Houston SR22 Car Insurance

Reader’s Question:

I no longer need an SR22 for my auto insurance policy here in Houston Texas. How do I remove it?

Howard

Houston Texas

An SR-22 car insurance policy in Houston Texas is a a proof of certificate to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) that shows proof of insurance that is mandated by the law. SR-22 insurance does not really mean that it is a high risk insurance. An SR22 is a car  liability insurance which entails insurer to certify insurance coverage to Texas Department of Public Safety. It is also the responsibility of the insurer to inform the DPS if the car insurance plan has been cancelled of lapsed.

If you no longer required to carry an SR22 insurance, you may be able to have it remove from your policy by contacting your car insurance company. An SR-26 is form that is filed by the insurer to remove the SR-22.Just let your car insurance company know that you want to cancel your SR22 insurance with them. Certain insurers may require you to provide paperwork from the DPS that this SR22 car insurance may be removed before filing the SR-26. In this case, you may need to contact the DPS to make sure you can take away the SR-22 from your policy.

This SR-26 is a certificate processed by an insurer to inform the DPS that the SR-22 car insurance provided by the company has already been canceled. The SR26 filing may lead to drivers license suspension if the person’s driving record shows that the SR22 (insurance certificate) is still needed during the time the SR26 is issued. For this reason you will need to ensure the SR22 is no longer demanded by the state of Texas. The department and the insurance company representative may be able to give you more information on how to remove SR22 from your car insurance policy.

SR22 Filing

Reader’s Question:

What is an SR22 Filing and how does it work?

Mike

Houston Texas

If the Texas Department of Public Safety or DPS advised you that you are required to get an SR-22 insurance after a serious offense then you will need it to be filed by your insurance provider. An Houston SR-22 insurance policy is a certificate of insurance required by the law that presents to the Texas DPS evidence of insurance for the future. SR-22 insurance is motor vehicle liability insurance which involves the insurers to certify that you have the minimum coverage to the Texas DPS, and the insurer need to inform DPS whenever the insurance plan is cancelled, terminated or lapses.

Once the Texas DPS obtains notice that a certain individual has terminated their insurance coverage while they are sill required to maintain proof of insurance with the Texas DPS, the drivers license will be suspended. SR22 insurance (form SR-22) or Financial Responsibility Certificate must be kept for 2 years from date of conviction.

If the driver wants to reinstate his or her driving privileges, she or he is required for SR22 filing and will need to maintain insurance policy in the form of an SR-22 with the DPS. SR-22 is an original pink copy that is required for a period of 2 years from date of conviction of any serious offense.

Aside from the required SR22 filing, a reinstatement fee is also needed with the SR-22 insurance. Within the 2-year period, if the DPS obtains notice from the insurer that insurance policy has been canceled,drivers license will be suspended.

You may ask your insurance company if they do SR22 filing. Expect an increase in your car insurance once the insurer see a serious traffic violation in your driving record.

SR22 Insurance Houston

Reader’s Question:

I live in Houston Texas and I would like to know if I will be required to obtain an SR22 if I get caught driving without insurance? What are the penalties?

Jim

Houston Texas

Yes, typically if you’ve been found guilty of operating a vehicle without insurance in Houston for the 2nd time your drivers license is going to be suspended and to reinstate it you’ll be mandated to acquire and hold a Houston SR-22 insurance for two years after the dat eof your conviction.

The state of Texas mandates individuals who operate a vehicle in Texas to have the ability to pay for anyvehicleaccidents they cause. The majority of motorists accomplish this by purchasing car liability insurance.

The majority of the people decide to acquire financial responsibility for their automobile with the 1st option, a car insurance liability policy. Should you select this method then you will be required to carry a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. These limits mean $25,000 for every wounded person, up to a total of $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

You can get serious legal fees and penalties for breaking the state’s financial responsibility laws. If this is your first conviction for driving without insurance, you will pay a fine between $175 and $350. Subsequent convictions you could end up paying fines of $350 to $1,000, driver’s license suspension, and impoundment of your car.

To restore your driver’s license from suspension because of operating a vehicle without car insurance, you will need to pay a reinstatement fee and you will have to acquire proof of insurance (form SR-22) from an insurer and send it to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). In Houston Texas, the SR22 insurance is going to be required for two years from the date of conviction.

Car Insurance Rates With DUI

Reader’s Question:

I live in Houston and was charged a DWI offense last month. How long will a DWI offense stay on my record and will it affect my auto insurance rates?

Carrie

Houston, TX

Thank you for asking Carrie. All alcohol related offenses are crimes, and are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. Thus a DWI arrest will remain on your record for life.

In Texas, a DWI arrest will generally remain on your record past your lifetime. It is never removed unless you receive a pardon from the governor or the legislature changes the laws regarding the expunction of records. Thus, the DWI offense on your record will never go away. If you are found not guilty by a jury or by the court, you may be eligible to have the arrest and prosecution records destroyed through deletion. If you are concerned about having a criminal record for employment or credit purposes, you may consult a DWI attorney about fighting the charge.
Just so you know, it may take approximately 10 business days for the results of a criminal history record check, once the information is received by Texas Department of Public Safety. However, this government agency cannot guarantee the amount of time it may take to receive this information through the postal service.

As for the insurance, a DWI conviction will usually raise your rates from 300% to 500% for 5 or more years. Your insurance provider may have the option to cancel your coverage, forcing you to find another insurance provider. Moreover, most insurance companies will stop considering drunk driving convictions in accessing auto insurance rates after a period of years.

Charged With DUI in Houston – Need SR22 Auto Insurance?

Reader’s Question:

I was charged with a DUI in Houston and I have had full coverage on my vehicle for 5 years and it was in effect on the day of the conviction. Am I required to get AR22 in conjunction with my current insurance policy I have, which I have never allowed to lapse?

Andrea

Houston, TX

If you are charged of the DUI and had your license suspended by the state of Texas for this offense then yes. Normally you would now be required to acquire and maintain a SR-22 as part of your driver’s license reinstatement process.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) states that a conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) typically results in a license suspension. The time period varies by court but may not exceed two years. A conviction of a DWI/DUI for an individual under the age of 21 will result in an automatic suspension for a year per Texas Transportation Code 521.344

Now, you will need to then maintain the SR-22 for the required period of time. If you are going to cancel it and the DPS received notification from the insurance provider that the policy was canceled, terminated, or lapsed, appropriate enforcement action may be taken. If the SR-22 is still required and there is no valid SR-22 on file, the driving privilege and vehicle registration will be suspended or revoked by the DPS.

To make sure if in your particular situation you will need to file a SR-22 if not, contact the Texas DPS directly.

Liability Only Car Insurance Will it Cover Hit and Run Accident?

Reader’s Question:

I got involved in a hit and run in Houston.  I got the other person’s license plate number. I have the liability car insurance on my vehicle which will not cover a hit and run. How can I know out if the individual that hit me has car insurance or not?

Anna

Houston, TX

If you have not yet reported the hit and run you should do so as soon as possible by calling the Houston law enforcement agency so they can investigate. With the license plate number you have for the at-fault motorist in the hit and run, hopefully the police can track down the owner of the vehicle.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage will pay for your damage in a hit and-run accident only if the accident is reported to the police. Even if you don’t have this type of coverage it is likely if you find the at-fault car owner their insurance provider will require a police report on the accident.

If the motorist is found and the car owner takes responsibility then you should be able to place a claim with their insurance company. If instead the police are only able to find the owner of the car then you may need to check with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to see if they will release information on the person’s car insurance information that is on file with them.