SR 22 Filing

DUI Auto Insurance Penalties and SR 22 Filing Requirements

If you are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), your state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will probably suspend your driver’s license. In addition to paying fines and penalties, you must show proof of insurance before the DMV will reactive your driver’s license.

In some instances you will need to present your local DMV with a SR 22 form before they will reactivate your driver’s license and motor vehicle registration. One of the benefits gained from submitting a SR 22 form to your DMV is the fact that the form serves as a guarantee that you will keep auto insurance on your car or truck for a specified period of time (e.g. one year).

Traffic Tickets Requiring SR 22 Forms

The Insurance Research Council states in their January 2009 "Economic Downturn May Push Percentage of Uninsured Motorists to All-Time High" report that in 2007, 13.8% of American drivers operated an uninsured motor vehicle. The numbers were expected to escalate with the advent of the economic downturn.

Driving without adequate auto insurance might seem like a good way to save money. However, driving without car insurance is illegal. If you are pulled over by a police officer or state trooper (even as part of a routine traffic check) and you fail to present proof of insurance, you can receive a traffic ticket. You could also have your driver’s license and auto registration suspended.

Other reasons that you can receive a traffic ticket include:

• Speeding.

• Running a red light or a stop sign.

• Passing a school bus that has its stop sign extended.

• Being involved in a car collision.

Generally receiving one traffic ticket will not cause you to compile enough points on your driving record for your state DMV office to require you to provide proof of auto insurance. However, if you receive one or more traffic tickets because you are at fault for an auto accident you might be ordered to provide proof of auto insurance.

In this case you would need to submit a SR 22 form. Filing the form will not remove points from your driving record. It will, however, help you to get your driver’s license and auto registration reactivated if they were suspended due to the driving penalties you received.

Obtaining Proof of Insurance

Contact your auto insurance agent to get a SR 22 form. You can also telephone or visit your car insurance agent and ask that they submit the SR22 directly to your local DMV office. Even if you choose this option, make sure that you keep a copy of the form for your personal records.

Depending on your driving penalties, the DMV will require you to file a SR22 form annual for a certain length of time, usually three years. If you switch insurance companies you must file a new SR22 with your DMV office. You must also file a new SR22 if you move from one state to another.

The proof of insurance form is filed at local DMV offices.

NOTE: Delaware, Minnesota, Kentucky, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma do not require you to file a SR22 form. However, you are required to show proof of insurance (e.g. insurance policy binder) in these states.