An SR-22 is a form of certification filed with your state or a court of law by your insurer to prove that you are in compliance with minimum liability requirements for auto insurance. It is a way of letting the state know that you are under coverage, and any changes made to your policy such as renewals and cancelations. In some states, it is referred to as a certificate of financial responsibility or an FR-44. It is not some type of insurance as some people think.

Why would you be required to get SR22 coverage?
Not every driver is required to have SR22 coverage. It is normally a requirement for drivers arrested for driving without a valid driving license or auto insurance. Other instances where you might be requested to provide SR22 coverage include:
- Driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs
- Having a Driving While Impaired (DWI) conviction
- Involvement in several accidents where you are at fault
- Several traffic violations within a short period of time. For example, more than 3 speeding tickets within a period of six months.
- Failure to pay child support as ordered by a court of law
- When applying for a hardship license

The SR-22 coverage will be pivotal in having your registration and license reinstated after a traffic violation. It isn’t permanent and can last between 1 to 5 years, depending on the state and the nature of the offense. It is important to know how long the SR-22 will last because canceling your auto insurance before its maturity can result in penalties by the state.

How do you get an SR-22?
If you already have auto insurance, you can contact your insurance provider to add the SR-22 to your policy and file the document with the statutory body that requested it. Drivers who don’t have auto insurance may need to let the prospective insurer know about the request for the SR-22. Not all of them have that provision.
After including the SR-22 in your policy, some insurers send it to the required state by electronic means though there are some states that will ask you to file the SR-22 document by mail.
You can also buy a separate SR-22 non-owner policy if your current auto insurance provider doesn’t have a provision for SR-22 coverage. That is in case you don’t want to lose your current insurer. The original policy will still be the primary auto insurance coverage. The non-owner policy, however, does not cover any vehicles.

How will much will it cost to get SR-22 coverage?
The SR-22 attracts a one-time filing fee charged by the insurance provider. However, the rates will be determined by the traffic violation that resulted in a request for an SR-22 document. The more serious your offense is, the higher the rates you are likely to be charged by the insurance. You can shop, however, around as the premiums may range.
There are some states that have their own forms of insurance requirements besides the SR-22. It is, therefore, better to shop for an out-of-state SR-22 certificate. This can be obtained from an insurance company that has nationwide coverage.