If you live in Maine and have been found guilty of specific driving laws such as driving without a license, driving uninsured, driving under the influence, or driving with an expired license, the State will request SR-22 insurance. This also applies to drivers who have committed repeat indiscretions. The auto insurance firm files SR-22 insurance to Maine's Department of Motor Vehicles.
It is compulsory for drivers in Maine who have committed vehicular infractions to apply for SR-22 insurance. You would be unable to register your car if you are flagged as a driver who needs SR-22 insurance. Hence, you must apply for this add-on to your policy before you can start the car registration process. If a driver from Maine visits another state for work, it is mandatory to get an SR-22 certificate from an auto insurer licensed to operate in that state. The auto insurer will then send the application to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Maine.
Maine stipulates three years for drivers to maintain SR-22 insurance continuously, starting from the conviction date. If a driver misses their monthly payment and the SR-22 insurance lapses, their insurance agent will an SR-26 form to Maine D.M.V. informing them that the driver has failed to comply with the state’s directives.
The consequence of missing a payment can be a suspended license for a set period is decided by the D.M.V.
SR-22 insurance is mostly used as a means of approval when a driver wants to retire their driving privileges if they have been found guilty of driving uninsured or committing a D.U.I. If you don't own a car, but you want to restore your driving privileges, you can apply for non-owner SR-22 insurance.
The only states that don’t mandate SR-22 insurance are Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Delaware, and New Mexico. However, if you have been charged in Maine and visit any of these states or relocate permanently, you are still required to fulfill the legal requirements under Maine law.
Typically, a state D.M.V. does not keep a database of drivers' insurance policies. Nonetheless, auto insurers get to keep a database of drivers' policies and send out an SR-26 or FR-44 form (depending on the state) to Maine D.M.V., notifying them of any defaulting on the policy. If a driver cancels or fails to renew their SR-22 insurance, the state D.M.V. will be contacted to report your behavior.
When you apply for SR-22 insurance in Maine, you will get a copy of insurance proof that you must report to the state. If you fail to submit your copy to the Maine D.M.V., your license will be suspended. To reinstate your license, you must then own and maintain an SR-22 high-risk car insurance policy.
Maine SR-22 insurance policy costs about $87 per month on average. Your rate depends on your offense. Hence, drivers with an SR-22 certificate on their policy are charged an increase of 42% on average. Compared to the standard rate, you can see how steep that is. Your offense plays a considerable part in Maine car insurance premiums.
Repeat offenders have it worse. There is the possibility of serving jail time and losing your license. Additionally, the expensive premiums are just one part of what you have to face. Having an SR-22 request on your insurance policy makes you a risky client, which means you will lose customer discounts that you previously had access to.
In Maine, drivers found guilty of a D.U.I. violation cannot qualify for a safe-driver discount for thirty-six months. Say you enjoyed 15% off your fee before. You can now expect your policy to increase by 15% for the next three years.
Drivers in Maine need SR-22 insurance to restore their driving privileges when their license has been recorded or suspended for reasons such as:
Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs and Alcohol – OUI
Suppose you are flagged for a traffic stop because the law enforcement officer suspects you are driving under the influence, and a chemical test verifies his or her claim. In that case, your license will be automatically suspended. If you refuse to take the test, your license will be suspended. In specific scenarios, the suspension duration can be reduced if you opt for an IID (Ignition Interlock Device) installation.
An IID requires drivers to breathe into the device before turning the ignition. If the driver breathes into the breathalyzer, and the device detects abnormal alcohol intake, it will prevent the vehicle from starting. An ignition interlock device will also randomly ask the driver to deliver a breath sample to check for alcohol consumption. However, if the car is on and detects that you are intoxicated, the device cannot turn off your engine.
An IID requires a small installation fee, apart from the cost of purchase and maintenance. The fees vary, so it is recommended that you shop around for deals that align with your budget.
Before the court can allow you to choose the IID option over maintaining SR-22 insurance, you must request approval from the Secretary of State.
Reinstating Driving Privileges With An IID
In unique circumstances, a driver convicted of an OUI violation may qualify to restore their driving privileges by applying for an Ignition Interlock device installation. First-time OUI offenders have the privilege of installing an IID to recover their driving eligibility after a 30-day suspension.
The device must remain in the car for five months after the sentencing date. To qualify for this option, you must apply for approval from the Secretary of State. You can do this by submitting an Ignition Interlock Petition form to the Maine B.M.V. To process this form; you will be required to pay a sum of $50 and complete a D.E.E.P. course.
D.E.E.P. stands for driver education, evaluation, and treatment program.
SR-22 insurance in Maine is a financial responsibility certificate that serves as evidence that a driver in the state has the financial capability to own the minimum liability coverage as mandated by the state. The form costs $15 to file with Maine B.M.V.
For specific information pertaining to another state in question, please refer to the respective that are more in-depth.
There is only one option to get rid of an SR-22, and that is serving your time. The purpose of SR-22 insurance is to keep drivers in check and ensure only insured drivers ply Maine roads. You are legally required to maintain SR-22 insurance continuously for thirty-six months, depending on the regularity and type of driving violation.
The monthly cost of SR-22 differs between auto insurance companies. A driver can expect to pay an average fee between $350 and $800. This figure is highly dependent on factors such as driving experience, location, driving record, marital status, or the driver's age. Auto insurers that offer SR-22 insurance coverage do so at a high cost.
SR-22 insurance is a document or certificate filed by your auto insurance agent and sent to the state proving that you own minimum liability coverage as mandated by law. To get SR-22 insurance, you must purchase the form from a licensed insurance company in your state. If you currently have an existing car insurance policy, you can SR-22 insurance to it.
If you don't drive, the solution to getting an SR-22 is to purchase a non-owner SR-22 insurance policy, which fulfills the requirements of the law and is significantly cheaper than regular insurance.
It depends on your driving status. Drivers who are considered high-risk (have been convicted of a D.U.I. or related charges) need the SR-22 certificate as proof that they own regular insurance. Drivers who need SR-22 in addition to regular insurance have been found guilty of driving uninsured, intoxicated, or under the influence.
If you continue to drive without getting an SR-22 insurance policy after you have been ordered to, you may regret the consequences of such action. Failure to own SR-22 can get you arrested or face jail time. Many states employ the ALIR system to track down disobedient drivers. This system is where auto insurers send a notification to the D.M.V. informing the State that you have skipped on maintaining your SR-22 policy.
You are free to drive any car even if you don’t own the vehicle as long as you have your non-owners SR-22 insurance certificate. Once you file this document, you can drive legally in that state without affecting your driving record.
You can get SR-22 without owning a car by purchasing a non-owner SR-22 insurance policy. This certificate provides regular coverage like the typical auto insurance but is not specific to a car.
Non-owner SR-22 insurance costs between $15 to $50. The average rate for most companies is $25. Related: Buy Cheap Car Insurance Online