For the state of Alabama, SR-22 insurance is simply a certificate of insurance which serves as proof of (FR) Financial Responsibility. This certificate is processed when a person gets insured through an auto insurance agency that covers SR22, and ultimately filed with the Alabama Dept Of Public Safety (Driver License Division); or what is known nationally as The DMV.
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Below are some things to consider when you call the toll-free number above and speak to an SR-22 insurance agent. Getting SR22 insurance is pretty easy, and having an overall grasp of the conversation makes things go a whole lot smoother. These subtopics are some of the more common regarding SR22 Insurance, and are general in nature. Its main purpose is to give you a general overview of questions you may have had in mind, and to also educate you on topics you may be unaware of.
the process for getting SR-22 insurance is quite simple. Nowadays any person is able to do so by getting a quote and filing the paperwork either in-person, over the phone, or using an online form.
Vehicle Ownership: when speaking to the agent you want to verify whether or not your SR22 certificate is for a vehicle owner, or non-vehicle owner. In some instances, different agents may also refer to the terms: owner, operator, or owner-operator.
For dates and etc, have the documents relating to the cause for your being ordered to file for SR22. Reasons may vary: DUI-DWI, Reckless Driving, Unpaid Child Support, Giving False Proof Of Insurance, etc.
SR-22 Form: the form is an actual form that you may or may not ever see because it is simply the filing of a form done electronically through your insurance carrier and processed with the Alabama Driver License Division
State Ordered To File: if applicable, you want to find out the stipulations of getting this insurance in a state that you are not associated with. The jurisdiction that ordered you to file for SR22 maybe different than the state for your license, registration, or residency. Be mindful, not every state requires SR22 insurance. Lastly, if you move, you will definitely have to inform all parties of you new address: DMV, insurance carrier, and in some instances the courthouse for the jurisdiction of the offense.
Non-SR22 State: Not all states require SR22 Insurance filings. Alabama is a state that does. Even if you currently reside in another state or move to another state, you will still likely have to continue and complete the time period of your SR22 filing, if ordered by the state of Alabama to do so. This order will have likely came from the Alabama DMV or Legal Court System.
DUI Insurance: Being ordered to file for SR22 for a DUI is probably the most popular reason. For this very reason alone, and because a lot of people have never heard of SR22, a lot of people in the state of Alabama and Nationwide use the term 'DUI insurance' , instead of its proper name which is SR22 Insurance.
License Status: the status of your license will vary depending on severity of your violation. It will either be normal, or in some instances known as hardship license, occupational license, or a conditional license. The most important thing to check on is whether or not you need to bring your license back into good standing if it is deemed suspended, or revoked.
Cost for SR22: The cost for SR-22 insurance in Alabama will be higher then your normal auto insurance policy. There's usually a filing fee of no more than $50, and the exact rate for the monthly premium is almost impossible to define without speaking with an SR-22 insurance agent. In short, because the rates can be expensive, and vary from carrier to carrier, it's always best to just call and shop around.
Insurance Payments: when making payments for your SR-22 insurance the one thing you don't want to do is allow it to lapse. Allowing it to lapse even if it's just for one month can result in you having to start you're required time period all over again. So if you anticipate a financial hardship that prevents you from making a payment, contact your insurer as soon as possible to see if they will allow you to make a delayed payment so you can get caught up.
Filing Time Length: SR-22 filing varies from state-to-state between 1-3yrs, but can get as high as 5yrs depending on the violation. The SR-22 filing for Alabama is for a period of three years.
The reasons for needing to file for SR22 will vary from state to state, however some of the most common reasons are as follows: driving impaired charge, habitual reckless driving charge, habitual driving without insurance, False proof of insurance, and other serious or high-risk driving violations. In some cases the SR22 will need to be filed with a client under what is known as a Non-standard Auto Insurance policy vs Standard Auto Insurance policy.
FR Coverage: the Certificate of Insurance issued by the insurer shows that the vehicle is being insured is for no less then the required minimum for that state. Alabama's (FR) Financial Responsibility law requires you to maintain liability limits of at least the following: The minimum auto insurance liability limits are commonly stated as 25/50/25. This means $25,000 bodily injury liability limit per person. $50,000 maximum for all bodily injuries to be paid for any one accident. $25,000 maximum for property damage per accident. The origin of these numbers have been also cited from what is locally known as the Alabama Mandatory Liability Insurance (MLI) Act.
If you already have auto insurance, getting an SR22 policy added on may or may not affect your premium. Be mindful however, that SR22 in some ways now classifies you as being a high-risk client; and some carriers will either increase your premium, or drop you when the required time for keeping it is up.
For more information, you can always contact the Alabama DMV or Alabama Insurance Department. They will be able to answer anything relating towards legal statues or any other guidelines used to regulate SR22 for the state of Alabama.
Not all insurance agencies offer SR-22 insurance because it is deemed high-risk. Things change so you should definitely always shop around. The following is a list of some of the most solid Auto Insurance companies that may or may not offer SR22: Geico, State Farm, Allstate, Direct Auto, Nationwide.
If you have more questions about SR22, you can always check out our General FAQ page, or simply ask the SR22 Insurance Agent you connect with.
The following are SR22 relevant resources for Alabama: Legal Statute (AL Code § 32-7-20), DMV, Alabama Dept of Insurance
Coverage is nationwide, and so calling the toll-free number above allows almost anyone in the state of Alabama to get SR22 quotes. We offer coverage in large and smaller cities to include places like: Huntsville, Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Hoover, Auburn, Dothan, Madison, Decatur, Florence, Vestavia Hills, Phenix City, Prattville, Gadsden, Alabaster, Opelika, Northport, Enterprise, and more.