Reader’s Question:

Can I still get a license for my motorcycle, if my drivers license has been suspended in Sanford, Maine? Also do I have to obtain SR22 insurance after my license has been reinstated?

Richard

Sanford, ME

States vary on their laws regarding if an individual with a suspended driver’s license can get a motorcycle license. Some states will permit you to have a motorcycle license while some will not permit it while your main driving privileges has been suspended. States, such as Maine, have the motorcycle license as an addendum to your regular motor vehicle license so it is unlikely that you would be able to obtain it without a valid driver’s license.

As for the SR-22 in Sanford, Maine, some states require a SR-22 when a license is reinstated while others will not. You will need to check with your Department of Motor Vehicles in Maine to check if this document as proof of financial responsibility will be required to acquire a valid driver’s license once again. The DMV should also be able to assist you find out if you can obtain a motorcycle license while your driver’s license is suspended.

Tags: auto insurance, sr22 car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I would like to know if there is a mandatory suspension for driving without insurance or is it up to the court system and county’s judge? I live in New Jersey.

Martin

Camden, NJ

Driving uninsured is a serious violation in most areas. The penalty for this violation differs from state to state but can include large fines, impounding of your car (and payment of towing and storage charges incurred), license suspension or revocation, community service or jail time. In most states, such as New Jersey, the mandatory penalties for an individual found driving without insurance are even greater than those for an individual receiving a DUI citation for the first time.

This is regulated by each state.

Also, it is likely you will have to comply with the state’s financial responsibility laws by obtaining an SR22 or SR16.

Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

Can I operate any car with SR22 insurance with permission?

James

Baltimore, MD

Under most state and with most insurance company guidelines, yes, you can drive any car with permission as long as no exclusion applies even with an SR22.

But, if you have a non-owners SR22 then coverage is limited to your personal operation of a car not owned by you or any family member in the household.

You can shop around online for a quote on SR22 financial responsibility certificate.

For you to be able to obtain the general price for an SR22 financial responsibility certificate you need to get a quote. An SR22 generally costs an additional $15-$30 filing fee above and beyond your auto insurance premium rate.

Reader’s Question:

My daughter has an SR-22 in Houston, Texas. And I want to know what the procedure would be to remove it.

Jason

Houston, TX

An SR-22 financial responsibility certificate insurance policy in Texas 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 a high risk insurance policy. It is motor vehicle liability insurance which requires the insurance provider to certify coverage to DPS, and the insurance carrier must notify DPS anytime the policy is cancelled, terminated or lapses.

Once the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) receives notification from the insurance provider that the policy is cancelled, terminated, or lapses appropriate enforcement action may be taken. If the SR-22 is still required and there is not a valid SR-22 on file, the driving privilege and vehicle registration is revoked or suspended.

There is form called SR-26 which must be filed by the insurance company to cancel the SR-22. If your daughter no longer needs the SR-22 he should inform his insurance provider to remove it. Some insurance companies may want him to show documentation from the DPS that the SR22 can be taken off already before doing so and filing the SR-26. Your daughter should contact the DPS to confirm that he can remove the SR-22.

Reader’s Question:

What other financial responsibility that may be used other than sr22?

Roger

Thank you for asking Roger.

Most states permit at least one of these following to be used as financial responsibility:

1. A surety bond issued from surety company.
2. Your car insurance policy.
3. A State Motor Vehicle Department bond secured by real estate equity of a set amount
4. A State Motor Vehicle Department certificate for money or government bonds for a set amount on deposit with the State Treasurer
5. A certificate of proof of financial responsibility signed by an insurance agent on a form prescribed by your state’s Motor Vehicle Department.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Q: What kinds of SR22 proof of financial responsibility are there?

A: There are three main types of SR22 proof of financial responsibility which you can file, and those are

• Owner-operator: This means the car you drive is yours, and so you file your SR22 proof of financial responsibility with an otherwise normal car insurance policy. Owner-operator insurance is the cheapest available, although of course it depends on the options you choose.
• Operator: This means you drive, but you don’t own a car. Since with SR22 insurance you need to have an SR22 filed if you want to have your license back and drive legally, then you need to get operator insurance. Operator, also called non owners insurance, is pretty expensive.
• Owner: This kind of insurance usually applies to business owners–for example, if you own a car lot, or if you own a company which has company cars employees can drive, or a rental company with the rental cars. You’re unlikely to need SR22 insurance for one of these kinds of policies.

Q: Can I get SR22 insurance proof online?

A: You can order bananas online. Do you think SR22 insurance proof is out of reach? Definitely not. A lot of the bigger companies sell policies online, and that includes SR22 insurance. You may have to talk to an agent on the phone to hash out the more complicated ratings for SR22 insurance, but in the end, buying insurance online is just a click away. AND a lot of companies give you a discount if you do it this way–basically, they’re paying you to do all of this while you sit on your butt in your house.

Some companies file SR22 insurance proof, too. If you go this route, it’ll save you a lot of time, since filing SR22 forms through snail mail can take up to thirty days, whereas if you do it online, it’s more like forty eight hours. Even if everything concerning filing isn’t done online, some companies still save a lot of time by letting you print your SR22 insurance proof off of their website, sign it, and take it up to the DMV office yourself.

Q: How much does DUI financial responsibility cost?

A: A LOT.

Not specific enough? Okay, I’ll break it down. There are two (2) things about your DUI financial responsibility which will inflate your prices. One is that, unless you live in one of the lucky two states which don’t require them, you will have to pay an SR22 filing fee. These aren’t too bad–usually around $15 or $30, but you may see a rise in your premiums just because you have the word SR22 attached to your policy. That’s a four letter word for car insurance companies, literally and figuratively.

Secondly, well…you were convicted of driving drunk. If you expected your car insurance company to give you a parade when they found out you needed DUI financial responsibility, you have another thing coming. When you get SR22 insurance for a DUI, your costs often triple or quadruple, because you are so high risk.

You don’t have to panic. Yeah, DUI financial responsibility insurance is expensive, but you can still dig for quotes, raise deductibles, walk a lot, get discounts, and on and on if you want cheaper premiums.

Q: What is the Sr22 Financial responsibility form?

A: The Sr22 Financial responsibility form is a very expensive piece of paper, which may be required of you by a judge or simply by the law or your state. You may be required to file an SR22 form if you have violated a certain traffic or insurance law. It all depends on what state you live in, but some typical things which will get you in trouble and filing an SR22 are driving drunk and driving uninsured, so if you do any of those things, unless you’re in a state which doesn’t require SR22s at all, then you’re stuck.

Your Sr22 Financial responsibility acts as proof of car insurance coverage with your Department of Motor Vehicles, and in most cases you will have to file it for three years. Some states, like Texas, have shorter filing periods, while other states have filing periods which vary depending on your category of offense and how many times you have reoffended.

An Sr22 Financial responsibility form is require to reinstate a suspended license. Once your license is reinstated, if you don’t pay your premium any time during your required filing period, your license is yet again suspended.

Reader’s Question:

Can I have an sr22 without getting liability or insurance for my vehicle?

Kim

Thank you for asking Kim.

Most states usually require vehicle owners to purchase a minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance before they can drive legally their vehicles. All states have laws on financial responsibility. This means that individuals involved in a car accident will be mandated to provide proof of financial responsibility up to certain minimum amount limits. To comply with financial responsibility laws, most drivers buy car liability insurance.

You may be able to purchase a non-owners liability SR22 policy if you do not own a motor vehicle.

Goodluck!

MariCAR