Important Facts about SR22 Car Insurance
Important Facts about SR22 Car Insurance
SR22 car insurance is the term used for a high risk insurance policy required for the reinstatement
of driving privileges following a DUI or drunk driving related offense. Carrying SR22 car insurance shows
that you’ve got at least the minimum required insurance for a high risk driver under your state’s law. The
name comes from the form from the DMV that must be completed in order to have one’s driving privileges
reinstated following the term of suspension.
The individual requirements for your SR-22 car insurance policy will vary depending upon the state in which
you reside, but there is some information about this type of policy that is important to know regardless of
where you live.
If you fail to meet the minimum coverage for car insurance SR22 at any time, even for a single day, your
provider will notify Motor Vehicle Services and your driving privileges will promptly be suspended. While
this may seem like a reasonably easy rule to adhere to, there are actually a number of reasons that your
coverage could lapse leaving you unprotected.
Late Payments on your SR22 Policy
Even if you are regularly on time or early with your car insurance SR-22 premiums, a single lateness may put
your license at risk. Though not all providers rush to notify motor vehicle services if your premium check has
not arrived by the due date, there are companies that may contact the DMV if you are a single day late which
could result in the suspension of your driving privileges.
Keeping your policy in good standing is absolutely critical if you want to continue to be able to operate your
motor vehicle. Explore the possibility of an automatic payment option with your SR-22 car insurance provider
to ensure that your premium is received prior to the due date every month.
Switching SR22 Car Insurance Providers
SR22 car insurance can be pretty expensive so changing providers to get a lower premium can seem like a very
wise move. If you are thinking about changing car insurance providers though, it is absolutely imperative
that you take whatever steps necessary to ensure that the effective dates overlap so that you’ve got constant
coverage.
If your current SR-22 car insurance policy expires on the twentieth of the month and your new provider doesn’t
receive your first premium check until the 22nd, that lapse in coverage will cause motor vehicle services to
suspend your license. Any lapse in coverage during the transition period while transferring your policy from
one insurance provider to another, even a lapse of one day, will cause motor vehicle services to be notified.
Though you may have no desire to switch from one insurance provider to another, meeting the state requirement
for minimum coverage following a DUI make require you to do so because not all insurance companies offer an
SR22 policy. If you currently have coverage with a company that does not provide SR-22 car insurance and you
get convicted of a drunk driving related offense, you’ll be forced to switch to a company that provides the
type of coverage that you need to have your driving privileges reinstated.
Moving Doesn’t Mean Absolution from your SR22 Policy
You can’t get away from your SR22 car insurance requirement by changing your residence – even if you move to
one of the few states that doesn’t require an SR22 policy. If you move out of a state that requires SR22
coverage in order to operate a motor vehicle, you’ve got to keep up with the minimum requirements in that
state for as long as the law requires.
Check the specific laws of your state to know how long you’ll be labeled a “high risk” driver and be required
to carry an SR22 car insurance policy in order to keep your license in good standing.
Finding Affordable SR22 Coverage
As you would assume, carrying the moniker of being a high risk driver doesn’t necessarily bode well for finding
the most affordable coverage. In fact, many of the quotes that you’ll get for car insurance SR-22 coverage will
be substantially higher than the premiums you were accustomed to paying with your previous level of coverage.
That doesn’t necessarily meant that you won’t be able to find an SR22 car insurance policy that you can afford
though.
In order to find the lowest possible rates available for SR22 car insurance coverage you can’t simply settle on
the quote that your current provider gives you. Getting the best rate for your SR22 coverage will most likely
mean getting quotes from a number of different local and online agencies and comparing the costs of each.
The process of filing and getting your car insurance SR22 policy in place can be a bit overwhelming and confusing,
especially if you don’t do at least a bit of research. There are some insurance companies that don’t have much
interest in covering high risk drivers and those are the companies that often have the highest premiums. By
searching for and finding companies that specialize in this type of insurance you should be able to find much
more manageable rates for the minimum required coverage.
There is a chance that you could get the process completed by dealing only with your current provider, but if they
don’t specialize in SR-22 car insurance policies, you may pay far more than you have to for the required coverage.
Obtaining an SR22 car insurance policy is something that you most certainly shouldn’t take lightly because it’s a
decision that could have a lasting impact.
Depending upon the state in which you live you could be required to maintain your high risk policy for at least
three years, possibly longer, so paying an exceedingly high premium is something that could have a dramatic effect
on your finances for the foreseeable future. This is precisely why you need to take the time to find a provider that
has experience with SR22 car insurance coverage and that caters to drivers who are considered high risk.