Uninsured Motorist Coverage: The SR-22 Driver’s Best Add-On
- 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.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays your own medical costs and, in some states, property damage when an at-fault driver has no insurance — an especially relevant risk for drivers who were themselves cited for driving uninsured. In about half the states, UM is mandatory on every policy including SR-22 filings; elsewhere it is optional. The case for adding it voluntarily during a filing period is straightforward: high-risk drivers statistically share roads with other high-risk drivers, the coverage is comparatively cheap ($50–$150 per year at moderate limits), and it protects the household financially during the years when budget is most strained. It does not affect the SR-22 filing in either direction — it is purely additional protection — and the premium is small enough that quotes should be compared with UM included for an honest picture.