DUI and Auto Insurance Washington WA

Reader’s Question:

I got a DUI citation here in Washington. What do I need to do next?

Kevin

Seattle, WA

As in all states in America, Washington requires all its residents who operate a motor vehicle in public roads to have financial responsibility over accidents they cause. Having an auto insurance coverage is the most typical way of showing financial responsibility.

Also, every time you get a traffic citation, you are required to show proof of coverage. If you have been cited for DUI, then you need to obtain SR22. SR22 is not a type of insurance coverage. It is a proof that you have car insurance coverage based on the financial responsibility laws in your state.

Here in Washington, SR22 is filed by the insurance company to the Department of Motor Vehicles to show that a particular individual has auto insurance coverage. Filing this form is usually required following a traffic citation where the motorist involved failed to show proof of financial responsibility.

Instances that require SR22 may be for reinstatement of your license following a DUI offense, causing an accident without auto coverage, or a subsequent incident of leaving a child in a running vehicle unattended. If the Washington government mandates that you carry SR22, then you are normally required to maintain this for three years. Normally, after being cited for a DUI offense, your driver’s license will be cancelled. In order to have it reinstated, the State of Washington will then require you to file future proof of financial responsibility, also known as SR22.

Tags: DMV, DUI, DUI insurance, sr22 car insurance, SR22 Form