There are a few good reasons why you may require SR22 insurance in South Carolina. In most cases, you might be required to obtain SR22 insurance for DUI, driving while suspended or driving without being insured.
Before going into more details regarding suspension durations, SR22 charges, costs and other criteria, it is good to fully grasp what SR22 actually is. Incorrectly, quite a few consumers believe that SR22 is a different type of insurance they have to buy. In reality, what SR22 insurance really refers to is simply a proof of insurance.
All you have to do is instruct your insurer to file a document to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which states that you have the demanded car insurance protection. A non-owner SR22 car insurance is required when you need to provide a proof of insurance but you don’t own a car.
In Sc, SR22 insurance is requested for a time period of 3 years, normally starting from the end of the suspension period. Should you get a provisional license, SR22 insurance will still be required for six months. The suspension period depends on the earlier conviction. For DUI:
First Offence – 6 months
2nd Offence – one year
3rd Offence – two years
When you have committed 4 or more offences, your drivers license will be suspended. For a felony Dui you will lose your license for three years plus time served in jail.
For driving uninsured the suspension time period is thirty days. If you are driving a car while suspended, a new suspension period will be added and it could be from thirty days, or the period of the original suspension, up to 3 months.
The reinstatement charge is $100 for every suspension. In some instances a higher amount may be required. The bare minimum limits that you must buy vehicle insurance cover are:
Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) – $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
PDL – Property Damage Liability – $25,000 per accident
Usually, apart from the reinstatement payment, having to carry a proof of insurance coverage in South carolina translates as higher vehicle insurance rates. A large number of insurance carriers will put you in the “high risk driver” group and it is not really hard to determine that greater risk means higher monthly costs. Nevertheless, you should never just resign to the idea that for 3 years you must pay too much for SR22 insurance.
Bear in mind that there are various other factors in play, when car insurance rates are determined, like the make and model of your vehicle, your credit history and area of residency. You could take a defence driving class and demonstrate that you are a responsible driver. Driving a car less and making use of the public transport will reduce your early mileage and auto insurance cost too.
In spite of everything, the easiest and most useful thing you can possibly do is to compare SR22 insurance quotes on-line. Within just 2 minutes you will get quotes from different insurance companies. The difference in price is frequently surprising. You may even save up to $450!
Find out more information about Auto Insurance for High Risk Drives
1. Drive Less for and get a discount
Some carriers will discount your premium with a low-mileage discount if you drive less than 7,500 miles per year. Also ask your agent if you can receive a commuter discount for using public transportation.
Comprehensive Coverage covers your car or vehicle that is damaged other than through a collision.