DUI without Auto Insurance results in SR-22 and Suspended License

Don’t Drink And Drive! It’s more than just a slogan.

Besides the reasons such as obvious risk of injury, death, and extensive damage, you should avoid a DUI at all costs!

Did you know?

• Drinking and Driving in Illinois and many other states is a Criminal Offense? This means you will be punished by much more than a ticket or “slap on the wrist”. You could face jail time!
• Even first time offenders will be punished by having to install a breathalyzer device to their cars. Their car will not be allowed to start if alcohol is in their blood and it will notify the authorities.
• Your insurance rates WILL go up. A DUI is a very bad thing to have on your record. It will stay on your Motor Vehicle Report for the rest of your life.
• You will most likely have to file a form called the SR-22 with the state, proving you have liability insurance. This is also an added expense over and beyond the higher rates you will already be paying.
Is that extra Margarita or pretty Cosmopolitan at the club really worth it? What about that 6 pack you consume on Friday with the guys before heading home from work?

“I already screwed up and got caught driving over the limit. Fortunately, no one got hurt. But now what do I do?”

First, don’t even try to “have a memory lapse” when you are buying insurance and fail to mention a previous DUI. It will stay on your Motor Vehicle Report and follows you forever. The insurance company WILL find out and adjust your rate higher. This is unavoidable.
Second, be sure to check your SR-22 status. SR22 is not a type of insurance. It is the name of a particular form that insurance companies file with the Secretary of State and is required if your license is suspended or revoked.

An SR-22 insurance policy is a certificate of insurance that shows the Secretary of State proof of insurance for the future, as required by law. SR-22 is a motor vehicle liability insurance which requires the insurance company to certify coverage to the Division of Motor Vehicles. The insurance company must notify the DMV any time the policy is canceled, terminated or lapses.

If your SR22 endorsed Auto Insurance Policy cancels, lapses or expires for any reason, the insurer is required by law to send an SR22 Filing to the state DMV notifying them that you are once again no longer in compliance with the states’ Financial Responsibility laws. In the event your policy is cancelled, the state can suspend your driver’s license. This requirement is often, if not always, continued for a three year period.

Change your habits and don’t get behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking. Designate a driver FIRST. Get help. If you have been charged with a DUI and need an SR22 for your policy, speak with an expert who can find you the best coverage for the best price. Visit www.illins.com or call the folks at Illinois Insurance Center now at 1-708-524-8757.

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