SR-22 Insurance: Get Back on the Road with Ingram Insurance

SR-22s are a form of proof for the minimum required auto liability insurance.

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is not an actual insurance policy; rather, it is an official legal form that proves you have secured the appropriate personal auto liability insurance required by your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Depending on your location and the court’s wording, these documents are also frequently known as:

• SR-22 Filings or Bonds

• SR-22 Certificates of Insurance

• Certificates of Financial Responsibility (CFR)

To understand why the state requires this, it helps to understand what it’s tracking. Liability insurance is the specific part of an auto insurance policy that provides crucial financial coverage for property damage or bodily injury that you are found legally responsible for after an accident.

While the vast majority of everyday drivers will never need to worry about an SR-22 filing, those who have been classified by the state as high-risk drivers must take this extra step to legally maintain or reinstate their driving privileges. Furthermore, because vehicle laws are governed locally, each state enforces its own distinct requirements—and in certain circumstances involving out-of-state violations, filings may even be required in multiple states simultaneously.

Factors that lead to a high-risk classification.

Most drivers with clean records, consistent coverage history, and zero major traffic violations will never be considered high-risk, nor will they ever be subject to SR-22 requirements. However, a driver’s status can change quickly.

There are multiple, specific reasons a person may suddenly find themselves classified as a high-risk motorist by the court system or the DMV. These high-risk triggers include:

There are multiple kinds of SR-22s.

Not every driver’s situation is the same, which is why there are multiple kinds of SR-22s. Depending on whether you own a vehicle or just drive one, you will need to file one of three specific types of certificates:

• Owner’s SR-22 Certificate: This is the most common filing. It is specifically designed for registered owners who own and operate their own personal vehicle.

• Operator’s (Non-Owner) SR-22 Certificate: This is designed for operators who do not own a car but still need to reinstate their license. It provides liability coverage for those who sometimes rent or borrow someone else’s vehicle.

• Owner-Operator SR-22 Certificate: This comprehensive filing covers all bases. It is required for motorists who own their own primary vehicle but also frequently rent, borrow, or operate other secondary vehicles.

How much does an SR-22 filing cost?

The total cost of an SR-22 is broken into two parts: the filing fee and the insurance premium. While the actual filing fee varies from state to state, it is typically a modest, one-time processing fee (usually between vc_column_text5 and fce_id=”fce_6a36fce7babc3″5) that is added directly to your auto insurance policy premium.

However, the more significant cost to keep in mind is how your driving record impacts your overall insurance rate. Because an SR-22 requirement means you have been officially deemed a high-risk driver, insurance companies will charge a higher premium to offset that risk.

Why You Need an Independent Agency Like Ingram Insurance

It is important to know that not all auto insurance carriers offer SR-22 filings or provide insurance to high-risk drivers. Many standard companies will simply cancel your policy or refuse to renew it if you require a certificate.

Because Ingram Insurance is an independent agency, we partner with a wide network of specialized insurance companies. If you need help filing an SR-22, you don’t have to navigate it alone. We do the shopping for you to find the most affordable high-risk rates on the market and handle the electronic submission to the DMV seamlessly.