Does SR-22 Follow Me?

If you are a driver who has SR-22 insurance, you will likely find this requirement to be inconvenient.

But, you shouldn’t take an SR-22 lightly. An SR-22 means that your driving history indicates that you are a high risk for incidents on the road.

You might have had to get an SR-22 after getting a DUI or having a series of accidents or multiple tickets. Your insurance company files SR-22 insurance with your DMV office.

SR-22 forms essentially confirm for a state that you have auto insurance. They are not insurance policies themselves.

An SR-22 form usually stays on your DMV record for a certain period of time. This time varies by state. It is important to maintain SR-22 insurance for its entire duration. However, you might ask if you move out of state, does the SR-22 requirement follow you?

The answer is usually yes.

Almost all states, besides a handful, require drivers to maintain SR-22 insurance. States determine the amount of time and other requirements associated with SR-22.

This might lead some people to think that by moving from a state with SR-22 requirements to a state without SR-22 requirements means you can get out of carrying an SR-22.

You will likely still have to carry the SR-22 insurance in your new state. This is regardless of whether you live in a state that requires SR-22 insurance or not. 

You will likely have to update your insurance, driver's license and plates upon moving to a new state. Your new state’s DMV will likely find out that your old state’s insurance policy carries an SR-22. Your new state might make you carry the existing SR-22 until it expires. You may have to carry the SR-22 even if the new state doesn't issue SR-22 insurance itself.

If you fail to continue carrying the SR-22 insurance, your auto insurance rates might go up. You might even lose your driving privileges or face other penalties.

You should work with your insurance company when you are moving to make sure that you aren’t accidentally waiving an existing SR-22.