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Definition
An SR-22 is not an insurance policy — it is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility that your insurance company files electronically with your state's DMV, certifying that you carry the legally required minimum auto insurance coverage. Courts and DMVs require SR-22 filings after serious violations: DUI/DWI, driving while uninsured, license suspension for excessive points, or reckless driving. The filing requirement typically lasts 3 years of continuous coverage. If your policy lapses for even one day during the SR-22 period, your insurer must notify the DMV immediately, triggering automatic license suspension. Expect premium increases of 20–70% while carrying an SR-22. Florida and Virginia use a higher-limit FR-44 filing specifically for DUI convictions.
Also Known As
SR22
certificate of financial responsibility
FR-44 (FL/VA for DUI)
high-risk insurance certificate
Used in Context
- After a DUI conviction in Arizona, the court required a 3-year SR-22 filing — the driver's insurer filed it with the MVD the same day, but his premium jumped from $1,400 to $2,600 annually.
- When the high-risk driver switched insurers to save money, he forgot to request the SR-22 transfer — a 4-day gap in coverage caused the DMV to suspend his license automatically.
- Florida's FR-44 (required for DUI convictions) mandates higher liability limits than a standard SR-22: 100/300/50 vs. the state minimum 10/20/10, further increasing insurance costs for DUI offenders.
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