An SR-22 is a financial responsibility insurance certificate that your auto insurance provider files with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. Although it is often referred to as "

SR-22 insurance

," it’s not an insurance policy—it’s a legal document certifying you have met the state’s minimum insurance requirements.

You can’t file an SR-22 in Illinois on your own; you need the help of an auto insurance provider.

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, a car insurance and broker app, will find you a

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policy from one of the top 50 providers in the nation. In under a minute, you’ll receive the most competitive quotes—which will be crucial, since an SR-22 increases your premiums.

Read on to learn about the process of obtaining an SR-22 certificate in the state of Illinois, what it means for your insurance policy, and how to save on your

Illinois car insurance

so that you can get back on the road without destroying your budget.

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What is an SR-22 in Illinois?

An SR-22—also referred to as "financial responsibility insurance" or a "financial responsibility certificate"—is a legal document filed by an auto insurance company with the Office of the Secretary of State in Illinois to confirm a high-risk driver carries the state-required minimum liability insurance in addition to

personal injury protection

(PIP) coverage.

Illinois’ coverage minimums for SR-22 insurance are the following:

Property damage liability

: $20,000 per accident

Bodily injury liability

: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident

Who needs it?

You may need an SR-22 certificate in Illinois if your driving record contains a mandatory insurance violation such as the following:

Reckless or distracted driving

Driving without insurance or the minimum state-required insurance

Driving with a suspended license

Unsatisfied judgment suspensions or revoked license

Repeat or severe driving violations

Driving while under the influence (

DUI

) or driving while impaired (DWI)

Illinois’ Office of the Secretary of State will notify drivers with a mandatory insurance violation that they are required to obtain SR-22 insurance, which they must do within 90 days.

Key Takeaway High-risk drivers with a mandatory insurance violation on their record must obtain an SR-22 in the state of Illinois to avoid license suspension or to reinstate their license.

MORE:

Driving without a license: What are the penalties?

How to get it

You can get SR-22 insurance in Illinois through an auto insurance provider who is authorized to write SR-22 policies in Illinois and who has power of attorney on file for the state.

Your insurer must submit this financial responsibility certificate from their home office directly to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. After the documentation is processed (which can take up to 30 days), you will receive a copy of the filing from the insurance company and a letter acknowledging receipt of the SR-22 from the Secretary of State’s office.

In Illinois, you are required to maintain an SR-22 policy for three consecutive years. If your policy expires or is canceled, your insurer is required to alert the state, and your license will be suspended until you reinstate your insurance.

Note that Illinois requires you to renew your policy at least 45 days in advance. If you have not renewed your policy within 15 days of its expiration date, your insurer must notify Illinois’ Secretary of State’s office.

Key Takeaway An SR-22 in Illinois is filed with the Secretary of State’s office, which requires you to maintain your insurance policy for three consecutive years.

MORE:

How to get a suspended license reinstated

How much does it cost?

The cost to file an

SR-22

certificate in Illinois varies depending on the insurer and can range from $0 to $50. While the cost to file may be low, the biggest expense comes from the increased premiums that accompany an SR-22.

Just how much your premiums will increase depends on your auto insurance provider and a combination of the following factors:

Number and type of prior convictions

Vehicle age and type

Driving amount

Geographical location

Personal details (age, marital status, education, occupation)

MORE:

11 car insurance hacks to save you money

How an SR-22 impacts your insurance in Illinois

An SR-22 filing in Illinois will raise your insurance premiums. However, you can minimize this expense in the following ways:

Compare quotes from multiple providers: Different insurers will quote you different amounts for SR-22 insurance, so it’s crucial to shop around for a

cheap car insurance

policy.

Jerry

takes the hassle out of insurance shopping by automatically comparing quotes from the top 50 insurance companies in the nation to find you the best price.

Try non-owner SR-22 insurance: If you stick to driving a car borrowed from friends or family, you can reduce your SR-22 insurance costs by obtaining a non-owner policy.

Take advantage of discounts: Some insurers will offer a discount for taking a defensive driving course or DUI course or for paying in full for your policy up front.

Typically, after you have held financial responsibility insurance for three consecutive years, Illinois will lift the requirement and your premiums will start to decrease.

Key Takeaway Save money on an SR-22 policy by comparing car insurance quotes online with Jerry.

MORE:

Can you get car insurance with a suspended license?

How to find cheap car insurance

A licensed insurance broker,

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will help you find

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by comparing quotes from name-brand insurance providers in a matter of seconds. What’s more, Jerry takes care of all the paperwork for you and even cancels your old policy, so you’ll save big on time AND money.

"
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helped me save money, get my SR-22, and customer service was exceptional. I really got everything I needed here, and the prices in the app are so much better than the ones quoted directly from an insurance company!"—Satisfied Jerry user

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