Our insurance companies do not determine how long your SR-22 must be kept; the state requiring you to obtain the SR-22 form is the one that determines how long you must hold it

The SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility is not required by an insurance company but by your state. In general the normal amount of time that one must carry the SR22 form is 3 years however state laws vary and even in a state the time can vary depending upon the reason that the SR-22 is required.

Insurance companies do not mandate when and for how long you must obtain and maintain the SR-22. Instead after you have been convicted of certain offenses or need to reinstate your license state laws typically require you to carry this type of insurance and certificate of financial responsibility (SR-22) and an insurance company helps you get this done by filing the SR-22 for you.

The SR22 itself is a form that shows that you have financial responsibility on your vehicle through auto insurance. Typically it is required by the state for drivers who are high risk. While each state has their own reasons or circumstances that require a motorist to obtain and maintain the SR-22 here are some general reasons a state might require you to file an SR-22 form:

• DUI or DWI (drunk driving or under the influence of drugs)
• serious moving violations such as reckless driving
• compiling too many DMV points in a short period of time
• being termed a habitual traffic offender
• convicted of driving without insurance
• causing an accident while uninsured
• reinstating your license after a suspension or revocation

So the insurance companies we work with do not tell you how long you must keep the SR-22 attached to your auto insurance policy, your state tells you. To find out under what circumstances your specific state requires the SR-22 and for how long you must carry this as part of your car insurance, if you have already been notified that it is required, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicle.

If you are required to carry this form than to have the SR-22 form filed for you by an insurance company you would need to purchase the insurance coverages you are required to by the state from an insurance carrier that files SR22s with the proper state department for its policyholders.

The SR-22 form is something that the insurance company has and will file once you have purchased the insurance required of you by the state. Policyholders can be given the form to take to the license office. In some situation, it can be downloaded online or mailed. Some carriers offer instant SR-22s, while others require it to be filed before mailing it to you.

If you are required to file a SR-22, you can shop with us to see if we can fulfill your needs. We now offer an SR-22 through Direct General Insurance Company, Esurance, Safeco Insurance, and/or Unitrin Direct.

If you are unable to find a company that can file the SR-22 for you then check with your state's insurance regulator who should be able to advise you where to find an insurance provider in your area that you can purchase the required insurance from and file the SR-22 form on your behalf.