Yes, filing SR 22 is the only way you can get your suspended driver’s license re-instated after you have been found guilty of DUI or any such traffic violation. The Department of Motor Vehicles will not accept any other form of proof of your carrying auto insurance. So there is no use showing your insurance ID card or bill of purchase to the traffic official. Penalties for a DUI can be more extreme as it can result in injury or death and property damage. The Californian insurance law intends to protect the other road user’s life and property and to keep the roads devoid of erring drivers.
The certificate to show proof of insurance is in form SR-22 as defined by the DMV. This is a Department of Motor Vehicle form (similar to SR-1). This required when you have an accident or are ticketed for not having proof of insurance. Under these circumstances you are required to prove “future financial responsibility” by having an SR-22 on file with DMV.
Filing of SR22 arises when you are involved in the following driving related issues:
· You fail to provide proof of liability auto insurance to DMV
· You are involved in an uninsured accident
· You repeat traffic offenses or get multiple tickets within a short period
· When your license is suspended or revoked for any other reason
· If you apply for a hardship or probationary permit
California SR-22 will only be valid for California as they are state specific. If you move to another state you must obtain a different SR-22 to show proof of financial responsibility in that state. SR26 form is filed to cancel the SR22 when future proof is no longer needed.
According to Californian law, SR-22 is the mechanism that authorizes the DMV to oversee the insurance of problem drivers. The DMV will suspend the driver’s license of the driver guilty of DUI on failure to file SR22 as proof of auto insurance. An SR-22 is a certificate issued by an insurance company and kept on file Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This document is a guarantee that the driver has obtained the required minimum liability coverage. The insurance company will notify the DMV if the insurance coverage lapses or is cancelled for some reason. On receipt of this the DMV will immediately suspend the driver’s license of the person.