What is an SR-22?
Lots of my clients have to get an SR-22. I will briefly explain what that is here.
An SR-22 is a high-risk, high-liability insurance policy that is required when one does not have a valid Texas driver’s license. If you are driving with an occupational license, you are required to keep an SR-22. Also, if you don’t have a driver’s license and cannot get one due to the inability to prove residency, an SR-22 may be the only kind of insurance policy you can get.
An SR-22 is a liability insurance policy, which means it will cover other drivers who have damages due to your causation of an accident.
What makes it different, and why it is required if you have an occupational, is that it is a liability insurance policy the state monitors very closely. If you do not pay your premium, and you fall out of coverage, the insurance company is required to call DPS and make sure they know that you do not have insurance.
If you are driving on an occupational, the validity of your occupational is directly dependent on having an SR-22. If you do not stay current on your SR-22 while you have an occupational, if you are pulled over and asked for your license, the police will know that YOUR OCCUPATIONAL IS INVALID. Although you can still show proof of your occupational, you will still likely be cited for Driving While License Invalid because you do not have a valid occupational.
If you’ve had more than two convictions for failure to maintain financial responsibility, you will be required to get an SR-22 for two years. You will not have to get an occupational; you will be allowed to keep your regular license. However, if you cancel or fall out of coverage with your SR-22, your license will be automatically suspended.
What does this mean?:
If you are required to get an SR-22, YOU HAVE TO KEEP PAYING ON IT UNTIL YOU DO NOT NEED IT ANY LONGER. Getting it for one month and then letting your coverage lapse is not going to work. Your license, whether an occupational or a regular license, will not be valid if you let your SR-22 lapse.
If you are looking to get an SR-22, call a small, mom-and-popprovider. Do not go through your regular provider, especially if you go through a large carrier. It will be more expensive, for one, and second your rates will go up if your regular carrier knows you need an SR-22.