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Written by:
Prachi Singh
Contributing Writer
Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.
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Reviewed by:
Laura Longero
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Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Bond insurance is sometimes another term used for an SR-22, but it is a surety bond or deposit in other states. An SR-22 is a bond or filing made by an insurance company to your state, proving you have at least the state minimum required amount of liability insurance.

It is usually required to verify to the state your financial responsibility when driving a vehicle after obtaining a citation for a DUI/DWI or driving without insurance.

States require financial responsibility requirements to be met. That means you must be able to show financial responsibility for your actions behind the wheel of a car.

Most states allow at least one of these items to be used as financial responsibility:

  • Your car insurance policy.
  • A surety bond issued by any authorized surety company.
  • A State Motor Vehicle Department bond secured by real estate equity of a set amount (for example, Ohio requires at least $60,000, same for New Mexico, California requires $35,000).
  • A State Motor Vehicle Department certificate for money or government bonds for a set amount on deposit with the State Treasurer (usually has a lesser amount required).
  • A certificate of proof of financial responsibility signed by an insurance agent on a form prescribed by your state’s Motor Vehicle Department.

Not all states allow for bonds for car insurance. Typically, it is used to show proof of financial responsibility and meet the state’s insurance requirements. A bond is not recommended to cover you when working at a dealership. You must be covered under a business or commercial auto policy.

It is doubtful this is what you need to cover your car and the vehicles you drive at work. If you need auto insurance for your personal car and vehicles you test drive or work on at the dealership, you should speak with your insurance company to see what they suggest. You can also check with the dealerships to see if you have been added to their business policy and if that covers you sufficiently.

 — Michelle Megna contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

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Laura Longero

Executive Editor

Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

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John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Contributing Writer

Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.