What is SR22 insurance in Washington for?

When you’ve been a part of a serious traffic violation, you have to meet an additional requirement for your auto insurance. It’s called the Washington SR22 form, and you can get it from your insurer.

You can also consider the form to be a certification of your financial responsibility.

Filing this form means that you’ll be paying higher car insurance as compared to someone with a clean driving record. Additionally, you’ll have limited options when choosing an auto insurer since not all companies offer insurance to people with an SR22.

Having the form provides that you have the ‘minimum liability insurance’ according to your state. Since the amount differs for each state, it’s important to know your local regulations about SR22.

TYPES of SR22 forms for Seattle

When getting SR22 insurance quotes in Seattle, you should also consider the types of SR22 forms. Here are the three types:

  1. Non-owner: A non-owner or operator refers to someone who does not own a car and occasionally drives one after borrowing from someone else. In such cases, the SR22 form protects the person who has the policy rather than a certain vehicle. In some states, it’s called non-driver SR22 and is essential.
  2. Owner: As an owner, you’re someone who drives his or her own car.
  3. Operator/Owner: Such SR22 forms are for people who own their cars and also occasionally rent or borrow a car from someone else.
Understanding just what is SR22 Car Accident Insurance options for Seattle residents
graphic showcasing the tailored SR22 car insurance plans available for drivers in Seattle.

When do you need an SR22 in Seattle

You might have been involved in a traffic violation, but this does not always mean that you have to fill the SR22 form. You need Washington SR22 Specialist in the following cases:

  • You have a moving violation against you, such as DWI and DUI.
  • You were behind the wheel without insurance and caused an accident in Seattle.
  • You’ve received more than the state limit on the number of traffic tickets in a month.
  • Your Washington license has been revoked or suspended.
  • You haven’t paid your child support.

While most states have the SR22 form, some others like Washington and Florida have a similar form called the FR44. For this form, you need an even higher liability coverage than the SR22 form.

Meanwhile, there are some states that don’t require you to fill an SR22 form.

To get this information, you need to consult the traffic court in Seattle for Washington form information. In some states, the Department of Motor Vehicles can also provide you this information.

Cost of an SR22 in Seattle

The SR22 Insurance cost may be as low as $25. However, that’s not the only concern you are faced with. When you file for an SR22, you have to pay higher insurance quotes.

How high exactly? Well, that depends on the following things:

  • Your insurance company
  • Your state
  • The kind of travel violation you were involved in

How much is an SR22 in Seattle?

If you’re required to get it, you must want to know how much is SR22 Insurance is in Washington. The cost differs depending on your violation and the insurance company.

The cost of Seattle, Washington SR22 Insurance, on average, is $587 for a year. On the other hand, drivers with cleaner records can pay $355 a year. As you can see, SR22 Insurance can raise the cost of your insurance by $232.

Visual representation of SR-22 state car coverage options for Seattle residents

How to get SR22 Insurance if you don't have insurance in Seattle?

If you don’t have insurance and need an SR22, you need to find an insurer. Make sure you search for insurance companies that offer SR22 Insurance since this service is not universal.

Some previous surveys show that State Farm offers the cheapest SR22, costing around $302 per year. However, this is minimal coverage and can be higher, depending on your violation.

If you live in Seattle, Washington, you’ll need an SR22 for two years from the reinstatement of your license. However, the duration might differ depending on your circumstances.

If you no longer need an SR22, you will get a notification from the state. They will let you know when you can have your privileges back. Or you can get in touch with the Dept of Public Safety or a related dept in your state and ask them how long you’ll need to keep the SR22.

Keep in mind that your SR22 policy will not be removed automatically when it’s no longer required. You have to talk to your insurance company and tell them to remove the form from your policy.

Once the SR22 form is no longer a part of your insurance policy, your insurance cost will go down. However, this isn’t guaranteed for everyone.

Plus, if you cancel or lapse your insurance policy while you’re required to have an SR22 form, the insurance company will notify the DMV, resulting in the suspension of your license.

It’s not uncommon for people to belong to a certain state and require an SR22 in another one. For instance, if you’re from Minnesota but are a student at the University of North Carolina, you’ll need an SR22 in the latter state.

Keep in mind that not all states require SR22. The states that exempt this policy include:

  • Pennsylvania
  • Oklahoma
  • Delaware
  • Kentucky
  • North Carolina
  • New York
  • New Mexico
  • Minnesota

Let’s say you were required to have an SR22 in Texas, and you move to Washington. You’ll still have to meet the requirements set by Texas for SR22. That’s why it’s important to shop your policy from a company that offers nationwide auto insurance.

Meanwhile, if you are a resident of one of the states mentioned above – that don’t need SR22 – but you’ve moved to another state where you need to have an SR22, it won’t be possible for you to get an SR22.

In this case, you’ll have to get permission from the requesting state.

Which companies offer the cheapest SR22 Insurance in Seattle?

When shopping for SR22 Insurance plans. It’s a good idea to compare different quotes from different companies before settling for one. Fortunately, there are many online comparison tools you can use for this.

For instance, Value Penguin lets you compare SR22 quotes by the company and the state.

A survey containing information from 12 US states, including Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Oregon, Indiana, Illinois, Florida, California, and Arizona, showed that USAA has the cheapest SR22 policies across the country.

State Farm stands in second place, followed by Progressive, AAA, and Geico, respectively.

However, this data is not specific to Washington. MoneyGeek conducted a survey to determine the cheapest SR22 Insurance companies in Seattle, Washington and found the following:

  • State Farm: $302 annual rate
  • Progressive: $345 annual rate
  • USAA: $371 annual rate
  • American Family: $441 annual rate
  • Geico: $443 annual rate

However, the SR22 Insurance cost can still differ, depending on certain factors. To find how much does SR22 Insurance cost in Seattle, you can compare the quotes on MoneyGeek’s website.

Do note that the more severe your violation, the more expensive your policy will be. If you have a poor traffic track record, you won’t get good driver discounts. Thus, your insurance cost will be higher.

Like all other states, getting an SR22 Insurance in Seattle is also a hefty increment to your insurance cost. However, it’s the price you have to pay if you want your license reinstated.

Although the cost of SR22 Insurance is generally higher, you can still bag a good offer if you shop wisely. Search for companies that offer affordable plans to high-risk drivers.

Additionally, it’s recommended to compare the quotes from different companies before choosing one. Hopefully, this guide would have given you a clear idea of Washington SR22 Specialist State and everything you need to know about it.