Avoiding Headache and Saving Money on Car Insurance and SR22 in Chicago
Many people wonder about SR22 insurance. Some people think that SR22 insurance is a form of insurance, additional to what they have. This is, of course, wrong.
SR22 insurance is a method of structuring auto liability policy, according to which the insurance company is required to file the policy that the insured has with the State. SR22 or ‘Financial Responsibility’ insurance was found to monitor drivers with troubled driving history.
States do vary in their process and definitions of the SR22 filing. In the Illinois, SR22 insurance fling is Financial Responsibility Insurance and is required from operators with safety suspensions, certain unsatisfied judgment suspensions, certain revocations, mandatory insurance supervisions and people who receive three or more convictions for mandatory insurance violations.
SR22 is a certificate of insurance showing active coverage. The certificate must be filed by the insurance company for a period of time ranging between 1 to 3 years. If the Insured fails to maintain the insurance, then the insurance company will cancel this certificate and will inform the State, at which point the State may suspend the driving privileges of the insured through the SR26 process.
To make it short: SR22 is a an auto liability policy that must be filed with the State. The SR22 must maintain liability limits that conform with the minimum limits set by the state. It is not extra insurance.
Limits of SR22:
States do vary in their minimum requirements for the SR22 insurance. In the State of Illinois the SR-22 insurance must meet certain minimum liability requirements, referred to as (20/14/15). The minimum amount of coverage must be issued for a minimum of $20,000 for one person killed or injured, $40,000 for two or more people killed or injured and a maximum of $15,000 for property damage. There are higher limits, of course at higher premium.
As you get your Sr22 policy:
The following are some tips when you get your SR22:
1. Remember that the SR22 is NOT additional auto insurance. If you have an auto policy you may ask your insurance company to ‘file’ it with the state as an SR22 filing. Some standard and preferred insurers do not offer the service, but other insurers may do without extra charges.
B. If your present insurance carrier does not offer SR22, try to get multiple quotes with scheduling your vehicle on the new policy and without a vehicle (as non-owner). There are no specific rule if you will save more on SR22 filing with / without scheduling your vehicle (it depends on your ZIP codes, age, vehicle type, marital, driving records, etc.) The best way is to make comparison. Many agencies offer free instant quotes for car and non-owner SR22 insurance.
After You Get Your SR22:
If you treat your SR22 insurance the same way as you treat your regular car insurance things can be even more costly. Driving under a cancelled auto policy can bring very unpleasant consequences in the event of accidents. But driving under a cancelled SR22 policy can be very heart aching even without an accident. When SR22 certificate get cancelled (for non payment, failure to comply with certain underwriting requirements, etc.) the insured’s driving privileges get suspended, which my result in arresting the operator and impounding the vehicle for any routine traffic stop.
An advice for people with SR22 filing is to pay their policy in full id they can, or to make sure that they pay their monthly premiums in timely manner (perhaps automatic drafts or similar arrangement.) Cancellation of SR22 for non payment of monthly premium is the most common cause of cancellation. It can be avoided with proper planning.
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Ed Sneineh on January 2nd 2011 in Car Insurance