Certain drivers may find themselves required to carry SR-22 insurance after their license is suspended. When you purchase an SR-22, you must carry the amount of auto insurance required by your state. But, despite its name, an SR-22 isn't actually insurance. Nor is it a substitute for insurance.
An SR-22 is a form that shows you have the amount of insurance required by your state. Generally, this is a minimum amount of auto liability insurance to ensure that other people are covered if you cause an accident resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Your insurance statement is not enough proof in the case of an SR-22, so you must carry both the auto insurance and the SR-22 form.
How Long Do I Need An SR-22?
The amount of time you need to carry an SR-22 varies per state. In Kansas, you must carry an SR-22 for an entire year, while Missouri requires you to carry an SR-22 anywhere between one and three years. Either way, your coverage must be consecutive, and you cannot have any violations to your SR-22. Any violations to your SR-22 may result in an insurance company dropping you and legal action by the court that issued the SR-22 requirement.
SR-22 Insurance Requirements
Auto insurance requirements depend on the state.
Missouri:
- $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 in property damage liability
Kansas:
- $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 in property damage liability
- Personal injury protection (PIP): $4,500 medical expense coverage, $4,500 rehabilitation expenses
You may also be required to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for an accident caused by a driver who does not carry insurance or doesn't have enough coverage to pay for the damages. Required liability is not full coverage. You do not have to carry full coverage auto insurance for your SR-22, though it is recommended.
Along with liability insurance, full coverage auto insurance typically includes:
- Comprehensive Coverage: This provides coverage if your vehicle is damaged due to fire, hail, wind, theft, vandalism or other incident that doesn't include collision.
- Collision Coverage: This provides coverage if your vehicle is damaged due to a collision with another vehicle or object.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): PIP provides coverage for your and your passengers’ medical expenses after an accident, no matter who is at fault.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: This provides compensation if you wreck with a motorist that doesn't have auto insurance coverage.
There is no technical definition of full coverage auto insurance. Instead, full coverage is simply the most coverage you can purchase for your vehicle to be reasonably covered from nearly every incident. If you are prone to wrecks or live in an area where theft, vandalism or weather incidents occur often, you may want to invest in full coverage.
Do I Still Need Auto Insurance If I Don't Have a Car?
If your vehicle has been impounded or you otherwise don't have a vehicle, you must still carry what is known as non-owner SR-22 insurance. This allows you to purchase auto insurance for any vehicle you may borrow or drive without violating your SR-22.
Is SR-22 Insurance Expensive?
Luckily, an SR-22 itself is relatively cheap and can be purchased through your insurance agency. An SR-22 can cost anywhere between $15-$35 to file. This is a one-time payment as opposed to a monthly premium. Your car insurance after a SR-22 requirement will be much more expensive, though. This is not due to the SR-22 itself, but rather the accident or violation that caused the requirement to be issued.
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