What is SR22 Insurance and How It Works?
What is SR22 Insurance and How It Works?
In the United States, an SR-22 is a vehicle liability insurance document required by most state Department of Motor Vehicles. It states that you as a driver are meeting your state’s minimum auto liability insurance requirements. An SR-22 may also be referred to as a certificate of financial responsibility, or, in some states, an FR-44.
CFR
The Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) is essentially a vehicle liability insurance document required by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or its equivalent in most states for insurance policyholders that are considered “high risk”.
The CFR holds a document number for easy identification, which is mandatory for DMV verification. Below are the four most common forms associated with the CFR certificate.
SR22
The DMV may require you to get SR-22 insurance to restore your driving privileges after you’ve been in a car accident and you did not have insurance or for committing certain types of traffic violations, such as DUI or DWI. In some states, SR-22 insurance may be required for up to three years for an offense of driving without insurance or with a suspended license. The penalty is increased to five years for a DUI conviction.
There are some states that use SR22 insurance as an alternative policy to make a cash deposit or to provide security as proof of being financially responsible. For example, in the state of Arizona, a driver seeking reinstatement may use an SR-22 instead of making cash or certificates of deposit worth $ 40,000.
FR44
When a person is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or DUI, an FR-44 form is required after the sentence is enforced. The driver must submit the form to receive the minimum amount of coverage. The states of Florida and Virginia use an FR-44 form that differs from SR22 insurance in certain ways.
The FR-44 is designed to be a more severe form of punishment for those who have been convicted of a DUI or DWI that will last five years. In addition, the FR-44 is separated from any additional penalties, such as fines, jail, or driver’s license suspension.
DUI or DWI
DUI stands for “driving under the influence” and DWI stands for either “driving while intoxicated” or “driving while impaired”. In some states, these terms can have different meanings or they could refer to the same offense while you were pulled over.
In either case, both DUI and DWI imply that a driver is being imposed with a serious offense of having risked the health and safety of himself and others. These charges are applied for not just alcohol and recreational drugs but also to driving when your prescription drugs impair your abilities. It is also crucial to understand that one is not adverse than the other and that both can have a huge effect on your life.
SR-50
An SR-50 is similar to an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility. In Indiana, the SR-50 is an additional clause for the main driver’s insurance policy. Drivers are required to have an SR-50 to restore their license. This acts as a guarantee to the Indiana DMV that the driver will remain properly insured for the established period. A restoration fee is required along with the form that must be returned to the appropriate authorities for the process to begin.
SR-26
The SR-26 only comes into place when the SR-22 is canceled or expired. An SR-26 form will certify that the policy has been canceled.
In the end, having the correct CFR form allows drivers to retain their driving privileges.
Check out our blog on top insurance companies that provide SR22 insurance quotes. To get quotes from providers simply dial 888-885-3948.
