Having the need for an SR-22 insurance certificate indicates that you may have a poor driving record. The requirement to have an SR-22 comes directly from the Department of Motor Vehicles. It means that your auto insurance provider needs to inform the DMV that you have an adequate amount of car insurance, specifically liability insurance, in place on the vehicle. And, if you fail to maintain that coverage, the insurer must report that coverage to the DMV. But, what does having this requirement mean for you when you need to file a claim?
What Does SR-22 Insurance Cover?
SR-22 insurance certificates are not auto insurance themselves. In fact, they provide you with no financial protection for any type of claim you may make. Rather, they are a simple certificate sent to the DMV verifying that you have car insurance. That car insurance coverage depends on many things. While and SR-22 generally only requires the vehicle owner and driver to maintain liability insurance, you can still have coverage beyond this, including comprehensive, collision, and medical payments. This helps you to protect your investment.
If you are involved in an accident or another type of covered incident, you’ll be able to file a claim directly with your auto insurance provider for the losses. The filing of this claim does not violate any terms or send any alert to the DMV about your incident. The car insurance provider will make a decision whether or not to honor the claim based on what happened and the amount and type of insurance you have. Having an SR-22 does not limit your ability to file a claim.
On the other hand, if you only have the liability insurance that is required by the SR-22, you may not be able to file a claim. Liability insurance protects only the other driver in the instance that you cause damage or other financial loss to them. It does not provide you with any protection yourself.
Keeping this in mind, those who need to maintain an SR-22 insurance certificate should work closely with their auto insurance provider to make sure they have the right type and amount of coverage for their individual needs.
If you think you need SR-22 Insurance, or want to check on the status of your current SR-22 policy, call Auto Insurance Discounters today at (866) 288-6545.