Court orders can be confusing if you're not a lawyer, and SR22 requirements aren't familiar to many people. You may receive an SR22 requirement for many reasons, ranging from severe moving violations such as DUIs to too many minor violations over a short period. Whatever the case, an SR22 filing requirement will ultimately change your relationship with your auto insurance company.

However, many people also misunderstand how this requirement works. SR22 doesn't refer to a specific type of insurance but rather a filing requirement placed on your insurance company. If you have this requirement, your insurance company must submit an SR22 form to your state motor vehicle agency to confirm that you meet minimum state coverage requirements.

Can You Get Regular Insurance With an SR22?

The most straightforward answer is that you can still keep your standard auto insurance if you have an SR22 requirement on your record. States do not place any special restrictions on individuals with SR22 filing requirements. In other words, you can use any insurance company you'd like as long as you can obtain the minimum state liability coverage.

However, the real-world situation is typically more complex. This requirement will flag you to most insurance companies as a high-risk driver, causing your rates to increase. Some insurance companies may also choose to drop your coverage or refuse to cover you if your SR22 filing requirement is still in effect. Unfortunately, these facts can complicate your search for a reasonable insurance premium.

What Should You Know About High-Risk Insurance?

Standard auto insurance policies cover drivers with a relatively small number of incidents on their records. On the other hand, high-risk (sometimes referred to as nonstandard) policies cover drivers with many or severe incidents on their records. This category includes drivers with DUIs, reckless driving violations, multiple at-fault accidents, etc.

If you have an SR22 requirement, most insurance companies will automatically place you into this high-risk group for the duration of your filing requirement. As a result, you may find it challenging to get affordable rates from well-known insurers since these companies typically specialize in standard auto policies.

What Can You Do to Minimize Your Monthly Premiums?

The key to getting reasonable premiums with an SR22 requirement is working with an agent specializing in high-risk drivers. These agents typically work with multiple insurers (as opposed to captive agents working with a single company) and know which companies provide the best rates for nonstandard policies. Agents specializing in high-risk policies are also more likely to be familiar with SR22s.

You shouldn't accept exorbitant auto insurance premiums because you've received a court order with an SR22 filing requirement. Working with a high-risk insurance agent can mean getting the coverage you need without ruining your budget.

Contact a company like Bill Blake Auto Insurance to learn more.