Certain traffic offenses and violations of Colorado DUI laws can result in suspension of your driver’s license. To reinstate your license, you’ll have to file an SR22 Colorado certificate with the DOR. You probably have many questions come to mind after a driver’s license suspension.
Why do I need SR22 Colorado?
The term SR22 stands for “safety responsibility”. The SR22 form is a financial responsibility document. It is a guarantee of future liability insurance coverage for a specific time. To be precise, SR22 insurance Colorado is evidence that you possess liability insurance.
The most common reason drivers purchase SR22 Colorado high-risk insurance is to reinstate their license after a suspension or revocation. The state can suspend your license for the reasons below, among others:
- An alcohol-related conviction
- Excessive points from traffic violations
- Unpaid traffic tickets, including parking tickets
- Unpaid child support
- Operating a vehicle without insurance
- A legal judgment or court order
Do I need an SR22 if I already have auto insurance?
Yes. If Colorado requires you to carry SR22 insurance, and you own a vehicle, the SR22 certificate is an endorsement to your auto insurance policy. This is SR22 owner’s insurance. However, not all insurance companies are capable of completing an SR22 filing, so you may need to change insurance companies.
What if I don’t own a car?
Even people who don’t own a vehicle still have a driver’s license. Even when you drive a borrowed vehicle, if you commit a traffic offense, the state can suspend your license.. You’ll then have to get Colorado non-owner SR22 insurance to reinstate your driving privileges. If you don’t own a car, you’ll need to get a non-owner insurance policy with an SR22 endorsement. Having non-owner SR22 insurance is proof of insurance when you drive a non-owned vehicle.
How long do I need to carry high-risk insurance?
Depending on the violation, you’ll need to keep SR22 insurance for 3-5 years. If you miss even one payment, your insurance provider must file an SR26 form with the Colorado DOR. This cancels your policy and results in license suspension until you file another certificate. If you filed your SR22 Colorado certificate through one insurance provider, then change to a different provider, the new provider must file a new certificate before the original policy expires. There cannot be any lapse of coverage between the policies.
How much will I have to pay for SR22 Colorado?
When insurers provide an SR22 Colorado rate quote, they consider several factors, including:
- Your driving record. This includes the number of violations, at-fault accidents, and DUI/DWAI convictions appear on your record during a certain time. In Colorado, the BAC for DWAI charges is between 0.05 and 0.07, and for DUI the BAC is over 0.08.
- Where you live. For example, rates in highly populated areas like Denver, or high crime areas will have higher rates than rural areas or less populous cities like Littleton.
- How many miles you drive. You’ll pay more if you drive frequently than if you rarely drive because the risk of being in an accident is lower.
- The car you drive. Your premiums may be higher if you drive a car with a high-performance engine. Owners of these types of vehicles tend to be riskier drivers. And if you own an expensive vehicle, it costs much more to repair or replace.
- Personal factors. Your credit score, occupation, age, and marital status are considerations. Good credit results in lower rates; bad credit results in higher rates. You may pay a higher rate if your job requires a lot of travel. If you’re under the age of 25, you’ll likely have a higher rate; people aged 50 to 65 usually have lower rates. Insurance companies consider women and married persons at lower risk for accidents and other violations than men and single people.
Do I still need to keep SR22 Colorado if I move out of state?
If you move to another state and your Colorado requirement is still in effect, you’ll want to plan to maintain continuous coverage. First, find an insurance company that’s capable of doing a cross-state filing. This involves filing an SR22 certificate in the state where you’re moving and at the same time filing a new certificate in Colorado. Both policies should overlap a few days to avoid a lapse in coverage. The insurance company that submits the filings must have a license in both states. Not all companies can perform cross-state SR22 insurance filings. But UltraCar Insurance has licenses in 34 states, and can handle most of these types of filings.
Can I get a broad form policy in Colorado?
Yes. An SR22 can be endorsed on a Broad Form Insurance policy. A Broad Form policy will cover you when driving any non-owned vehicle on an occasional basis, the same as a non-owner’s policy does. But unlike a non-owner policy, it will provide liability coverage on any vehicle(s) you own, as long as you are the only driver. In other words, Broad Form coverage does not extend to anyone else, so there is no coverage if someone else drives your car(s). Broad Form insurance is usually more expensive than non-owner insurance. Only a small number of states offer this type of insurance.
Minimum liability coverage
Below are Colorado’s minimum liability coverage requirements. You can buy additional or higher coverage if desired.
- $25,000 maximum bodily injury per person paid by the policy
- $50,000 total the policy pays for bodily injury to all persons *
- $15,000 total amount the policy pays for property damage
* If there are several injured people, those who file claims first receive payment until claims reach $50,000. Once claim payments reach $50,000, any other injured persons need to pursue other legal recourse from the policyholder.
UltraCar Insurance offers competitive SR22 Colorado insurance quotes and expert advice about owner and non-owner SR22 policies. Our agents will provide a quick filing to satisfy your requirements. Call us, or click to start a quote today!
This article was last updated on January 24th, 2024 by UltraCar Insurance
