Also known as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, an SR22 is often required to verify that you’ll carry your state’s required high risk insurance for the necessary length of time. While this insurance costs more than your standard car insurance, the good news is that these penalties won’t last forever. Typically, if you keep your driving record clean and you avoid any lapses in your insurance requirements, you can complete your SR22 requirements within three years in Wisconsin.
But not all insurance companies carry high risk insurance, nor do they penalize you equally. And knowing the necessary terms and requirements for your SR22 certificate can be complicated.
Fortunately, Action Insurance Agency specializes in high risk auto insurance, and we’re here to help make the process of adding this coverage to your policy quick and easy. For those who are not car owners, we can also help you obtain non-owner insurance. Let us help you get properly insured and filed with the state so you can get back on the road.
When to Get an SR22
How will you know if you need an SR22? If you received a major infraction on your driving record, your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the court you appeared at will reach out to you by mail, informing you of your SR22 requirements.
Typical infractions that require SR22 insurance include:
- DUIs and DWIs
- Serious moving violations
- License suspensions or revocations
- Multiple traffic offenses
- Failure to maintain your state’s required insurance coverage
It’s also important to be aware that as part of your high risk auto coverage financial obligations, a nominal fee will be charged when an insurance company provides an SR22 certificate to the state on your behalf.
SR22 Insurance Explained
An SR22 has many names – SR22 insurance, SR22 certificate, and Certificate of Financial Responsibility. And despite popular belief, SR22 insurance is actually not even a type of insurance. Instead, it is a form that verifies whether an individual is carrying a state’s minimum requirement of car insurance and states that the individual is financially responsible for any accidents that may occur.
You as the individual are not able to file the form, but rather, an insurance agency that offers high risk auto insurance must file the form with the state on your behalf. And should you fail to meet any of the specified requirements, that insurance agency is required to inform the state.
SR22 Requirements & Terms
The SR22 insurance terms and requirements vary by state; however, there are some common conditions that apply to everyone. For example, you must retain your SR22 and your high risk driver insurance for the necessary length of time, typically three years for individuals in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Should you fall short of these terms, your insurer is obligated to notify the state of Wisconsin DMV, which will then revoke your driver’s license until the high risk insurance has been reinstated once more.
After all is said and done, and you’ve met your required duration for having an SR22 certificate and high risk insurance, your premiums will lower and you will be able to receive standard rates for your car insurance, as well as a wider variety of coverage options.
Still have questions? Give our team at Action Insurance Agency a call, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have, offer you a free instant quote, and/or get your SR22 insurance filed with the state of Wisconsin. We proudly specialize solely in high risk auto insurance, and we work with only the best providers available in your area.
About Middleton, WI
Two miles west of Madison, Wisconsin, Middleton is located in Dane County and offers a scenic landscape filled with hills, valleys, and prairies, as well as a now-drained 600-acre mud lake called Lake Mendota – an area once used as a gathering place for Ho-Chunk and other Indian nations.
In 1832, a fur-trading post was established by Michel St. Cyr on the northwest shore of Lake Mendota, now known as Mendota County Park. In the 1840s, English settlers first came to the area, which was originally called Peatville for its large quantities of peat extracted from the soil. The village separated from Madison in 1848 and was renamed Middleton, as suggested by Henry Barnes, who was inspired by a location in his native state of Vermont.
Middleton was originally known for its agriculture, as it produced vast quantities of wheat and limestone, and dairy became a staple at the end of the 19th century. However, in the late 20th century, Middleton gradually evolved into a suburb of Madison and is now known for its down-to-earth yet vibrant, growing community.
Where to Get an SR22
You now know about SR22 insurance and you’re ready to get your high risk insurance and your SR22 certificate so you can face your financial responsibility and get back on the road. But how do you go about getting an SR22?
Well, you’re in the right place, because individuals cannot file an SR22 on their own, but rather an insurance agency that specializes in high risk auto insurance (like Action Insurance Agency) must file the SR22 form with the state on an individual’s behalf. You can check with your current auto insurance company to see if SR22 insurance and a high risk auto insurance policy can be added to your current auto coverage; however, not all agencies offer it. If your agency doesn’t, or you’d prefer to shop around, call our local agents at Action Insurance Agency for a free, no-obligation quote.
Why is an SR22 Necessary?
An SR22 shows the state that you have the proper high risk insurance in place after a major infraction has occurred on your driving record. There are a number of reasons you may be required to file an SR22 form – depending on where you live – including:
- A major alcohol violation conviction like a DUI or DWI
- Several traffic offenses, typically over a short period of time
- A requirement in order to obtain a probationary or hardship license
- Driving without insurance and then getting into an accident
- Serious moving violation convictions, such as reckless and negligent driving
- A requirement for the reinstatement of your driver’s license after suspension or revocation
- Being caught for driving without insurance or not carrying it on your registered vehicle
You’ll know if an SR22 is required because the state of Wisconsin DMV or the court you appeared at will send you a letter in the mail explaining why the Certificate of Financial Responsibility is required, what your requirements entail, and how long your SR22 form must stay on file with the state. Once your SR22 is in place, you will be able to get your driver’s license and/or registration reinstated.
For how long do you have to have an SR22?
The period of time that you’ll need to have an SR22 on file with the state varies based on the state, your driving offense, and whether you meet the requirements throughout the initially required duration of time. The average time period is three years, but it can be anywhere from one to five years. Fortunately, those in Middleton, Wisconsin, should see an SR22 insurance duration requirement of about three years.
Knowing how long your high risk driver insurance needs to be in place to meet the minimum requirements is crucial to getting back to your standard insurance rates in a timely fashion. This is because your insurer has to file the form for you with the state, and if you cancel the insurance early, your insurance company is required by law to notify the state. The DMV will then penalize you further, potentially with a license and/or registration suspension or revocation. They may even reset the period of time that you must maintain your SR22 insurance if this were to happen.
Another variable regarding how long you must have an SR22 is the actual start date of your time period, as it can begin with the offense date, the conviction date, the suspension date, or even the date that your license was reinstated. If you need help figuring out how long you will need an SR22 certificate filed with the state based on your specific circumstance, give us a call at Action Insurance Agency – we specialize specifically in high risk auto insurance, and we’re happy to help!
SR22: What happens when you move?
Have you recently moved to any of the following states?
- New Mexico
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- Delaware
- Oklahoma
These states listed above do not require an SR22 Certificate of Financial Responsibility. Nevertheless, each of these states still has its own version of the SR22 form and high risk driver insurance requirements, so you should check with your current or new insurance provider when you move.
If you already have an SR22 in place in one state, and then move to another state before your term is up, typically you’ll still need to meet the conditions of the state where the driving offense was committed. If this applies to you, you’ll need to look for an out-of-state SR22 insurance filing. Fortunately, Action Insurance Agency can help point you in the right direction if you end up moving out of Wisconsin.
Action Insurance Agency & SR22 Insurance Policies
At the end of the day, our team at Action Insurance Agency knows you need the process of receiving and maintaining an SR22 certificate and high risk driver insurance policy to be as simple and painless as possible. Our agents are specialists in this field, have streamlined the process, and are ready to take care of the filing for you.
As you shop around for SR22s, you’ll find that many insurance companies hesitate to take on new customers with major infractions on their driving records. But because we’re specialized in high risk insurance, our agents know our customers have these infractions, and we’re ready to support your needs right away. We’ll be happy to get you an instant quote for SR22 insurance and make sure you are insured by the most reputable providers in Middleton, Wisconsin, that offer this type of insurance coverage. Contact Action Insurance Agency today; we look forward to helping you!