What is SR-22 Insurance In California?

The SR-22 is a form required by the Department of Motor Vehicles when a driver has a DUI offense reported.  The form (very similar to the SR-1 form which is used to report traffic accidents) is filed by your insurance company showing that you have obtained coverage through them.  It is actually a proof of financial responsibility that the DMV requires after such traffic incidents. (Most insurance providers require a minor fee of $15 to $25 for filing.)

In the event of a DUI, the California Department of Motor Vehicles will not reissue your driver’s license without one.  That means that you cannot simply bring your policy number and valid ID into the DMV in order to have your license returned to you.  Your coverage must be filled out and filed by your insurance provider.

If you have been dropped by your previous carrier because of your accident, you must then find insurance with SR-22 coverage in order to regain your driver’s license.  Once you have found your new carrier, your insurance provider will submit the form to the Department of Motor Vehicles, allowing you to regain your license.

Sorting Through California Insurance Quotes

Even without dealing with the tangles related to having to get high-risk insurance, California quotes can be hard to sort through.  To figure out exactly what is covered and what you will need to pay seems to require a graduate degree in insurance policies at times.

This is where Incorporated Insurance Services comes in.  We will help you sort through the confusing thicket of insurance jargon to find the best quote for you.  Going it alone when it comes to finding your California SR22 coverage can not only be disheartening—forcing you to give the details of your situation over and over again– but may also not achieve the end you would like: to find the best insurance quote for you.

Our experienced insurance agents will take care of the footwork for you and make sure that you get the best, most affordable California SR-22 insurance for your situation.  Because we aggregate several insurance companies, we can quickly find and compare one insurance quote to another and, using our in-depth knowledge and experience, decipher which is actually the better bargain.

We then present you with your options so that you can make a decision that is both clear and informed, and so that you don’t find yourself regretting the choice you made a few months later.

How long must I carry high-risk coverage in California?

Typically, SR-22 Insurance must be carried for three years from the time that your driver’s license is re-issued.  That means that once you have completed the original 4 month suspension of driving privileges, you then must carry it for 3 full calendar years (July 2023 to July 2026, for example).

During the four month suspension period, you may be able to receive a restricted license which will allow you to drive to and from your place of employment. Ask your agent about the procedure for this.

How long will it take for me to be considered a “good driver” again?

If before your DUI you were considered a “good driver” by your insurance provider, it will take you a full 10 years to regain that status.  For example, if you received a DUI in August of 2010, your DMV record will continue to show your DUI until August of 2020.  Because of a recent law, when you apply for insurance, your auto insurance carrier will have access to your DMV records, so changing carriers will not change your status.

Once you have cleared this 10 year period, so long as you do not have further incidents, you will be eligible to return to “good driver” status.

What is Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance?

Some drivers falsely believe that the non-owner SR-22 Insurance offers a loophole in California’s requirement. This is not a solution, however.  Even though, you may sometimes be required to carry non-owner SR-22 coverage in order to retain a license, this is usually only a minimum requirement.

If you own your own vehicle or drive the vehicle of someone in your household (for example, your spouse’s vehicle) or if you are provided a vehicle you use frequently (for example, by your employer), non-owner insurance will not cover you.  Non-owner coverage will only cover a driver while they are using a third-party vehicle that they do not habitually use and that is not part of the driver’s household.

In fact, even when you are driving the appropriate vehicle, non-owner SR-22 insurance will only cover damage you do to other persons, vehicles and property—not any damage or injury that may occur to you or the vehicle you are driving.  Furthermore, this kind of insurance will only cover damage up to the amount specified in the policy.

For that reason, you should generally avoid this kind of insurance unless you are mandated by the Department of Motor Vehicles to carry it or do not intend to drive habitually.

Our Pledge to You

At Incorporated Insurance Services, we know that negotiating the ins-and-outs of SR-22 insurance in California is no picnic. We have helped hundreds of California drivers find the best matched, most affordable insurance they need in order to move on with their lives and put their accidents behind them—and we can help you as well.

Just give IIS a call today and take the first steps towards getting your life back.