How Long Do You Have To Carry Texas SR22 Insurance

Reader’s Question:

How long do you have to carry an SR22 in the state of Texas? What if I don’t own a car, are you still required to get it?

Gerry

Houston TX

In Texas like in most states, an SR-22 is a certificate of insurance that provide proof of insurance for the future to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). This Texas SR22 insurance is not automatically considered as a “high risk” insurance. This is a certificate that requires the insurer to certify insurance coverage to the Texas DPS, and the insurer must inform the Texas Department of Public Safety whenever the insurance policy is canceled, terminated or lapses. If you let your SR22 lapse or canceled and the DPS has been notified, your drivers license will be suspended.

Generally, the Texas SR-22 insurance is required to be kept for 2 years from the date of the accident, conviction or court ruling was rendered. You may be able to read this at Texas Transportation Code 601.056.

If you do not own a vehicle in Texas, you can still get this type of insurance. There is a type called non owner SR22 for individuals who do not own a vehicle. You can get this from any insurance agent who is authorized to write Texas SR22 insurance for the State of Texas.

The Texas minimum liability amounts are as follows:

1. $25,000 for bodily injury per person per accident
2. $50,000 for bodily injury of two or more person per accident
3. $25,000 for property damage per accident

If you will be needing to get a Texas Sr22 insurance, it would be easier to get a quote first online. Insurance companies have different rating system that is why is is wise to shop for quotes and get the most affordable SR22 insurance from a reputable company in the state of Texas.

What is an SR22 in Texas?

Reader’s Question:

I am required to get an SR22 in Texas. What is it and how does it work?

Anne

Houston TX

An SR22 in Texas is a certificate that shows proof that you have the required liability insurance in Texas. This Sr22 form is filed with the Texas Department of Public Safety by your car insurance company. This proof of financial responsibility certificate are usually required for those who have been convicted of major moving violation such as DUI/DWI or driving without car insurance.

This SR22 form is submitted by your insurance company to the Texas DPS guaranteeing that you have the minimum liability insurance required by the state. In the event that your SR22 in Texas has been canceled, terminated or lapsed, your car insurance company will notify the Texas DPS and as a result, your license will be suspended.

SR22 in Texas are normally required to be maintained for a period of 2 years from the date of the conviction. SR22 filing is needed as part of the reinstatement process to have your driving privileges back. If you are required to carry an SR22 in the state of Texas, I suggest that you contact the Texas DPS and ask them the SR22 requirements and how long you are required to carry it.

Car insurance companies differ with their underwriting guidelines and insurance ratings. So if you are looking for a cheap SR22 in Texas, I suggest that you shop around first to make sure you are getting the best deal in the market. You can get SR22 quotes online and compare prices from different car insurance companies by just filling up one online form just like you see above this page. All you need to do is to wait for the result and compare the prices that suits your insurance needs and budget.

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 Does It Take To File an SR22 in Texas?

Reader question:

How long does it take to go through with all of my SR-22 filing in Texas?

Rick

That is an excellent question, Rick.

SR-22 filing has often been a drawn out procedure, involving getting on the phone with your car insurance company and requesting the form, and then possibly waiting for it to come in the mail, or become available on your car insurance company’s web page for your personal account. Overall, your limbo between getting your driver’s license suspended and getting it reinstated could be as long as two or three weeks while you waited for the relevant information to come in the mail.

Now, though, Texas SR-22 auto insurance has this great service offered by the Texas Department of Public Safety. It’s called the DPS Express (thankfully, it’s a lot faster than the pony express). As soon as you get your Texas SR-22 form from your auto insurance company, instead of going through all of the red tape that is the DPS and spending a long time without your license, you can do the same SR-22 filing online at the Texas department of public safety’s website and get everything done with in that very day, so that you can get back on the road. It does have a small cost of twenty five dollars, though. However, this is nothing for anyone who would lose much more by being without a car.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

I Was Arrested For Drunk Driving Now Need To File For SR22 Insurance?

Reader question:

A couple of days, I got arrested for drunk driving and now I have to file an SR 22 form. What is it? Thing is, I’m going to be getting a new car. Will I have trouble getting it financed because of my SR 22 insurance requirement?

Becca

You shouldn’t.

The SR 22 auto insurance form doesn’t do much at all to hurt you except that it makes your car insurance rates go up, except for in special circumstances when your car insurance company allows you forgiveness for your very first drunk driving offense. It is, essentially, a form that the company must file so that the state has proof that you are covered by an auto insurance policy. In most states, you are required to have an auto insurance policy anyway, but the SR 22 helps these states keep track of you in this special case so that if you cancel your auto insurance, the department of public safety is notified so that your license may be suspended.

A new car can easily be financed while you are using SR 22 auto insurance, because the only thing that the financer looks at is whether or not you have the right kind of coverage. All they want to know is that, if you get into a car accident and have to make a car insurance claim, they will still get their paycheck for the amount of the loan. I do think I should call into question how wise it would be to finance a new car while you have SR 22 auto insurance, just considering what the rates would be. Already, SR 22 auto insurance rates are much higher than usual, as are those for new car insurance. Putting the two together might be a hard hit on your budget.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.

San Antonio SR22 Car Insurance – Great Free Rate Quotes

Reader question:

I need San Antonio SR22 car insurance and I don’t even have a car! What gives? I thought car insurance was attached to the car?

Gloria

Normally, it is.

When you have a regular insurance policy, your car insurance coverage goes with the car that you have listed on the policy. Most of the time, it does not touch any other car that you drive that is not listed on the policy, although there are instances in which your car insurance covers you regardless of which car you drive (such as rental car insurance coverage). This is the reason that, if you have car insurance for your car, you can allow other people to drive it even if they are not listed names on your car insurance policy, because they will still be covered by your own car insurance since the policy goes with the car. However, this rule does not always apply, especially when it comes to proof of insurance filing like the SR22 form.

San Antonio car insurance law requires you to file an SR22 form whether you have your own vehicle or not, so long as you have your driver’s license reinstated. For one thing, SR22 insurance puts you in a higher risk category which means you will have to pay higher rates for car insurance, which would not apply if you used your friend’s car with her car insurance policy at normal rates. It doesn’t make sense for a high risk driver to be using a low risk driver’s policy.

Another thing is that the SR22 car insurance is required to make sure that you have insurance coverage. The Texas department of public safety cannot track whichever friend’s car you might be driving, and cannot require that friend or relative to file any kind of SR22 form since you are driving their car. Therefore, if you want to have your license, then the responsibility lays on you, car or no car.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.