Broad Form SR-22: Washington State’s Budget Option
- An SR-22 is a form your insurer files with the state — it is not a separate insurance policy.
- Expect a one-time filing fee (often $15–$50) plus a premium increase that reflects the underlying violation.
- You must keep the policy continuous for the state's full requirement period, usually 1–3 years.
Broad form insurance is a driver-coverage policy — it insures you for liability in any vehicle you drive, rather than insuring a specific vehicle — and Washington state permits it to satisfy an SR-22 requirement. It is materially cheaper than standard owner policies, sometimes 30–50% less, because it carries no physical-damage coverage and excludes vehicles you own or use regularly. The trade-offs are strict: it never covers your own car’s damage, it may not satisfy leasing or loan requirements, and its liability limits are lower than standard policies. Outside Washington, the concept exists in a few states (Michigan’s version differs) but is rarely SR-22-eligible. For a Washington driver with no valuable vehicle who needs the filing at minimum cost, broad form is the legitimate budget route — but price a standard SR-22 policy before assuming it, because the gap has narrowed in recent years.