>\n

You cannot file your own SR-22 certificate \u2013 an insurance company must file it on your behalf. You\u2019ll have to find an insurance provider willing to cover you. In some cases, though, this may be harder than it looks! <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That is because insurance carriers set premium prices based on the risk factor of the driver. It\u2019s why teenage boys pay a higher premium \u2014 statistically speaking, they are likelier to drive more dangerously.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you get convicted of something like a DUI, there is, quite frankly, a legal record of your dangerous driving behavior. Some insurance carriers will refuse to insure you at all, and the remainder will charge you more than you <\/span>previously paid<\/span><\/a>. While it may happen more quickly, some drivers spend a month or more just trying to find a good insurance carrier that handles DUI insurance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Waiting For Your Paperwork<\/h2>\n

Once you find the right insurance company, you will need to contact them about your SR-22. You can then have the new carrier send the required paperwork to the state.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, the paperwork will get to your state\u2019s Secretary of State. Their office must then complete the paperwork and send your actual <\/span>SR-22 certificate<\/span><\/a> to you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this process often takes some time. You may have to wait up to 30 days before you receive the certificate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind that until you receive that certificate, you cannot legally drive. So you may have to make arrangements with friends, family, or colleagues to help you get to places like work or school before your paperwork comes in.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping the SR-22 in Your Possession<\/h2>\n

Now begins the longest part of your SR-22 timeline. You will need to keep the SR-22 certificate with you at all times when you drive, preferably secured in the glove compartment, and for the entirety of the time required by the state.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The average time that drivers must have an SR-22 on file is three years. However, it\u2019s important to check your paperwork and, if necessary, confirm how long you need to maintain your SR-22.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once that time is over, you can have the SR-22 removed. This should also reduce the cost of your insurance, though it may not immediately return to its pre-SR-22 pricing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n

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