What Is SR-22 Insurance?

If you’ve been charged with a driving under the influence (DUI) violation, a driving while intoxicated (DWI) violation or another major traffic offense, you know how serious the consequences can be. 

While you’re told driving is a privilege, you need your car to get to your job, pick your kids up from school and take care of other essential errands to make ends meet. 

A DWI or DUI conviction can result in the following:

• Increased insurance costs
• Significant fines
• Loss of your license
• Jail time

If you’ve been charged after a DWI stop, you should contact a law firm that specializes in DWI criminal defense. The team at Eng & Woods is standing by, ready to help you through this difficult time. You can visit our contact page to get started. 

If you’ve been convicted of a DWI and are looking to move forward with your life, you may be curious about SR-22 insurance. If you don’t know what SR-22 insurance is or how it can help you get back on track, keep reading to learn more. 

What Is SR-22 Insurance?

If you begin looking up SR-22 insurance or insurance for DWI/DUI drivers, you’ll soon find that an SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance, but rather a form that your auto insurance company files on your behalf. This form is also referred to as an SR-22 bond or certificate of financial responsibility. An SR-22 form can help validate that you are financially responsible for the minimum required liability insurance in your state to drive.

You can order an SR-22 insurance form through your car insurance company. The cost will vary. A CNBC article estimates that most insurance companies will charge around $25 to submit the SR-22 form to your state’s motor vehicle department or if required, the court of your DWI hearing.   

However, in order to take this approach, you must be insured. Insurance companies can cancel an individual’s policy or decline renewal after a DWI conviction. It’s important to note that the average auto insurance cost for drivers with a DUI on their record can rise more than $500 a year over their original cost. 

Who Needs an SR-22 Form?

While individuals convicted of a DWI or DUI come to mind first when discussing SR-22 forms, other individuals who are considered high-risk drivers may also require this validation. A “high-risk driver” is any individual who is deemed to be more likely to get into an accident than an average driver. This designation isn’t an official legal or insurance term; it is generally used to describe drivers for who insurers will charge higher premiums due to past driving records. 

High-risk drivers can include, but aren’t limited to:

• Individuals who have been convicted of a DUI or DWI violation
• Individuals who have been convicted of another major traffic violation, such as reckless driving
• Individuals who have been in multiple at-fault accidents within the last three to five years
• Individuals who have had their licenses revoked or suspended for any other reason

You can expect to pay higher monthly insurance premiums if you are considered a high-risk driver. Two factors that may help remove these violations from your record are safe driving classes and time.

Get Help Before The Conviction: Contact Eng & Woods Attorneys at Law Today

The best way to combat having to file an SR-22 form or pay higher insurance premiums is by contacting an experienced defense lawyer as soon as possible. The team at Eng & Woods Attorneys at Law has dealt with a variety of DWI cases and may be able to help you receive a favorable outcome. 

Visit our contact page or start a chat with us in the bottom right corner to get started.