Can I get a SR-22 without buying car insurance?
If you don’t own a car and have to hold an SR-22, the best solution is a non-owners car insurance policy. This will be your best non-owner SR-22 insurance solution because it will provide the protections of required auto insurance without being connected to a single vehicle.
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Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
UPDATED: Apr 25, 2023
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UPDATED: Apr 25, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our car insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different car insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
The SR-22 form is a document you must file with the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) proving that you carry financial responsibility for any damage you cause with your vehicle.
Usually, you are required to provide an SR-22 form in any instance when your insurance status is called into question. Remember: you can find affordable car insurance even with an SR-22 form.
If you are pulled over, for example, and fail to provide proof of insurance, the state will require you to provide an SR-22 form.
The most common reason for needing an SR-22 form is if you are involved in an auto accident; you will need to provide proof that you are financially able to cover the damage that you cause.
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Where do I obtain the SR-22 form?
You can obtain the SR-22 form from your car insurance company or download it on the DMV website. In some cases, you may be able to fill out the form online. Otherwise, you will need to print a copy and mail it to the DMV.
The form will require you to fill out information about yourself and your insurance company.
The primary purpose of the form is to prove that you carry enough liability insurance on your auto policy to cover damage that you cause. If you do not have insurance, you will not be able to return the SR-22 form until you obtain coverage.
If an accident occurred, you will also need to answer some specific information about the accident, such as where it occurred and what exactly happened in the collision.
If a police report was filed, you may not need to fill out all of this information, but it’s always a good idea to complete the form as fully as possible.
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When do I need to file the SR-22 form?
There are several occasions that could prompt needing to file an SR-22:
- If you are pulled over and fail to provide proof of insurance
- If your coverage drops below the state minimum requirements and your insurance company reports this to the state
- If you leave the scene of an accident
- If you are responsible for damage in an accident where no police report is filed
- If you are unable to provide proof of insurance at an accident
- If your license is suspended for any reason and you are trying to reinstate it
Different states will require the form to be returned within different time frames. Most states have a 30 day time limit, but some have 10 day limits. The form itself should provide instructions on when it must be returned and where to send it to.
Failure to complete the SR-22 form within a timely manner could cause your license to be suspended until the form has been received. If your license is suspended, you may need to pursue extra steps in order to reinstate the license.
If you are uncertain what to do with the form or have any questions on how to fill it out, you can contact your insurance company. Your agent will be happy to go over the information with you to assure that you fill it out correctly. He may even be able to mail it for you.
Can I get an SR-22 without a license or buying car insurance?
If you already have an active car insurance policy, you can provide those details on your SR-22 form. You will need to provide proof of insurance, and may need to answer some questions about your policy such as how much coverage you carry.
If you do not have insurance, however, you will need to obtain car insurance before filing your SR-22 form.
The only situation in which you do not need to have insurance prior to filing the SR-22 is if you are self-insured; this means that you have the money to meet the state’s financial liability requirements out of pocket and can prove as much.
Otherwise, you will need to purchase an auto policy in time to return the form. Depending on the situation, this may take longer than the deadline to return the form.
This means that your driver’s license may expire, and you will not be able to legally operate your vehicle until the car insurance is purchased and the SR-22 is filled out.
Since it can sometimes be difficult to purchase auto insurance with an expired license, it’s extremely important to avoid this situation if at all possible.
Always maintain your car insurance policy with the correct amount of liability insurance, and carry your proof of insurance in your car at all times.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a SR-22 without buying car insurance?
No, you cannot obtain an SR-22 without purchasing car insurance. An SR-22 is a form that verifies that you have insurance coverage, so you must have a car insurance policy before you can get an SR-22.
What is an SR-22 form?
An SR-22 form is a document you must file with the state DMV proving that you carry financial responsibility for any damage you cause with your vehicle.
When do I need to file the SR-22 form?
You may need to file an SR-22 form in any instance when your insurance status is called into question, such as being pulled over without proof of insurance, leaving the scene of an accident, or having your coverage drop below the state minimum requirements.
Where do I obtain the SR-22 form?
You can obtain the SR-22 form from your car insurance company or download it on the DMV website. In some cases, you may be able to fill out the form online.
When do I need to return the SR-22 form?
Different states will require the form to be returned within different time frames. Most states have a 30-day time limit, but some have 10-day limits. The form itself should provide instructions on when it must be returned and where to send it to.
What happens if I don’t complete the SR-22 form within the deadline?
Failure to complete the SR-22 form within a timely manner could cause your license to be suspended until the form has been received. If your license is suspended, you may need to pursue extra steps in order to reinstate the license.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Scott W. Johnson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Scott W Johnson is an independent insurance agent in California. Principal Broker and founder of Marindependent Insurance Services, Scott brings over 25 years of experience to his clients. His Five President’s Council awards prove he uses all he learned at Avocet, Sprint Nextel, and Farmers Insurance to the benefit of his clients. Scott quickly grasped the unique insurance requirements of his...
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.