If your driver’s license is suspended, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may require you to get a Safety Responsibility (SR-22) form. This form, also known as a certificate of financial responsibility or SR-22 bond, serves as proof that your policy meets the minimum coverages required by law.

SR-22 isn’t car insurance, but rather documentation that proves you have coverage. Here’s what else you need to know about SR-22s in California.

Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in California

Having an SR-22 form on file usually results in more expensive rates than typical auto insurance. But it’s still possible to find affordable coverage. Here are some of the cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in California.

What is SR-22 insurance in California?

An SR-22 is a form, not insurance, that proves that you’ve met the state’s auto liability insurance requirements. Either the state of California or a court will order you to obtain an SR-22 form in response to your driving actions. A judge will let you know at your hearing if you need an SR-22 form, while the California DMV will inform you if the state requires it.

At times you might see the term “SR-22 insurance,” but this isn’t accurate. SR-22 and car insurance are two separate things. Your car insurance policy protects you and your vehicle by providing financial coverage in the event of a car accident. An SR-22 is simply documentation that affirms that you have the correct coverage.

Additionally, all California drivers must have car insurance, but not everyone needs an SR-22. The latter is a requirement if you were found driving without insurance or with a suspended license or received a DUI or DWI conviction or a similar driving violation.

Difference between SR-22 and FR-44

You may also see the term “FR-44” when SR-22 is mentioned. That’s because these forms share some similarities — they’re both state-required proof of financial responsibility filings that people convicted of certain driving offenses have to get.

But SR-22 and FR-44 forms have some key differences. First, only two states require the FR-44 form — Florida and Virginia. Your insurance company also files an FR-44 to show financial responsibility, but the minimum liability coverage amounts are much higher than those of the SR-22.

For example, Virginia’s minimum limit for auto liability is $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 per accident for property damage. If you have to file an FR-44, you’d have to carry twice these limits.

Overall, FR-44s come with stricter coverage requirements because they’re mandated for people found guilty of more serious offenses — higher blood alcohol concentrations, DUIs, and repeat offenses.

When you need SR-22 insurance

There’s a chance you might not ever need an SR-22 form in California. An SR-22 is simply documentation that confirms you have the minimum-required liability car insurance. You’d need such a form only if a court or the state mandated it after you committed a specific driving-related violation.

Instances when you might need an SR-22 include:

• DUI or DWI conviction

• Driving with no insurance or not enough insurance

• Reckless driving

• Numerous at-fault car accidents or traffic violations

• Repeat offenses in a short time frame

• Having a suspended driver’s license

• Hardship license

The court or the California DMV will let you know if you need to obtain an SR-22 certificate.

How to get SR-22 insurance in California

You’ll need to follow several steps to secure an SR-22 after the state or a court mandates you need one:

There’s always a chance that your current car insurance company will cancel your coverage when you let it know that you need an SR-22. In that case, you’ll need to find a new insurer that will write you a new policy.

How long California requires SR-22 insurance

The reason you need an SR-22 will dictate how long you need to carry it in California.2 For example, a mandated SR-22 for a DUI or similar violation will typically require you to maintain the form for three years. But getting into a car accident without having car insurance could lead to you needing an SR-22 for four years.

The length of time can also vary based on your personal situation. Be sure to check with the California DMV about your specific case. Ask if your SR-22 start date is when your driving offense occurred, the day your license was suspended, when your license was reinstated, or another date.

You should also avoid canceling your car insurance policy during your SR-22 period. If you do, your insurance company will alert the traffic authorities, and you could lose your license. There’s a chance you’d have to restart the SR-22 process as well.

How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in California

Car insurance companies look at several factors when they price your policy. They often base your premium cost on how much of a risk they believe it’ll be to cover you and your vehicle. If you have a clean driving history and no at-fault car accidents and live in an area deemed low on crime, chances are your car insurance premium will be relatively low.

But most of the violations that would lead you to need an SR-22 would make a car insurance company deem you “high-risk,” and your car insurance premium will likely reflect that classification going forward. If the court or state of California requires you to get an SR-22 because of a DUI conviction, your premiums will remain high for years after the violation.

The conviction could also stay on your driving record for 10 years, so even after the SR-22 period expires, you probably won’t see your car insurance cost decrease for a while.

It might be difficult to escape a high car insurance premium after an SR-22 mandate, but you still have ways to reduce your car insurance costs in the meantime:

• Comparison shop. When you tell your car insurance company you need an SR-22, it’ll review the details and likely share a new, higher premium price with you. Keep that number in mind, and get quotes from a few other car insurance companies to see if they can insure you for less despite the SR-22.

• Look for discounts. A driving violation doesn’t exclude you from the discounts your car insurance company offers. You could potentially cut into your newly increased car insurance premiums by insuring your car and home with the same company, signing up for electronic payments, or having certain safety features in your vehicle.

• Increase your deductible. Your car insurance deductible is how much money you pay out of pocket for repairs after an accident before your insurance company applies coverage. You could decrease your policy premium by increasing your deductible and taking on more of the up-front risk yourself.