After you get too many violations, you may have to carry an SR22 in Florida. Learn strategies for paying for your insurance here.
We can’t all be perfect drivers. Unfortunately, all those speeding tickets and moving violations add up eventually. If you have too many violations on your record in Florida, you may end up having to carry an SR22.
This can be confusing, expensive, and inconvenient for drivers. What do you do when you get the letter that says you now need to carry SR22 insurance? What does it mean — and more importantly, how do you pay for it?
Don’t worry. This is only temporary, and you can always figure out a way to make sure the bills get paid. Read on to learn how you can raise the funds to pay for an SR22 in Florida.
What Is an SR22?
First, let’s clear up a common misconception — an SR22 on its own isn’t actually its own insurance policy. You’re still going to need to carry a policy from one of the major car insurance providers.
An SR22 is a form that your insurance company will have to fill out to prove that you have the required amount of coverage. It’s basically letting the government know that if you get another violation or cause an accident, you at least have the insurance on hand to help pay for damages.
You might need this if you’ve been convicted of drunk driving, driving without insurance, or reckless driving. You also could be required to file an SR22 if you have a lot of little violations that make the state take notice.
You can get an SR22 filed through pretty much any insurance company, but because you’ll be considered high-risk, you might have some issues finding someone who’s willing to take you at first. Be prepared to shop around to find an agency that will take you on.
Average Cost of an SR22 in Florida
Once you’ve found an insurance company that will file an SR22 on your behalf, you’ll be responsible for paying the filing fee. This is usually around fifteen dollars in Florida.
After that, the cost will vary a lot. It depends on how old you are, what kind of car you drive, the area of the state you live in, and your past driving record, among other factors. There’s no flat rate associated with an SR22 insurance filing.
The one thing you can expect is for it to be far more expensive than ‘normal’ car insurance would be. You’ll need to make sure you pay for it on time, though, because if you let it lapse your license could be suspended (again).
How Can I Pay for This?
That brings us to the real question — how do you go about paying for these increased insurance costs? Short of getting another job to help with the costs, here are some strategies you can use to make sure your bill is paid in full.
Pay Monthly
The first thing you should do is check to see if you can pay monthly instead of paying the entire premium up front. If you’re like most people, you don’t have the cash on hand to pay it all at once.
The good news, though, is that you don’t have to. You can pay a monthly premium just like you would with a standard insurance policy.
You may end up paying more over time if you choose this option, but if you need to make sure the bills are paid, it’s a good choice. If you have the money to pay up front, though, do so.
Compare Quotes
Just because you need to file an SR22 doesn’t mean you can’t look around. You should do your due diligence, just as if you were searching for a standard insurance quote.
Collect quotes from the insurance companies who are willing to offer you a policy and look to see who is offering you the best deal.
Comparing quotes instead of going with the first rate that’s offered to you could end up helping you save hundreds of dollars a year. You’ll thank yourself for the extra time spent later.
Check for Discounts
When you’re calling around for quotes, check for discounts as well. No, we don’t mean discounts like the coupons you’ll find in your mailbox. Even with a spotty driving record, you may qualify for programs that help lower the cost of your insurance.
You can get a discount for military affiliation, for example. Other companies may also offer discounts if you’ve already taken or agree to take a defensive driving course.
Even if you don’t think you qualify, it doesn’t hurt to ask. The last thing you want to do is leave money on the table.
Drive A Cheaper Car
Finally, if you have the ability to do so, try to drive a cheaper car.
There’s a sweet spot for this. You don’t want to have a car that’s too old, because then you’ll miss out on insurance discounts for safety features like anti-lock brakes. On the other hand, a brand new car is going to cost you more money to insure.
Not everyone has the ability to change the car they drive, but if this is an option for you, you should definitely consider it. A lot of the cost of an insurance policy is based on the car you’re driving. If you can’t change your driving history, you can at least change the vehicle you get behind the wheel of.
Get an SR22 in Florida Today
You might have made a mistake, but that doesn’t mean you have to ruin your life paying for it. With these strategies to pay for the extra insurance costs after an SR22 filing, you’ll be able to get back on your feet — and on the road — in no time.
Don’t have an SR22 in Florida filed yet and not sure where to begin? We can help with that.
Staybull Insurance specializes in high-risk policies, so we have plenty of experience with cases like these. Get a quote today to see how we can work together.
