If you’re required to have SR-22 car insurance in Illinois, you might wonder, “What the heck is an SR-22?” An SR-22, or “Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate,” is a way for state DMVs to prove that you’re carrying the minimum amount of car insurance required by your state.
If you comply with your state’s car insurance laws, you might have heard of SR-22 insurance. But what exactly is it? And do you need it? The short answer is that SR-22 car insurance is simply car insurance mandated by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Most states require drivers with certain traffic violations or caught driving under the influence to carry an SR-22 form. It is evident that you have purchased car insurance that meets your state’s requirements.
SR-22 insurance is required for drivers caught driving without insurance or driving under the influence. This happens to about 12% of drivers in any state. If you are found guilty of one of these offenses, the SR-22 requirements were enacted as part of the 1994 Transportation Act. The SR-22 form verifies that you have the minimum required insurance coverage for the state in which you live.
SR-22 Insurance How Does It Work?
An SR-22 is a certification needed by those convicted of an alcohol-related driving offense, which the state requires the driver to maintain for a certain number of years. This certification is kind of like proof of financial responsibility.
You probably know that your state requires you to carry car insurance and that you’ll face fines and possibly jail time if you don’t. If caught driving without insurance, you’ll have to purchase at least a basic policy, usually at a much higher rate.
The SR-22, also called a certificate of financial responsibility, is a document given to drivers caught driving without insurance. It essentially guarantees that you have insurance. While technically not an insurance policy, the SR-22 is a document you file with your insurance provider to prove you have insurance. If the state requires one, the insurance company files the SR-22 with your state’s DMV.
SR-22 insurance, or filing an SR-22, is usually required after you get too many tickets, DUIs, or crash your car without insurance.
Who Needs An SR-22?
About 1.7% of all U.S. drivers must carry SR-22 insurance. The SR stands for safety responsibility, and, as you might guess, this type of insurance guarantees insurance companies that high-risk drivers (those with a history of traffic violations or accidents) will adhere to traffic rules in the future. In most cases, those drivers must also carry minimum liability coverage.
How Long Do You Need to Have An SR-22?
Most states will require you to have an SR-22 Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) for a certain amount of time. These certificates are your proof of insurance for the DMV, so you can reinstate your driver’s license or vehicle registration.
We know that having to file an SR-22 form can be inconvenient. However, the thing to remember is that having an SR-22 is proof that you have met your state’s minimum financial responsibility requirements. So, how long do you need to have SR-22 insurance? The length of time you will have to carry SR-22 insurance varies greatly by the state since each state’s minimum liability requirements are different. Some states require SR-22 insurance for only a year, while others require it for four years. It’s a good idea to check with your state’s DMV to find out the exact length of time you need SR-22 insurance.
SR-22 insurance is an add-on coverage that must be paid to the DMV before you can get or renew a driver’s license. Such policies cover drivers who are convicted of driving with a suspended license or driving without insurance. SR-22 policies are required by the court and by the DMV.