Need an SR-22? We file them fast.

How an SR-22 actually works

People call it "SR-22 insurance," but the SR-22 itself is a one-page certificate. Here is the order it happens in:

1. You buy an auto insurance policy that meets or beats California's 30/60/15 minimum.
2. Your insurance company files the SR-22 certificate electronically with the California DMV.
3. The DMV records it and, once anything else on your list is cleared, lifts the hold on your license.
4. You keep the policy active for the full period, usually three years.

The filing itself costs very little. What shapes your price is the policy underneath it.

Who needs one in California

• A DUI or DWI: the most common reason, and the longest requirement.
• Driving without insurance, especially if an accident was involved.
• An accident while you were uninsured.
• Getting a suspended license reinstated.
• Too many points on your DMV history in a given period.

Your DMV order spells out exactly what you need and for how long. Bring it with you. It is the fastest way to get the filing right the first time.

No car? There is still a path.

If the DMV wants a filing but you do not own a vehicle, a non-owner SR-22 is the answer. It covers you when you drive cars you do not own and takes care of the filing, usually for less than a policy on a vehicle.

It is a common fit for drivers who sold the car during a suspension, drive a work vehicle, or borrow from family while getting back on their feet.

The one thing to watch

If an SR-22 policy stops for any reason, your insurance company has to tell the DMV. That notice can put your license back on hold and, in a lot of cases, restart the three-year clock.

This is the one mistake worth going out of your way to avoid. If money is going to be tight in a given month, call us before the due date rather than after. There is almost always more we can do beforehand.