What is SR22 Auto Insurance? Who Needs It?

Reader’s Question:

My name is Harold and I’m in Texas. What is SR-22?

Harold

San Antonio, TX

Harold, that’s quite a straightforward question. Well, SR-22 means you’ve been a bad driver, and the state of Texas wants to make sure that you will be able to financially cover the people that will be hurt and the property you damage if you cause an accident. There, I hope that was a straightforward answer.

You are “requested” by the state of Texas or the courts to carry this if you’ve just been in an accident and you were the party at fault, but you weren’t able to cover the aftermath financially. If that happens, the court or the state will want to make sure that the next time it happens, you will be sufficiently covered and the other party will be properly taken care of. To make sure, the court or state will ask you to have SR-22. You will bring this to your auto insurance company and have them sign it or fill it up. You will then bring the SR-22 form back to the state to show that you have auto insurance coverage.

Finding an auto insurance company willing to cover you is going to be harder, though. SR-22s are not popular with auto insurance companies. If ever you find one, the auto insurance premium is going to be higher than usual. And also, you are required to carry the SR-22 for at least two years.

Auto Insurance Canceled Due to Speeding Ticket in Texas?

Reader’s Question:

I’m from Texas and I’d like to know if my auto insurance will be canceled if I get a speeding ticket?

Brenda

San Antonio, TX

Yes, insurers may decline to issue or renew your car insurance policy based on your driving record. Your driving record includes tickets you have gotten or reports on car accidents you have caused. Car insurance providers check the state database of traffic violations every so often to make sure that their policyholders have no unreported traffic citations. Insurers have the prerogative of canceling your insurance policy for any reason within the two months of your initial purchase. This means that if you get a speeding ticket within that two-month period, your car insurance provider could cancel your policy. After the two-month period, your motor vehicle insurance provider may not cancel your coverage unless you were unable to pay your premium.

Most insurers do not refuse to renew or cancel your policy for a single speeding ticket. However, they may increase your rates if you renew your policy. Also, most motor vehicle insurance companies check your driving record for the past three years, so you may want to take a defensive driving course to remove tickets from your driving record. Most Texas law enforcers permit you to take a 6-hour defensive driving course. You will be required to pay to take this course and it can only be taken once a year to remove one ticket. This however does not remove your ticket for speeding more than 25 miles the prescribed limit.