3 Things You Should Keep In Mind If You Are Ordered To Carry An SR22 Policy

Insurance Blog

An SR-22 is essentially a form that you can be ordered to carry by a judge if you've been a bad driver. This can happen after a severe violation or after committing multiple smaller infractions. Either way, if you are now living with the reality of an SR-22 on your record, it's important to understand what the document actually does so you can work to correct your driving in the future. Here are 3 things to keep in mind if you now have an SR-22.

SR-22 Is Not Insurance By Itself

It's first important to understand that while designated drivers are usually referred to as having "SR-22 insurance", the SR-22 itself is not an insurance policy. All it really does is serve as a certificate filed by your car insurer with your state that confirms that you have coverage. If you already have an active insurance policy, then you just need to call your insurer and explain the situation and get the SR-22 added. If you, however, do not currently have auto insurance, (which could be one of the reasons you were ordered to get an SR-22 in the first place), then you will need to apply with a new company and make clear during the application process that you are under an SR-22 order.

SR-22 Means Higher Premiums, But It's Nothing You Can't Handle

Being designated as an SR-22 driver by a court is a sign to the insurance company that you are potentially a high risk. Obviously, this is going to be reflected in your insurance premiums. While every insurance company is different, in general, an SR-22 is not some kind of death sentence for your bank account. The premium will be higher, but not to some ridiculous level.

It Won't Be A Black Mark For The Rest of Your Life

Getting an SR-22 on your insurance policy is not fun, but it's not permanent either. The exact length of time you remain under a SR-22 will depend on your individual state, but again, in general, the orders don't normally last for more than a few years. At the conclusion of this time, the violations that got you put under the order in the first place will drop off your driving record, and you can call your insurer and let them know that you are no longer under SR-22 status, which should return your premium to normal.

Being designated as someone with a high-risk insurance policy is not something you're going to want to put on your resume, but in time, it will pass. Just deal with the slightly higher insurance premiums while also maintaining a good driving record going forward and in time, this too shall pass. If you have any questions, reach out to your auto insurance provider for more information.

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28 November 2016

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