Being charged with a Georgia DUI can result in an automobile insurance nightmare. If you are lucky, your insurance company will not cancel your policy if convicted. If you are not, you could end up working very hard to find a way to get behind the wheel again legally. And many times, Georgia courts will order you to produce an SR-22 policy document.
What is an SR-22?
Simply put, an SR-22, also called a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate, is a document that guarantees you are and will be insured for the duration of your DUI consequences—an average of three years. And this coverage must be sufficient for Georgia’s state liability limits.
Here are some of the facts about the SR-22:
- Once you have an insurance company that will provide you with an SR-22, it must be filed with the state. Your insurance provider should be able to do that correctly for you.
- Not all insurance companies provide SR-22 policies. If you were insured with one of these previous to your DUI, the company will be sure you are no longer a customer, either by terminating your policy or by not renewing it.
- SR-22 forms can also be required for other major driving convictions, but DUI is the most common.
There are some things you must watch out for with SR-22 policies. For example, if you cancel with the company that issued your SR-22, and get a new policy, even a one-day lapse in insurance can cause the period of time you are required to have it, say three years, to start over.
If you or a loved one is facing north Georgia DUI charges, call the Law Office of Scott Miller in Alpharetta for information and advice. The initial consultation is always free.
