What is an SR22? Who are required to get it? How do you avoid it?

Dan

Seattle WA

An SR22 auto insurance will be required if a driver has been convicted for drunk driving, driving without an insurance or driving with a suspended license. This form is a proof that the driver has the necessary coverage in the event of an accident. The laws for every state vary though.

In order to avoid the hassle and associated costs of an SR22 auto insurance, there are some things that you can do. For one, take note of those offenses that are considered grave and would likely lead to a conviction. If you know what to avoid, it would be easier for you to abide by the law.

Be a responsible driver at all times. Responsibility on the road means exercising care to avoid harming other people and their properties. This includes getting the prescribed minimum insurance coverage in your state. Once you have the certificate, place it in the car so that you can present it during routine traffic stops.

Part of being responsible is to avoid using substances that are prohibited. Being under the influence of a substance does not only endanger yourself, it also endangers other people while you are behind the wheel.

Obviously, another way of avoiding an SR22 insurance is not to drive when you’ve had an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol affects the reflexes, which will certainly lead to accidents. You’re fortunate if the accident is minor and does not harm any one.

As you can see, all of these things are not difficult to accomplish. They only require self-discipline. You’re not even asked to shell out anything or do an extra mile. If you are doing all of these, keep up the good habits. If not, practice makes perfect.

I have been hearing a lot about SR22 Insurance from people around Texas. What is SR22 and why a driver needs it? Is SR22 only for those who have been convicted with DWI/DUI?

Sarah

Amarillo, TX

SR22 is a state law that gives back the driver his or her driver’s license that has been suspended due to serious violations on the road. Actually, the SR22 is something you can show that you have car insurance if your license has been suspended due to lack of insurance. SR22 requires you to keep it up for a certain period of time and the time depends on your state’s law. SR22 is not only for those who have been convicted of DUI, a driver also needs it if he or she lacks insurance, several speeding tickets but it is more useful for those who drunk drive.

You need SR22 insurance in Texas for you to drive legally, so if your license has been suspended because you don’t have insurance then you cannot have car insurance without your license. Having SR22 in this situation is the only way you can have your license back. But if you have been caught drunk driving, your SR22 will still help you get your driver’s license but cannot help you lower your car insurance rate. Anyway, any reason that you got your driver’s license suspended makes you car insurance rate higher. You need SR22 insurance for you to be allowed to get car insurance as well as to drive but then you still need to traffic rules and regulations for when you get any ticket, it will cancel your SR22.

In Illinois, is there a law that say I am required to take their damaged vehicle to the  insurance carriers referred shop?

Clark

Springfield, IL

No I am not aware of any law that say you can take your damaged car to your Springfield, Illinois insurance carrier’s referred repair shop.

You are not required in the state of Illinois to use the insurance carrier’s preferred shop, or any that they referred you to. The Illinois Department of Insurance states that you are not required to use your insurnce carrier’s suggested repair shop for your wrecked car to be repaired. So you may be able to choose your own shop to repair your car but, if your repair shop charges more than the insurance provider suggested shop, you may probably have to pay the difference.

According to the Illinois Department of Insurance there is no law that states limits the number the company can ask for or how many estimates you must submit. Your insurance carrier may ask for various estimates to determine the median cost to fix your car.

If I got into an accident in another state, how long will it take for the insurance claim to be processed if I am at fault? I have my insurance with the insurer in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Edward

Indianapolis, IN

The amount of time it takes to process your car insurance claim is the same regardless of where it happens. The amount of time it takes can differ on several factors such as how timely both parties respond, amount of injuries and/or damage caused, number of claimants involved, etc.

Insurance providers in Indianapolis, Indiana like to process insurance claims quickly as it is in all party’s involved best interest to do so. You can ask the insurance claims adjuster how long he or she expects that it might take given the specific information with regards your particular car insurance claim.

If I have a car in Arcadia, California that has been off the road for more than a year now because it is in the process of being repaired. My question is, do I still need to register and insure it?

Julian

Arcadia, CA

You need to contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles in Arcadia, California to verify if you need to keep this car registered and insured.

In California they have more strict guidelines for inoperable vehicles. California law requires cars to be currently registered if they are driven, stored, towed, parked on public highways or roads or parked in an off-street public parking facility at any time during the period of registration.

If you have an inoperable car in California , you can apply for non-operational status on the car and pay a planned non-operation (PNO) fee. Once this status is placed on a vehicle’s record, it stays until you decide to drive the car and pay full registration renewal fees.

Is there any program that I can enroll in or is there anything that I can do to reduce two points off my NJ license?

New Jersey does have ways in which licensed NJ drivers can reduce points from their MVR.

Up to three points can be subtracted from your driving record point total one year after:

• your license restoration; or
• your last point violation; or
• your driving record was violation or suspension free for the past year;
• you complete an MVC driver improvement program offered to problem drivers selected by the MVC. You can receive credit only once every 2 years.
• the last time annual safe driving points were subtracted from your record;

You total points will never go below zero. If you go without license violations or traffic violation for many consecutive years though you can zero out your total points. For the 2 points you have currently, you may contact the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to find an approved traffic school to attend so that two points can be remove from your record.

What are auto insurance rate factors you can change on you auto insurance to lower it?

Anna

Portland, OR

In many states insurance carriers allowed to set up their own rates and do so by using certain rating factors or risk factors to determine a driver’s car insurance rate. These factors are essential because statistically they can assist determine those drivers that will be more of a risk for an insurance company and therefore their rates will be higher. The factors are essential for a motorist or policyholder to know so that they are sufficiently informed on what criteria their rates are set.

Some of the factors that most insurance providers use are: age, gender, marital status, geography, driving record, claims history, vehicle type, occupation, education etc.

Rating factors that you can change more easily than others are the type of cars you drive, the limits of your policy and the miles driven each year.