While not everyone needs an SR-22, enough people do that there have been plenty of questions about what an SR-22 is, who needs one, and what it takes to get one. An SR-22 is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) that proves that you have auto liability insurance.

The first thing you\’re probably thinking is that everybody has to have liability insurance on their auto insurance policy. An SR-22 is a state-mandated document that reinstates driving privileges to a driver who has lost his or her license because of a traffic offense conviction.

These offenses include uninsured car accidents, DUIs, revoked license, and other traffic offenses that might jeopardize the driver\’s chance of getting insurance, and incidents that cause insurance premiums to rise. The DMV will require the SR-22 to reinstate or let someone continue to hold a driver\’s license.

Your insurance company can issue the SR-22, or if you have an insurance broker he or she can facilitate the SR-22. The form will be filed with the DMV to show your proof of insurance. Once the SR-22 is filed you will be allowed to drive legally.

There is a fee associated with filing an SR-22. If you have more than one person in your family who is required to have an SR-22, you will have to pay the filing fee for each person. The fee is different in different states, so the SR-22 fee will not be included in the price of your actual insurance.

Your SR-22 should remain valid as long as you have valid auto insurance. If your insurance gets canceled for any reason you will be in trouble, because the insurance policy has to notify the state authorities and you will lose your driving privileges. This is one situation where an insurance broker is helpful in that he or she can help you navigate the waters of maintaining a policy and SR-22 requirements.

Because the SR-22 requirements differ from state to state, you will need to check the laws if you happen to be relocating. It gets tricky, because you have to fulfill the state you\’re leaving\’s requirements as well as filling the requirements of the state to which yo\’ure relocating. For instance, if you move to a state with lower minimum liability limits you\’ll have to carry your former state\’s minimum liability limits even though they are higher.

Some states do not require an SR-22, but even if you move to one of them (they are Oklahoma, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Minnesota, and Kentucky) you will need to follow the state requirements of the state where your offense was committed.

Of course it is best to avoid committing offenses that require an SR-22, but if you do end up needing one it is important to work with an insurance provider who knows all the state requirements and can cover all your bases. The right insurance company and the right insurance broker can make all the difference, and can help you follow the rules so that you avoid unnecessary fees and penalties.

Author Bio: Lawrence Reaves writes for Virginia Insurance Group, a leading Richmond insurance broker providing product and services such as Richmond car insurance and Richmond homeowner\’s insurance. Virginia Insurance Group can be found online at: VirginiaInsurance.com .

Category: Automotive
Keywords: sr22, insurance needs, insurance requirements