What Is An SR22 Bond?
Read our guide to understand SR22 bonds and what you should know about them.
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Getting SR-22 insurance is a court-imposed requirement for people who have been convicted of a traffic offense or violation.
If you need SR22 coverage or a certificate of financial responsibility from your insurance company, you may pay more for auto coverage.
Read our guide to understand what SR22 is, how you can get it, tips for finding the best deals, and how to navigate auto insurance if you are required to have an SR22 bond.
What are SR22 Bonds?
SR-22 bond, also known as a SR-22 certificate or SR22 form, is a court-ordered requirement for people who have been convicted of traffic offenses.
These are traffic offenses that can lead to SR22 bonds:
If you are involved in an at-fault accident while driving without auto insurance.
If you are convicted of repeat or many traffic offenses in a short period (This includes reckless driving).
If you are caught driving with a revoked or restricted license.
Convicted of a DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving without insurance).
Not paying court-ordered child support.
An SR22 bond isn’t an insurance policy, but proof that you have enough insurance coverage according to state laws and proof of financial responsibility.
In some cases, SR-22 insurance may be required for people who have had their licenses revoked and then reinstated.
Source: Pexels
What Is an FR-44?
FR-44 insurance is only used in Florida and Louisiana, and has the same purpose as an SR22 in other states. The only significant difference is the coverage you will need (typically double the state minimum liability coverage requirements).
For example, if the state minimum liability coverage is $20,000 for personal injury protection, you will need $40,000 of coverage.
There are three types of SR-22 insurance that a person may be required to file.
Owner Policy: This is insurance that the owner of a specific vehicle will need to drive it legally in their state.
Non-owner Policy: This is driver-specific, which means that a person will need to get it if they intend to drive motor vehicles that are not theirs in their state.
Owner/operator Policy: This is SR-22 insurance for taxis, Uber, and Lyft drivers.
Once a court requires you to file an SR22 form with your insurance, you’ll need to notify your insurance company, and they will take the necessary steps to do this.
Sometimes, your current auto insurance provider may revoke your car insurance, and you will need to find another plan that covers SR22 filing.
What Happens If I Don’t Notify My Insurance Company about My SR22 Status?
Insurance companies regularly check DMV records, member driving records, and court decisions to ensure their clients follow the law.
If a person doesn’t notify their insurance company that they have an SR22 filing requirement, their insurance provider is required by law to report them to the DMV.
Failure to disclose or renew your SR22 bond can lead to having your driving license revoked or suspended.
Source: Pexels
Will an SR22 Bond Affect My Insurance Premiums?
Yes, if you are required to file an SR22 form with your auto insurance, you’ll be considered a higher-risk driver to insure.
SR-22 insurance plans are generally more expensive than a regular car insurance policy. In some cases, you may have to pay more than double what you would if you had non-SR-22 insurance.
You’ll also need to consider your location. In some counties and states, the cost of SR-22 insurance may be much higher than in others.
However, there are insurance companies that specialize in handling SR-22 insurance filing, so it may be a good idea to look at getting new insurance coverage from one of these providers if your current auto insurance company has raised your monthly premiums.
Need Help Finding the Best SR-22 Providers near You?
If you need help finding an insurance provider that can offer you the best price on SR-22 insurance, then reach out to one of our insurance agents to find out more.
Contact us at 1-888-912-2132 to find great deals on SR-22 coverage in your area and get covered today.
Source: Pexels
What Is the Cost of SR-22 Insurance?
If you’ve been ordered to file an SR-22 form with your auto insurance you can expect to pay more for your monthly insurance.
The price you pay will depend on your insurance provider and location. Insurance companies offer different rates for different counties.
They base these rates on several factors such as the number of drivers, whether or not it’s an at-fault or no-fault state, the average value of income in the area, and the number of motor vehicle accidents that have happened there.
For example, if you live in Los Angeles County, you’ll likely pay more for insurance than you would if you lived in Amador County. If you want to find out what you’ll pay for auto insurance, there are a couple of ways to go about it.
You can use direct insurance and apply for coverage through one or more providers’ websites.
You can use an insurance aggregator or quote finder to compare your options.
You can use an insurance agent to find quotes for you and find you the best deal.
All three options work for different people. However, if you don’t want to spend hours online researching costs or want to get a final quote that is tailored to your information, then using an agent is probably the best route.
If you’d like to speak to one of our agents about how to get started with finding SR-22 insurance, contact us at 1-888-912-2132.
Source: Pexels
How Can I Find the Best Deal on SR-22 Insurance?
As with any insurance product, it helps to shop around before settling on a provider or plan. If you’re looking for the best deal on SR-22 insurance, here are some tips you can follow:
1) Use an auto insurance agent: If you haven’t purchased auto insurance in a while, finding the best deal can be difficult. There are hundreds of insurance providers with different plans. Using an agent can help you save time and avoid hassles when searching for coverage.
2) Look at different coverage options: In some cases, getting SR-22 insurance for comprehensive coverage may be too expensive. If you’re worried about affordability, consider minimum liability insurance or collision coverage.
3) Get more than one quote before committing: Try to get as many quotes as you can before you commit to one insurance provider. Even if you use an agent, request that they get you a few deals before you decide. Look at the benefits and costs of each plan and ask your agent questions if you don’t understand something.
4) Look for companies that specialize in SR-22 insurance: There are several insurance companies that only do SR-22 and other types of court-imposed requirements for auto insurance holders.
5) Speak to family and friends: If you have no idea where to start, talking to some trusted friends and family members can help. If you have an auto insurance provider in mind, ask them what they think of their services and products before committing.
Does an SR-22 Go Away after a While?
While an SR-22 requirement may stay on your driving record, you won’t have to get SR-22 insurance for the rest of your life. Depending on the offense, an SR22 requirement may last for a few months up to three years.
Once you don’t need to file an SR-22 form with your car insurance, you’ll need to notify your auto insurer to tell them that it isn’t required anymore.
Otherwise, your insurance will continue to file SR-22 forms each time you renew your auto insurance policy and charge you the filing fee as well as higher premiums.
You must keep your SR-22 up to date as your insurance company is required to report your auto insurance status to your state’s DMV.
In some cases, your driver’s license may be suspended or revoked if you discontinue your SR-22 insurance while the requirement is still in place.
Our Verdict on SR-22 Insurance
If you have to file an SR-22 form with your auto insurance, then getting affordable cover might be more difficult. However, there are options out there if you’re looking to save money on auto insurance premiums.
Typically, SR-22 bonds are temporary, which means that you won’t have to pay higher monthly premiums for the rest of your life. If you don’t renew your SR-22 insurance, there can be severe consequences, so try to stay on top of this requirement each time you renew your insurance.
If your SR-22 requirement is finished, you will have to notify your insurance company as they will generally keep filing this form on your behalf and you might end up paying more each month.
SR-22 Insurance FAQs
Does an SR22 make insurance go up?
Yes, if you have to file an SR22 at your state’s DMV, then your insurance premiums will go up with most providers. However, there are companies that only do SR-22 insurance, so you might still be able to find a good deal.
What is the meaning of SR22?
SR22 is the name of the form you are required to fill out that shows you have insurance coverage. These forms are then submitted to your state’s DMV, which keeps them as proof of financial responsibility in case you are involved in an accident.
What is SR22 FR-44 insurance?
SR22 and FR-44 are court-ordered certificates of financial responsibility that need to be filed with your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV).
Source: Pexels
Where Can I Learn More about Auto Insurance?
SR22 bonds or SR-22 insurance will generally make your insurance premiums go up. However, if you are required to file an SR22 form, the process can be straightforward with the right insurance company.
If you’d like to learn more about SR-22 insurance, car insurance, and other coverage matters, be sure to check out our Auto Insurance Hub to read our latest articles.
We also have a team of expert advisors on hand to help you with your questions and to make the process of finding top-notch SR-22 insurance easy to do.
If you’d like to speak with one of our agents, give us a call at 1-888-912-2132 or send an email to help@policyscout.com to get expert assistance.