Andrea : What is SR-22 insurance?

Response : SR22 insurance is actually a form which is required before you are insured. High-risk drivers may be required to file a SR-22 (actually a form) with the state before the purchase of auto insurance. This requires the provider to notify the state should the policy be terminated or canceled. DUIs, multiple speeding tickets and driving without insurance or a valid license are all reasons a SR-22 may need to be filed. The requirement usually lasts for three years after the initial event.

SR-22 insurance is used differently in different states.  An SR-22 insurance policy is generally a motor vehicle liability insurance policy required for reinstatement after your drivers license has been suspended or revoked. SR-22 insurance is uniquely suited for these situations, because it requires the insurance company to notify the department of motor vehicles if the policy is canceled, terminated, or lapses. If any of these things happen, your license will typically be suspended until the policy is brought current or reinstated. Under the laws of most states, you must carry SR-22 insurance for a certain period (often three years) after the end of your suspension or revocation.

Not all insurers offer SR-22 insurance. You may need to find an insurance company that specialized in high-risk drivers. Once you have purchased the insurance, you have to provide proof of SR-22 insurance to the department of motor vehicles before your license will be reinstated. Some states require you to present a copy of your SR-22 binder , while other states have an SR-22 form that can be used as a substitute for the actual insurance binder.

In some states, SR-22 is used strictly in DUI cases. Some states also require SR-22 insurance to prevent license revocation or suspension in certain cases–for example, if you have an uninsured accident or you get several tickets in a short period of time.

 Jeff : How long will it take your your high risk auto insurance cost to go down once you have had speeding tickets?

Response : Speeding tickets is an indication to the insurance company or a red light flag that you are a high risk driver. Now, the second issue to consider here is if you have had speeding tickets which are more than one or just one ticket. If it is only one ticket than the auto insurance premium will increase by 10-15% per month or yearly. The record would stay on your books for 3 years by the insurance companies, but they will remain in your record for 7 years.

 Now, if you have had more than three speeding tickets, than the normal market or personal line auto insurance companies will decline your application and you would have to go to the specialty market to be insured. The specialty market generally insurer this risk since they are the underwriters for high risk insurance. The auto insurance rates will be high and you will have to pay a much higher auto insurance premium than what you were paying to the personal auto insurer.

 If you have speeding tickets than this are some steps or measures you need to take :

1)     Enroll yourself in a good defensive driving school.

2)     Get anti-brakes installed so that you are not able to speed.

3)     If you are driving a sports car than you need to change the model since you are more likely to speed in a sports car than an ordinary car.

4)     Learn to control to urge to speed.

 Last but least you need to shop around for high risk auto insurance quotes and you will definitely get affordable auto insurance.

Ben Affleck :What are the normal speeding tickets that are given for over 50 km and what are the steps one can take. How would this affect auto insurance?
Response : I would deal with the insurance option first being an insurance expert. If you are caught speeding and do not have any demerit points, the personal auto underwriting companies will accept your proposal with a higher quote. If you get over 4 points , as per the personal lines, you will be grouped in the high risk category and you will have to pay higher insurance like the drunk drivings and other offences. You will have to go t the specialty insurance market who underwrite DUI or sr22 car insurance quotes, since they would give you a better quote than the drunk drivers. Believe me for them you are a low risk compared to the intoxicated driving offenders. You will naturally pay higher than the normal rates, however you can still get affordable cheap car insurance in this group for sr22 car insurance.

  When you are speeding by over 50 km ove r the limit that is posted and you have to pay a fine as per what you are charged. There are 3 options for you:

1) Pleading Guilty
2) Pleading Guilty with an Explanation
3) Trial / Not Guilty

When you plead guilty you will be fined and mostly the demerit points will not be added to your record. The trail option is the only option if you do not want to pay and fight the charge or reduce the charges and the demerit points also. A plea of guilt with an explanation is not a trial and your speeding ticket will not be eliminated off of your record with this option.  At most the speeding ticket may be slightly reduced, but this usually only includes the fine amount and not the demerit points.  The trial option is the only way to fight for dismissal of a speeding ticket or for a drastic reduction in the fine or demerit points.

Demerit Points for Speeding Tickets

0 – 15 km/hr over = 0 points (minor infraction)
16 – 29km/hr over = 3 points (minor infraction)
30 – 49 km/hr over = 4 points (major infraction)
50+ km/hr over = 6 points + 30 day license suspension

Eric Rockfeller : How does a speeding ticket put you in the high risk driver and affect your auto insurance?

Response : The number of speeding tickets or traffic vilation tickets within a short period of time 0 say over three tickets in 2 years will certainly be considered as a high risk dvirver and this will affect your car insurance. If your are over twenty five and this is the only ticket on your record in the last three years it will make little difference on your auto insurance rates. Insurance companies do not necessarily review your driving record every year. It is checked when you first apply and then it depends on the policy of that particular company.

The problems will start with your second ticket. That is why it is important to keep any and all tickets off your record. Many states will allow you to take traffic school or they have a deferment program.

Check the laws in your state to see what options are available. In most cases just showing up on your court date will allow you to negotiate for a reduction in the fine and points.

If you drive a company vehicle or have a CDL license it is very important to keep your driving record clean because the records of these drivers are checked every year.

As a general rule you can expect one four point ticket to increase your insurance premiums by at least 50% for each of the next three years. In many cases it is cost effective to retain an attorney.

 Many insurance companies will not check your MVR every year unless there is a change to the policy. If they do not check, then your rates will not change. Typically insurance companies only check high risk drivers and those who drive a company vehicle every year. If you are a high risk driver you might be asked to buy SR22 form.

Bill ( Neveda) : Who are classified as high risk by an insurance company?

Response :Motorists are classified high risk when they are in violation of traffic laws, who have been charged with (DUI)  driving under influence or (DWI) Driving when intoxicated, have speeding tickets,  or may be new to driving such as teenagers and new drivers. The most common classifications are policyholders charged with a DUI/DWI or multiple violations on their driving record which are often referred to as “bad drivers.” But what most motorists do not know is that there are other criteria used by the companies to classify a policyholder as high risk. Other criteria include young drivers under the age of 25 or first time drivers, credit rating and history, students, and prior claims history.

 Being placed or categorized under these classifications can result in high rates for insured motorists that they should not be entitled to. Whether they are determined to be a high risk at the signing of the policy or during a carrier’s coverage the consumer’s driving history changes with violations, both result in an increase in the payment amount for the coverage. What most users do not know is that there are methods of being insured without having to pay inflated prices if considered a high risk driver.  You can still obtain cheap car insurance quote or cheap SR22 car insurance quotes.