If your state has notified you that you must file an SR-22 form because of an issue you had while driving, such as a DUI, driving without insurance, reckless driving, or another issue, you need to contact your insurance company. At this point, there is a good chance they will drop you, and you will need to get a new policy, often called SR-22 insurance. Although this will mean higher rates, there are several things you can do to keep the cost down. The following are a few of them.
Only get the coverage you need
Although this is good advice in general, it takes on greater importance when you are seeking insurance with an SR-22 form filing. Unless you already had a policy with your state's required minimum coverage, you should be able to cut back, especially if your car is paid for. You may be able to drop your collision and portions of your comprehensive coverage. If you are still making payments on a car loan, you may want to focus on increasing your deductible.
Get several quotes
Once you know what coverage you want, the next step is to get several quotes. This is because there can be a wide range of prices for a policy. Some insurance companies don't sell a lot of SR- 22 policies, so they are not motivated to provide their best price. Other insurance companies may go so far as to specialize in this type of insurance.
Take a defensive driving class
Once you have successfully completed the course, this will reduce your premiums. The key is to ask if the insurance company offers a discount. This should be done at the time of quotation. Also, you need to compare the cost of the course along with how long the insurance company offers the discount to make sure it will be worth your time and money.
Safe driving program
This is an electronic device that is installed in your car that tracks your driving. It has become common for car insurance companies to embrace this technology because it tracks the way you are driving now instead of your driving record from the past. If you demonstrate you are a safe driver, your rates will reflect this as well. You should inquire about this discount when you ask for a quote.
When you are required to file an SR-22 form, the first thing you will realize is that your insurance will be going up significantly. However, there are many ways you can keep the cost down. The first is to decide on the minimum amount of coverage you need, then get several quotes for this coverage. At the same time, you should ask about discounts for a driving safety course and a safe driving program.
Contact a local insurance provider to learn more about SR-22 insurance.
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