What Is An SR-22?
An SR-22 is a document prepared by an insurance company that can verify whether someone has car insurance. It is not only prepared by the insurance company but also filed by them with the Missouri Department of Revenue (the Department of Motor Vehicles, or “DMV” in Missouri).
So now that we know what an SR-22 is, when would a person need one? It is normally required when a person is seeking to either have their driver’s license reinstated or after someone has been convicted of a DWI or DUI in Missouri. An SR-22 can also be necessary if a person is convicted of reckless driving or was an uninsured driver that caused an accident.
With respect to a DWI conviction in Missouri, the SR-22 will be required for a set number of years. If the person fails to pay the premiums, the SR-22 can be cancelled and when that happens another document called an SR-26 is filed with the Missouri Department of Revenue, which notifies them of the cancellation and once received, the person’s license is suspended until a new SR-22 can be obtained and filed.
The SR-22 can be costly because the insurance company considers the person who needs one to be a high risk driver. The higher the risk of insuring someone, the higher the premiums.
The SR-22 also requires a minimum amount of coverage in Missouri, which $25,000 for one person who is killed or injured, $50,000 for two or more persons killed or injured and also $10,000 for property damage.
It’s important to remember that if you need an SR-22 that you don’t delay in getting one. If you’re license is suspended, you can’t drive and if you drive, you can get additional driving while suspended tickets in Missouri, which can lead to further costs and further problems on your driving record.
A sample of what an SR-22 document looks like can be found here: http://dor.mo.gov/pdf/sr22.pdf