What You Need To Know About Non-Owner's SR22 Coverage

When you are the owner of a motor vehicle, you expect to purchase an insurance policy. However, if you aren't an owner, but are required to carry an SR22 insurance component, you will probably be legally required to have a policy in the form of non-owner's coverage. If this is a requirement you must fulfill, make sure you understand what it is all about.

What is Non-Owner's SR22 Protection?

Individuals who are required to carry an SR22 coverage component have generally been deemed high-risk drivers. This statement is independent of whether or not they actually own a vehicle. When you have this type of label attached to your driving record, the courts will still require you to certify that you have a certain level of property damage and bodily injury coverage when you are operating a vehicle, even if it's not yours. Non-owners SR22 protection provides this certification.

Two Separate Functions

Although this coverage is referred to as non-owners SR22 protection, it's important to understand that this term really refers to two different functions. First, the non-owners portion is the actual insurance coverage. However, the SR22 only refers to the certification process.

When you are a high-risk driver, the state requires that your insurance company provide documentation certifying that you have adequate coverage. The insurance provider notifies the state of this coverage in the form of an SR22 form. Make sure you understand that these are really two separate components that have been bundled into one.

Points To Remember

Here are just some of the important points to remember about this coverage:

Owner Responsibility. Let's say your friend is the owner of the vehicle. You drive the vehicle occasionally and have SR22 non-owner's coverage. This type of scenario does not mean that your roommate can end their coverage. A non-owner's policy does not replace the vehicle owner's policy.

Cost. You may incur an additional cost on top of the actual non-owner's coverage. Providing the state with certification of your coverage is a thorough process. For this reason, you may be required to pay an additional fee for the actual SR22 component of your coverage. When shopping for a policy, keep this in mind.

Non-owner's SR22 coverage is somewhat of a complicated process; however, thorough research can ensure you are paired with the right policy for your needs. An insurance specialist will be able to answer all your questions and ensure you are adequately covered.