Auto Insurance With An SR22 in Texas

Reader’s Question:

What is the purpose of having auto insurance with an SR22 here in Texas? I don’t think I have to get SR22 but I’m just curious how come many people have to get it.

Raul

Abilene, TX

Insurance with an SR22 is needed by a lot of motorists considered as high risk to insurance companies. SR22 is a form filed by the insurance company to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) that proves that the person has the proper auto insurance coverage. Insurance with an SR22 is usually required of drivers who have been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). SR22 filing serves as an assurance to the DPS that the motorist carries insurance required by the state. In case the insurance with SR22 ends or laps coverage, the insurer has to notify the DPS right away. As soon as this happens, DPS will suspend the driving privileges of the motorist as well as his/her driver’s license.

In Texas, insurance with SR22 is required for two to three years after the driver’s license has been reinstated. This information still has to be checked with the DPS to be sure about the particular SR22 insurance requirements. This is usually sent through mail in an official letter once the driver’s license has been reinstated.

To obtain insurance with an SR22, the driver has to shop with an expert insurance broker who could explain the policies available for insurance with an SR22. It is still necessary that anyone who needs insurance with an SR22 has to compare all the options available and pick the best one.

How Long Are You Required To Have an SR22 Filing

Reader question:

For how long are you required to have SR 22 filing done?

Adam

Excellent question, Adam.

The truth is that the necessity and length of the SR 22 filing process depends on a number of factors. The SR 22 filing requirement is one that comes after you have been convicted for something such as driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence of mind altering drugs (which also comes with even heavier penalties, along with the drunk driving), and driving without proof of financial responsibility; the requirement becomes even more strict when any of these actions result in a car accident. If you are simply caught from being pulled over by a police officer, then the requirements are less strict.

The first factor that affects how long you have to do SR 22 filing is your possession of a license. Normally, if you are required to file an SR 22 form, then you must first have had your driver’s license suspended. Sometimes the suspension lasts for a certain amount of time before you are able to reinstate it with SR 22 auto insurance coverage proof. Other times, it is only suspended until you pay a fee (which varies from state to state) and provide the DMV with your SR 22 form. The key to all of this is that the period during which you are required to do SR 22 filing applies whether or not you have a driver’s license. Theoretically, you could simply choose to take the bus for three years after your license was first suspended before reinstating it. If you did this, then you would never have to pay for expensive SR 22 auto insurance coverage.

The other factor that affects your SR 22 filing requirement is the number of times you have committed the offense in question. For example, if this is your second time getting thrown in jail for driving while intoxicated, then the amount of time you have to file an SR 22 form lengthens considerably. The normal amount for most first time cases is three years. For drunk driving, though, it is five years in most states. The second time you are caught drunk driving, that number of years doubles to ten years. The third time, it doubles again, to twenty years.

Cheers.

Fashun Guadarrama.

What Is The Proper Way To Process a Texas SR22 Filing?

A couple of years ago, soon after I got my license, I got pulled over twice within two months for driving without insurance and was ticketed both times. I ended up missing both court dates, and going in a few months later to post bond and set up a payment plan. Of course, in Texas you can’t do this, because of the point system where you’ll automatically have points added if you pay on a plan for things like lack of insurance. So, instead, I rescheduled my court date. I was told by the girl behind the glass window that I was on what was called ‘probation’, and was required to have car insurance without any lapses through the date of my court appearance, and be able to prove it.

I guess I wasn’t listening too hard. What I was supposed to do was get an SR 1 insurance form filed by my auto insurance company so that the department of motor vehicles would have continuous proof of my car insurance coverage. I didn’t do that, because I had no idea that I was supposed to. I did keep my auto insurance coverage going for the whole time, but when I got to court and didn’t have an SR 1 to show for the time, the judge was not impressed.

The reason why I am mentioning this under an SR 22 topic is because I think it is important for those doing Texas SR 22 filing to realize that there is a difference between having an SR 22 form and having three years of insurance cards. One the judge will accept as proper proof, and the other just doesn’t work.

It’s a funny system, considering that both methods prove the same point–that you had car insurance coverage during the time of punishment after your Texas DUI conviction. However, what the SR 22 accomplishes that the regular insurance card doesn’t is that it keeps the department of motor vehicles constantly informed of your insurance status. On the other hand, just the insurance card can only provide proof of this after your period is over. That’s the emphasis that I want to put behind proper Texas SR 22 filing–it has to be done because it is the only approved method. You can’t just prove financial responsibility any which way.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.