Unless you get involved with the legal system, you may never hear about the term SR-22. As a result, there is a significant amount of misinformation and confusion surrounding SR-22 requirements and insurance options. Yet, drivers who want to get back on the road after a serious infraction need to learn more about what an SR-22 certificate is and how it impacts their choices.
Possible Traffic Violations Associated With SR-22 Filing
You do not need to file an SR-22 form unless the traffic offense you have committed is serious — or unless you have accumulated multiple small issues that you haven't dealt with sufficiently. Some things that you can do that will lead to the SR-22 requirement include drinking and driving, careless driving, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, being in a car accident without car insurance, and being caught driving without car insurance more than once.
There are also situations in which you can require an SR-22 filing due to too many speeding tickets or the failure to pay ticket fines. An SR-22 filing is a penalty that is added to your record. It is not hard to get the filing added to a new or existing car insurance policy. Just about every car insurance agent knows how to add the filing to a policy. Another positive is that the filing process is not expensive.
However, you will probably be considered a driver who is high-risk if you have an SR-22 filing. High-risk drivers are not required to pay high car insurance rates by default, but insurance companies may not be keen to keep you on their coverage. As a result, you could be booted from your policy and thrust back into the insurance market. If you're looking for new car insurance, the rates you're quoted will probably be higher than before.
You should speak to your insurance agent to look for ways to save. For example, a discount diagnostic is ideal every few years for all drivers. The best ways to save include raising deductibles, improving the credit score, and improving your driving record. You can also save money by reducing the coverage to liability-only. This means no collision or comprehensive coverage. In some cases, this will require buying an older car or selling a new car. One of the best things that you can do is live within your means financially as much as possible. You will only get in trouble if you try to stretch your budget more than it is able to.
For more information about SR-22 insurance, don't hesitate to contact us.