Has Washington Department Of Licensing advised you that you need a SR-22 insurance filing to reinstate your license but you don’t own a car. A Washington Non Owner SR-22 Insurance policy may be what you need. Find important information on how these policies work and who should or should not purchase them.
Is Washington Non Owner SR-22 Insurance The Best Choice?
The answer is that depends on your vehicle situation. If you have a private passenger vehicle in your name the answer would be no. The reason is you will sign insuring documents that state you understand there is no coverage when driving vehicles you own. Not only does it exclude coverage on your vehicle but on a spouses vehicle as well. The policy can also exclude coverage from any vehicle that is registered at the same physical address as you. The Washington Non Owner SR-22 policy will cover when you drive other peoples vehicles not living with you. The insurance coverage is secondary over the vehicle you borrow. Which means the borrowed cars insurance would pay first and if exhausted then the Non Owner Policy will pay second.
What If I Obtain A Car?
You have a couple of options when you become a vehicle owner. The first option would be to endorse to a Owner Operator policy which will cover you and all other listed drivers on the vehicle. A second and more expensive option is endorsing the policy to a Name Driver Broad Form policy which will cover you for liability and only you on any car owned or not. If the insuring company you have only does Non Owner Insurance then you will need to purchase a new policy. Expect premiums to increase when you make this change as the risk has increased for the insurance company.
What Does The SR-22 Do?
The SR-22 filing or SR-22 certificate is an extra form that an insurance company provides to Washington Department Licensing (D.O.L) on your behalf. It obligates the insurance company to notify the D.O.L. when the policy begins and when it cancels or lapses. When D.O.L. receives a SR-22 on a policy that has started they will offer license reinstatement if all other requirements and fines have been met. If D.O.L receives a notice that a policy has cancelled or lapsed they will re-suspended if the SR-22 requirement is still needed. You can contact the Washington D.O.L. here to find more information on your license status.
Length Of Time A Washington Non Owner SR-22 Is Required?
The SR-22 requirement for Named Non Owner, Named Broad Form and Owner Operator policies can be up to 3 years. Depending on the type and number of violations. Do not make the mistake of waiting several years before filing thinking the SR-22 requirement will go away if you wait. The time starts from the date you first file after becoming eligible to reinstate your license. And remember keep that policy in force to keep your license valid.
How Much Coverage Do I Need?
You must purchase at least the Washington state minimum liability limit which currently is,
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury liability
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability
- $10,000 per accident for property damage liability
Please keep in mind the state minimum is not much protection and you can increase the coverage for a few extra dollars a month.
Where Can I Find Washington Non Owner SR-22 Insurance?
There are many options when shopping for SR-22 insurance. Beware of filling out a form for a lead generation company as they will sell your information to as many agents or insurance companies as they can. When searching online click on the about us tab on every website and find out who you are dealing with before sharing your personal info. A good option can be getting rate’s through a licensed insurance broker who can check multiple SR-22 insurance companies.
