In South Dakota, an SR-22 certification is required in order to provide the proof of financial responsibility required by the state for the reinstatement of a drivers’ license following any of the following violations:
The certification is meant to prove to the state that you possess an insurance policy that meets the minimum liability coverage that is required.
The cost of an SR-22 policy is insignificant when one considers the filing fee that is charged by the insurance providers for processing and filing on behalf of an individual. When the nature of the filing is however considered, the true cost becomes clearer.
The requirement of an SR-22 filing means that an individual is legally recognized by the state of South Dakota as a high risk driver. This would mean that it is legally assumed that the likelihood of such an individual committing a traffic violation is high. The classification also makes it imperative for insurance policy providers to increase the premiums for such an individual to account for the increased possibility of liabilities.
At the end of the day, despite the filing costing not more than $50, the true cost of the certification would run into hundreds of dollars per month. However, the specific increase in premium would still vary from provider to provider and shopping around for policies and weighing the merits of such policies against cost are the easiest ways of finding affordable or cheaper policies for good value.
In South Dakota, there generally exists three types of SR-22 forms that can be filed by drivers. The first is for drivers who do not own vehicles but wish to reinstate their license and is called the operator SR-22 insurance form. Drivers who file for such a form expect to drive but not very regularly.
The second form is the owner SR-22 insurance form and is required by drivers who operate and own their own vehicles.
The final form is the operator-owner SR-22 insurance form and is filed to cover all vehicles that a driver operates, whether owned or not. Drivers who have multiple cars or have access to multiple cars tend to need this form.
It is required that, along with an SR-22 filing, an individual needing the filing also purchase an insurance policy that meets the state mandated requirements. This would mean that whether or not you have a car, an insurance policy is needed to file an SR-22.
If you don’t have a car but need the filing, the policy for you is a non-owner auto insurance policy that would provide only liability coverage. The same thing applies if you have no valid license at the moment but require an SR-22 filing.
Failure to file the SR-22 if it is required of you would mean that your license would remain suspended or revoked.
In South Dakota, an SR-22 filing can only be filed by the insurance provider who does so with the secretary of state on behalf of the individual with the requirement. This service would cost a small fee that varies from provider to provider.
The certification would be filed electronically by the insurance provider and upon confirmation and acceptance; you would receive an SR-22 auto insurance form along with a letter from the secretary of state.
The certification acquired is meant to prove that you have an insurance policy that meets the minimum liability coverage requirements of the state of South Dakota. The requirements are:
If you are from another state but are moving to South Dakota and you required an SR-22 in your previous state, you are expected to maintain your out-of-state SR-22 certification if you want to drive legally in South Dakota. You, however, have to make sure that your insurance policy meets the state-mandated minimum liability coverage requirements. The same thing applies in reverse if you are leaving the state of South Dakota for another state; your SR-22 within the state must be maintained to completion.
An SR-22 insurance filing in Dakota must be maintained for three years and should always be renewed at least 45 days before its expiry.
What to do if the SR-22 lapses
In the event that an SR-22 insurance policy carried in South Dakota lapses or is cancelled for whatever reason, the South Dakota DMV would be allowed to suspend the license of the insurance carrier as well as the vehicle registration and license plates.
Following such a suspension, a driver could still qualify for a South Dakota hardship license which would allow certain restricted privileges such as driving to work.
How to go about cancelling my filing when I no longer need SR-22 coverage
Once the mandated filing period has been completed, you can contact the South Dakota DMV to confirm the conclusion of the filing period and then proceed to inform your insurance provider that the filing is no longer required. Following this, your policy premiums would be returned back to normal.
An SR-22 insurance filing in South Dakota must be maintained for three years and should always be renewed at least 45 days before its expiry. In the event that an SR-22 insurance policy carried in South Dakota lapses or is cancelled for whatever reason, the South Dakota DMV would be allowed to suspend the license of the insurance carrier as well as the vehicle registration and license plates. Following such a suspension, a driver could still qualify for a South Dakota hardship license which would allow certain restricted privileges such as driving to work.
For specific information pertaining to another state in question, please refer to the respective that are more in-depth.
An sr22 filing is not permanent and it does go away after the period of maintenance of the filing has been completed.
Following the filing of an SR-22 certificate in South Dakota, the new insurance rate payable by an individual could rise by 80% on average to $2,247 per annum or $187 per month. This new rate is expected to be adhered to by the individual for the duration of the maintenance of the filing and certification.
The sr22 insurance certification can provide full coverage but state law demands that it meets the minimum liability coverage requirements of the state of South Dakota. The requirements are:
If you don’t have a car but need the filing, the policy for you is a non-owner auto insurance policy that would provide only liability coverage. This policy is cheaper than a standard auto insurance policy and is tied to the driver and not the vehicle.
If you don’t drive but are required to file an SR-22 for whatever reason, you would need to do so and purchase a valid insurance policy also. A failure to do this could mean your license would not be reinstated.
Once the mandated filing period has been completed, you can contact the South Dakota DMV to confirm the conclusion of the filing period and then proceed to inform your insurance provider that the filing is no longer required. Following this, your policy premiums would be returned back to normal.
If you are required to file an SR-22 for whatever reason, you would need to do so and purchase a valid insurance policy also. A failure to do this could mean your license would not be reinstated.
Yes. This is due to the fact that the SR-22 and an insurance policy work hand in hand to prove future financial responsibility as required by the state. The insurance policy is needed to show that you have adequate coverage mandated by the state to drive again and the SR-22 is basically an endorsement filed by your insurance provider that they would cover whatever liabilities arise from your driving again.
If you don’t have a car but need the filing, the policy for you is a non-owner auto insurance policy that would provide only liability coverage. It is required that, along with an SR-22 filing, an individual needing the filing also purchase an insurance policy that meets the state mandated requirements.