Five Things To Know About SR22 Insurance
Are you required to get SR22 insurance due to a serious driving offense that involves negligence or endangering others on the road, such as a DUI? If so, you likely have a few questions about it. Here is what you need to know about getting SR22 Insurance.
SR22 Insurance Isn't A Replacement For Auto Insurance
A huge misconception is that SR22 insurance is a different type of auto insurance that you need to purchase. This isn't true, since SR22 insurance is a certificate that you purchase to prove to the DMV that you have and will maintain the proper amount of insurance coverage that is required to be back on the road. It essentially proves that you will be financially responsible if you are involved in an accident, which lifts the suspension on your license from the DMV.
SR22 Insurance Is For High-Risk Drivers
Know that SR22 insurance isn't for everyone, since it is only for those people that are considered high-risk drivers. This includes being involved in an accident without having insurance or being convicted of a particular driving offense that makes you more high risk. This can be due to being issued a lot of tickets in a short period of time, being found guilty of reckless driving, or even having too many points on your license.
SR22 Keeps Track Of Insurance For Your State
The sole purpose of SR22 insurance is to prove to the state that you are maintaining the proper insurance that is required. Canceling your policy will notify the state that you no longer have a valid insurance policy and lead to your license being suspended again. This can lead to harsher punishments than simply not having insurance.
SR22 Insurance Needs To Be Purchased Again When Changing Insurance Providers
One of the downfalls of SR22 insurance is that you need to buy a new certificate each time you change insurance providers. While the certificate does have an expiration date of several years after it has been issued, a change in insurance providers will require paying for a new certificate. This can make it difficult if switching providers is to save money since it will cost you to purchase a new certificate.
SR22 Insurance Will Not Be Required Forever
Everyone's situation is different due to the offense that required the need for SR22 insurance. Your local DMV will let you know what your requirements are for having an SR22 certificate and when it will no longer be required.