To reinstate your driver’s license in the state of Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) requires you to have Texas SR22 insurance. The SR in SR22 stands for Safety Responsibility. Texas SR22 insurance is required for high-risk drivers and, in most cases, must be kept on file for 2 years from the date of conviction. A reinstatement fee of $100 must also be paid. Some of the reasons drivers may need SR22 Texas insurance may include: being involved in a car accident without proof of insurance, driving under the influence (DUI), driving on DWI, Drug Offenses, DWLI, Violations, Violation of Driver’s License Restriction (VDLR). The State of Texas will suspend a driver’s license if a person has committed 4 moving violations in a 12-month period or 7 moving violations in a 24-month period.
SR22 Texas Insurance must include at least the minimum limits of liability insurance for the state, which are $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage. Once the insurance company activates the policy, the insurance company will notify the Texas Department of Public Safety that the driver meets the legal requirements for auto insurance. A lapse in coverage will result in the auto insurance company notifying the state with an SR26 filing, which will result in another driver’s license suspension. If that happens, additional fees and another SR22 filing must be triggered. That is why once an SR22 Texas insurance policy has been purchased, it is important that the driver pay the premium on time to prevent the policy from being terminated.
The Texas Department of Safety is located in Austin. A Texas SR22 insurance form can be mailed or faxed to your office. It can also be brought and shipped in person to the following 4 locations statewide: in Austin at 108 Denson Drive in Houston; 12220 South Gessner Drive in Garland; 350 West 1H30; or in Universal City at 1633 Pat Booker Road.
Because rates vary widely between companies, it’s very important to compare SR22 insurance carefully. Rates in Texas metropolitan areas are higher than rates in rural areas. Expect to pay more if you live in Houston, San Antonio, or Dallas than if you live in Waco or Tyler. Getting SR22 Texas insurance and reinstating your driver’s license will get you back on the road legally.