It is a filing, not a policy
People often ask for "SR-22 insurance," but the SR-22 itself is a one-page electronic certificate. You buy a normal auto liability policy, and your carrier attaches the SR-22 filing to it and transmits it to the state.
Why the state asks for one
The filing exists so the state is notified the moment your coverage lapses. If the policy cancels, the insurer sends an SR-26 and your license is suspended again — often automatically.
Common reasons an SR-22 is ordered
- DUI, DWI, OVI or DWAI conviction
- Driving without insurance or without proof of financial responsibility
- An at-fault accident while uninsured
- Too many points or repeated serious moving violations
- An unsatisfied judgment from a crash
Owner vs. non-owner filings
If a vehicle is registered to you, the SR-22 attaches to a standard auto policy. If not, a non-owner SR-22 satisfies the same requirement for much less.
SR-22 vs. FR-44
Florida and Virginia use an FR-44 for DUI convictions, which requires higher liability limits than a standard SR-22.
Requirements vary by state — see the state-by-state SR-22 rules.