sr-22 | Amigo Insurance

One particularly devastating form of driving violation is a DUI. DUI charges stem from drivers who operate a vehicle while drunk or otherwise intoxicated. This is a serious driving mistake because intoxicated drivers are not in full control of their faculties. This impairment therefore makes vehicle operations unsafe. It is dangerous not only to the affected driver but others on the road.

Should you receive a DUI, you will likely face various extremely serious penalties. These might include things like license suspensions, jail time and increased insurance prices. Not least, it may lead to the requirement to get an SR-22. You don’t want to get these penalties, particularly the SR-22. They could each lead to severe financial punishment.

Why is Intoxicated Driving Unsafe?

One way to think of intoxication is as using an overwhelming substance. It muddles a driver’s faculties and often reduces their ability to process information. Some of the effects of intoxication might include:

Dizziness, blurred vision and problems hearing
Reduced attention span and memory retention
Amnesia and blackouts
Reckless or impulsive reactions
Decreased hand-eye coordination
Headaches
Breathing difficulties

And more.

It’s easy to see why getting behind the wheel while intoxicated might lead to problems. If you do not have alert, coordinated control of your vehicle and actions you could make mistakes. This could lead to accidents, injuries or even death, not just for yourself but for others. In 2016, nearly one-third of all traffic deaths in the U.S. involved an intoxicated driver. This is a signal for concern for all drivers.

The Penalties of Drunk Driving

Given the risks associated with drunk driving, it’s easy to see why it carries such stiff penalties. Every state institutes different penalties for DUI charges. Some might include:

License suspensions or points on the license
Revocation of vehicle registration
Arrest, jail time, house arrest or probation
Vehicle monitoring. This might include instances where you must blow into a breathalyzer device to start your vehicle.
Financial penalties

And more.

DUI arrests might also impact your ability to get affordable car insurance. Many drivers don’t think about how an insurance policy

After a DUI, you might face an increased policy premium, or even a denial of your coverage. Many drivers don’t think about what a DUI might mean to their car insurance providers. Car insurers determine premiums based on the risks that drivers present to them. It’s easy to understand how DUIs can easily demonstrate to your insurer that you are a high-risk operator.

Avoid SR-22 Penalties

After a DUI, the authorities might require you to get an SR-22 form. If you’ve never heard of an SR-22, now is a good time to familiarize yourself. You don’t want it to happen to you.

An SR-22 is a form that attaches to your existing car insurance. The form serves as a verification for the state that you have car insurance. Your insurance agent will send the DMV the SR-22, and you will have to keep the form active for a period of years.

States that use the SR-22 penalty can, in effect, force drivers to carry auto insurance. Like your insurer, your state will view a DUI charge as a signal that you present high operating risks. Therefore, they’re likely going to want you to carry car insurance. Your coverage will help guarantee to the state that you don’t pose as high a risk to other drivers.

Keeping your SR-22 will need attention. First, you make have to make adjustments to your existing insurance to qualify for the form. Afterwards, you must not let the policy lapse. If you do, the SR-22 period will likely start over. Other penalties might also arise.

Avoid Drunk Driving and Become a Safer Driver

You can avoid an SR-22 by being a safe driver. In the case of intoxicated driving, you can solve the problem through only one action—not driving drunk. To avoid this, take common-sense actions:

When drinking socially, take public transportation, a car service or a taxi.
Ask a member of your party to serve as a designated driver. That person will not consume alcohol. They’ll be your chauffer to make sure everyone gets around safely.
If you drive your car to an event, but become intoxicated, don’t drive home. Give your keys to a trusted, sober friend and ask them to drive you home. Or, leave your car at the establishment overnight and claim it later.
Even if you have one drink, realize that it might impact your faculties. Never drink without eating food and drinking water to help absorb the alcohol. Even if you feel fine, you might still become intoxicated. Should you make the choice to drive, only do so at your own risk.

Avoiding drunk driving will not only keep you safe, it will also protect others on the road. Driving while intoxicated is one of the most dangerous scenarios on the road. However, if you don’t do so, you’ll do your part to create safer roads for us all. Call us for a Chicago auto insurance quote at 877-999-2644.

Sometimes, minor traffic violations are more inconvenient than anything else. However, severe violations might show that you are a danger to yourself and others on the road. Each state has different ways of penalizing those who commit serious driving infractions. Penalties might include a requirement to get an SR-22 certificate.

If this is the first time that you have to get an SR-22, you might not understand what it is. SR-22s are certificates that essentially verify that you carry auto insurance. If you have serious driving violations, your state might require you to carry this form.

How You Can Get an SR-22 Penalty

Often, SR-22s penalties originate following dangerous behind-the-wheel violations by drivers. They may arise after drivers receive charges of:

Multiple or severe accidents
Many speeding tickets
Driving without insurance
Driving without a valid license or registration
DUI or DWI violations

Or other offenses.

Each state determines its SR-22 laws. Indeed, some states do not have SR-22 penalties at all, and won’t require the certificate. However, even if you live in a non-SR-22 state, you can still receive SR-22 penalties in another state. Visit your state’s DMV, motor vehicle service, or public safety websites for information about particular laws.

Understanding the SR-22

An SR-22 might impact the way you carry and afford auto insurance. Therefore, it is important that first-time recipients understand what the SR-22 is. Many people mistakenly believe that SR-22 coverage is a special type of car insurance.

If a driver commits serious violations, the authorities might classify them as high risks. High-risk drivers usually have a greater chance of causing property damage, injuries to third parties or damage to their own vehicle.

States understand the potential for damage that high-risks drivers carry with them. Many states have instituted the SR-22 rule as a way to protect high-risk drivers and others on the road. You can view the SR-22 as a way that states make doubly sure that high-risk drivers carry auto insurance.

SR-22s are not insurance policies. They are certificates that attach to existing auto insurance. Once attached to your insurance policy, the SR-22 goes to your state authorities. It verifies for the state that you have active auto insurance.

How Will the SR-22 Affect My Insurance?

When you get an SR-22, you will need to immediately contact your insurance agent. Your agent will be a source of information and assistance during this time.

SR-22s belong to drivers who carry a lot of risk, and insurance companies know this. Therefore, just as the state will view you as high-risk, so might your insurer.

When insurers issue policies, they assume risks associated with that driver. They base the amount of risk the driver has on varying factors. However, each factor impacts a driver’s likelihood of filing a claim. The more likely a driver is to file a claim, the higher their risk level usually is. The insurer may increase the driver’s premium because they have a higher chance of having to pay a claim for the driver.

Since SR-22s show a high risk, insurers will likely raise premiums for drivers who carry them. Some even refuse to cover the highest-risk drivers, including SR-22 carriers.

Getting and Maintaining Your SR-22

The thing to do when you get an SR-22 is to keep your wits about you. You usually have to follow a specific process to file the certificate. Contact your insurance agent or insurance company and notify them of the requirement. Your agent can then tell you how the SR-22 will impact your coverage.

If your insurer refuses to cover you any longer, your agent might be able to help you find a new policy.
You might need to consider adjusting your insurance coverage to higher limits. Your agent can often help you do that.
Some independent insurance agencies do not issue SR-22 certificates. You might have to seek policy assistance from another resource to get the filing. Be sure to verify with the state that it is in receipt of the certificate
Sometimes, you might have to file the SR-22 with the state yourself. In others, the agency might be able to file the SR-22 on your behalf.

There are usually costs associated with your SR-22 coverage. A simple filing fee is usually quite nominal, around $25 in most cases. However, you might face other costs. For example, the insurance company issuing the SR-22 may require you to pay your full premium up front. This helps make sure that your policy will not expire or cancel due to lack of payment. Remember, your premium may go up, and stay that way for a while.

The good news is, your SR-22 is usually temporary. Most first-time offenders have to keep the SR-22 active on their licenses for about 2-3 years. However, the key to getting an SR-22 is to not re-offend. If you commit further driving offenses during the SR-22 period, it may drive your rates up further or cause the penalty period to start over.

The SR-22 certificate is nothing to disregard or take lightly. You must adhere to its requirements like any other penalty. Talk to your insurance agent to make sure your auto insurance coverage and certificate meet all lawful requirements. With the correct protection, you can ensure that you will finish your SR-22 penalty without lingering consequences. Contact us to learn more about SR-22s in Chicago.