An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility required for some drivers, either by their state or a court order. It is not an actual type of insurance, but a form filed with your state.
It is a car insurance provider’s guarantee to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that you have obtained and will maintain the legally required auto insurance coverage.
Serious offenses that require SR-22 insurance include DUI, vehicular assault, or other serious violations involving negligence or severe endangerment of other drivers or pedestrians.
As soon as the SR-22 is filed and accepted by the DMV, your license suspension will be lifted and you will be able to drive legally again.
Although you’ll usually hear it called “SR-22 insurance,” SR-22 is different from regular car insurance policies. It serves as a special policy endorsement, proving you are holding car insurance coverage that meets the legal standards for financial responsibility in your state.
In effect, even the best insurance with SR-22 probably doesn’t offer you any more protection than a basic car insurance policy.
It simply verifies that you have enough insurance to meet your obligations if you are in an accident. Unfortunately, it can be very expensive.
It is not unusual for SR-22 to be twice as costly as regular insurance.