Under SR-22 requirements in Texas, you typically have to obtain and carry an SR-22 for two years.
An SR-22 insurance policy is a certificate of insurance that shows the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) proof of insurance for the future, as required by law. SR-22 insurance is not necessarily “high-risk” insurance. It is motor vehicle liability insurance which requires the insurance company to certify coverage to DPS, and the insurance company must notify DPS anytime the policy is canceled, terminated, or lapsed.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the SR-22 is required for two years from the date of the crash, the date of conviction, or the date the judgment was rendered. You can look up details of SR-22 insurance in Texas on the state’s public safety website.
You do not need to own a car to buy this kind of insurance — some car insurance companies do non-owner SR-22 filings. You need to get the policy and SR-22 form from an insurance agent authorized to write liability insurance for Texas.
If the Texas DPS receives notification from the insurance company that the policy associated with your SR-22 is canceled, terminated, or lapses while you are required to keep it in force, your license and vehicle registration will be suspended.
The SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility can be required for a number of reasons in Texas. It is part of the driver’s license reinstatement process after:
- driving under the influence of alcohol suspension
- drug offense suspension
- driving while license is suspended/invalid suspension
- driving without insurance suspension
- an uninsured crash resulting in your license being suspended
- suspension of your driver’s license due to an unsatisfied judgment arising out of a traffic crash
How much does SR-22 in Texas cost?
The only way to determine exactly how much your SR-22 insurance policy will actually cost is to get a personalized quote. It pays to shop around and compare auto insurance quotes; for example, one insurance company may look at a DUI very differently than another.
However, the average yearly car insurance cost for Texas drivers for filing an SR-22 with one DUI is $2,701, or 64% higher than coverage without a DUI for SR-22, based on a CarInsurance.com rate analysis.
Visit our state page to find out more about Texas car insurance.
— Michelle Megna contributed to this story.
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