Elijah Black is a Greenville, South Carolina native with a B.A. English from Coastal Carolina University. He is a fiction writer and also works as a freelance writer and editor. He’s worked as a Production Assistant for WYFF 4 and has been published in several publications and websites across the United States.

Full Bio →

Written by

Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states. After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health in...

Full Bio →

Reviewed by Rachael Brennan
Licensed Auto Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Nov 2, 2020

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.

Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.

Filing SR-22 Documents are Easy

Motorists need to be aware just how easy filing SR-22 documents is. In most cases a simple phone
call to your insurance agent takes care of the situation entirely. Being aware of what an SR22
is and why you may need to file it is fairly simple too.

What is SR-22 Filing?

When the DMV labels a person high risk, they will require filing SR-22 forms. This form is filled
out by an insurance agent to verify that the motorist is covered by liability insurance. The DMV
needs to be sure that high risk drivers will be able to pay for any damages or injuries they may
cause. The documents go straight from the insurance company to the DMV; it is usually done electronically.
The motorist will not be required to carry any additional cards or forms in the vehicle.

Anytime there is a lapse in automobile insurance coverage the car owner will have to resort to SR22
filing to keep their license and car registration in good order. Individuals that are caught DUI will
also be filing an SR22. In some states motorists with numerous moving traffic violations will also
need to keep an SR-22 on file.

How Long is Filing SR-22 Documents Necessary?

Once you are in need of Filing SR-22 insurance proof you will need to keep the documentation on
file for three years. Your insurance company will report any insurance lapses and negate the SR22.
This will cause the motorist additional fines as well as license and registration suspensions. It
can also make the three years longer.

If you have been informed you need an SR-22 filed there is no need to panic. Your insurance
company may charge a small fee for filing SR-22 documents, but that will the only thing
you notice.