Reader’s question:

I live in Oregon and I am required to get SR-22. what is an SR-22 and how does it works?

Marie

Good question.

An SR-22 is a certificate that verifies you that you have purchased a liability insurance coverage that meets he minimum liability coverage from a licensed insurance company in Oregon. This also provides a proof to the Department of Motor Vehicle that you have an insurance. The insurance company will notify DMV if you have cancelled your policy before your suspension is over so will need to get an SR-22 on file with the DMV or your license will be suspended.

The insurance company will need to file an SR-22 with the DMV if you fail to present a proof that you have a liability insurance coverage, you have been charged with driving without insurance, uninsured accidents, etc. You may contact DMV to check if an SR-22 is a requirement that you needed.

You are required by the Oregon law to carry SR-22 for 3 years from the ending date of the suspension or 3 years and 33 days from the date that you were convicted of uninsured driving. The insurance company will then notify DMV if for some reason you let it lapse. So then DMV will suspend your driving privileges.

If for example your driving license got suspended due to not getting SR-22 certificate and then you later get an insurance, make sure you do not drive yet until your SR-22 is already on file with the DMV and your license have been reactivated. The SR-22 meets the requirements once the DMV has it on file. The date that the SR-22 was filed is not counted to the effective date of the policy.

If you are required to carry SR-22 in the state of Oregon, you need to be sure that the insurance company does business in the state of Oregon, have your Oregon customer number and that the SR-22 is the original and not a copy.

Goodluck!

-MariCAR