Need SR22 Insurance? 3 Ways To Keep It Affordable

Posted on: 27 March 2017

The first thing that you need to know about SR-22 insurance is that it isn't really insurance at all. An SR-22 is a certificate filed by your insurance company proving that you have coverage, and the usual charge for such a certificate is around $25. So why have you heard so much talk about the high cost of SR-22 insurance? Because if you need an SR-22, it's usually because you had too many traffic violations or because you had an especially serious violation, like a DUI. That means the insurance companies consider you a higher risk driver, which drives your premiums up. But there are still things you can do to keep your premiums down even if you need an SR-22. Take a look at some ways you can keep your SR-22 insurance affordable.

Take a Driver Safety Course

Your insurance premiums are higher because the insurance company considers you a risky driver. The solution to that problem is to prove that you're not such a risky driver after all. There are several ways to do that, but one of the fastest and simplest ways would be to take a DMV-approved driver safety course.

This sends the car insurance company the message that you're taking responsibility for your flaws as a driver and are working on improvement. Someone who wants to be a better driver is much less of a risk than someone who doesn't care.

Correct Your Credit

The traffic violations that triggered the need for an SR-22 will drop off your driving record in time, but there's no way to get rid of them faster. However, your driving record isn't the only record insurance companies look at when determining your premiums. They also look at your credit score, and you may be able to do something about that.

If you haven't looked at your credit report recently, it's time to take a look. Request a free copy of your credit report and look for mistakes, debts that you've already paid off that should be removed, or debts that you can pay off quickly to improve your score. Insurers consider drivers with bad credit to be riskier drivers, so if you can bump your credit score up a bit, you can get a better rate.

Ask for a Discount

It sounds too simple, but sometimes all you have to do to save some money is ask. The traffic violations that caused you to need an SR-22 may disqualify you from receiving a safe driver discount right now, but insurance companies offer other types of discounts, and you may qualify for one of them.

You may be eligible for a discount if you buy other insurance, like home or life insurance, from the same company that you get car insurance from. Some insurance companies give military discounts for service members or discounts to members of certain professions, like nurses and doctors. You may be eligible for a discount if you belong to a professional organization or community group recognized by your insurance company. There are lots of potential discounts, and you most likely qualify for at least one or two of them.

Needing an SR-22 certificate shouldn't price you out of insurance. Shop around and use the tools at your disposal to get better rate offers for your car insurance needs. Contact a company like Select Insurance Group to learn more.

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Little-known Insurance Tips

While I have had auto insurance ever since I bought my first car at 16 years old and home insurance ever since I bought my first home several years ago, I have to admit that over the years I knew very little about insurance. I tended to just look at the price of the coverage and sign the paperwork without really looking into the pros and cons of each policy. After my friend was in a car accident recently (thankfully, she is okay!) and she said she had to pay for some of the damage to the other vehicle out-of-pocket even though she had a minimum state coverage auto insurance policy, I decided to put a lot of careful research into insurance policies and what they really offer. I want to help others by sharing the information I have learned on a blog. I hope I can help you!