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Written by:

Elijah Black

Lead Insurance Writer

Elijah Black is a Greenville, South Carolina native with a B.A. English from Coastal Carolina University. He is a fiction writer and also works as a freelance writer and editor. He’s worked as a Production Assistant for WYFF 4 and has been published in several publications and websites across the United States.

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Written by Elijah Black

Lead Insurance Writer

Reviewed by:

Rachael Brennan

Licensed Auto Insurance Agent

Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states. After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health in...

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Reviewed by Rachael Brennan

Licensed Auto Insurance Agent

UPDATED: Dec 4, 2023

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SR-22 Form Requirements – Things You’ll Need

As with most types of car insurance coverage, SR-22 requirements can vary from state to state. In fact, some states do not require SR-22 insurance at all. However if you live in a state that requires this type of insurance, you should be prepared by having what you need.

An SR-22 is actually not a type of insurance but a type of form an insurance carrier fills out. It is also known as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, or CFR. Here are some things you may need in order to acquire your SR22:

* There is generally nominal fee required for filing the SR-22 form, which can range from an average of $25 or less. Keep in mind this is separate from the cost of the premiums required to maintain your SR-22 insurance. In some cases as much as a year of coverage must be paid in advance in order to prove your commitment to financial responsibility.

* You should take care of any outstanding fines related to charges that may have resulted in the need for SR-22 insurance.

* Personal information such as address, date of birth, social security number and other similar data must be provided.

* Documentation relating to your circumstances may also be necessary.

* You must also provide information about the vehicle you will be driving, including title and information about the person it is registered to in the case of non owner SR22.

You may also be requested to provide additional information such as your car insurance coverage history. If you are meeting with a potential insurance provider, confirm before your appointment time what you need to bring in order to set up your SR-22 insurance.

Handling SR-22 Form Filing

The good news about filing the SR-22 form is that you only need to provide information and the insurance carrier takes care of the rest. The process does not have to be complicated or confusing as long as you know what to expect and what information you should bring. One very important thing to keep in mind is that you should make sure the carrier you choose does have the ability to file SR-22 forms.

It is generally a good idea to shop around for rates for SR-22 insurance coverage before agreeing to allow a company to file this form for you. Some other things to consider before making a choice for which company to choose is:

* The cost of the filing fee is usually no more than $25.

* How much must you pay up front? Some companies require as much as a year in advance as this policy is to demonstrate your commitment to financial responsibility

* The length of time the company expects the filing to take. Once the filing occurs, it still takes the state DMV some time to process the request. However some companies file faster than others, which can reduce the time it takes to have your driver’s license reinstated.

Once you have your SR-22 policy in place, it is important to avoid having any lapses in coverage. If you decide to change your policy or company make sure you do not have any periods of time without coverage.

Key Things to Remember

For one thing you should keep in mind that SR-22 is also referred to as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, or CFR. There are generally three types of these SR-22 forms: car or owner SR-22 insurance, motorcycle SR-22 insurance, and non owner SR-22 insurance.

So some important things to remember include:

* There is usually a filing fee for the SR-22 of approximately $25.

* The fee is not part of the premium costs. In some cases you may be required to pay up to a full year in advance in order to demonstrate your commitment.

* The requirements vary by state based on bodily injury, total cost of bodily injury per accident and expense for repair or replacement of vehicle. When possible, it is a good idea to carry more than the required minimum; in the event of an accident any expense greater than the insurance coverage is yours to pay for out of pocket.

* States have minimum requirements shown as, for example, 15/45/15. The first number is the thousands of dollars the carrier will pay out to cover bodily injury per person. The second number is for the total cost of bodily injury for all persons involved in the accident. The final number is for the coverage for property damage.

* SR-22 is similar to liability coverage, in the sense that the other driver and passengers in the accident will be covered, but your own expenses are still yours to cover.

Regardless of the type of SR-22 insurance you obtain, you must keep proof of this insurance on you at all times. It is also important to avoid any lapses in coverage during the mandatory three years of required coverage.

Understanding the DMV SR-22 Form

Different states have different requirements for filing SR-22 insurance. Also known as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, or CFR, if you are required to have thus type of insurance you must obtain it. Securing SR-22 insurance will be part of getting your driver’s license reinstated and being able to drive legally.

Although it is the duty of the auto insurance carrier to complete the SR-22 form, it is still a good idea to know some of what may be required for the form. Some of what will need to be provided can include but may not be limited to:

* Full legal name and address

* Case number, current policy number, driver’s license number, date of birth and social security number

* Dates the current SR-22 insurance will be effective for

For the owner’s policy: Make and model of vehicle and VIN or Vehicle Identification Number.

Operator’s policy or non-owned vehicle: Possible data about vehicle and owner

The insurance carrier provider will also need to include the name of the company, the signature of the representative and the date of the form completion.

Before meeting with someone to complete your own SR-22 form, you should check with the company to see what documentation you may need to have on hand. Even if you have had SR-22 coverage in one state and file in another, the requirements may be different. You should also speak to your representative ahead of time to decide if you will be filing for owner or non owner SR-22 so you have everything you need for the filing.