What could be the reason why my brother is being required to have SR22 insurance in Washington and how can he get that?

Aila

Everett, WA

Your brother must have received an alarming letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) asking a certificate of financial responsibility. He need not have to be so nervous because he can definitely get SR22 insurance in Washington.

SR22 insurance in Washington is a certificate filed by an insurance company that will guarantee the DMV that your brother has the minimum liability requirements for his car insurance. SR22 insurance in Washington is being asked for drivers who are considered high risk by insurance companies. There are a lot of reasons a driver is asked for SR22 insurance in Washington, including:

–DUI or Driving Under the Influence conviction
–causing a traffic accident and was not able to show car insurance coverage
–causing a traffic accident that resulted to death
–having numerous traffic tickets or accidents in a short period of time
–reckless speeding tickets

The state does not mandate car insurance companies to offer SR22 insurance in Washington. Still, your brother does not have to worry because there are a lot of car insurance companies that offer SR22 insurance in Washington, but for an additional cost. He can check with his current car insurance provider if they offer SR22 insurance in Washington, if not, he would have to shop around for his car insurance.

Tags: driving without insurance, drunk driving insurance, DUI, SR22 insurance

Will my current auto insurance company find out I have had a DUI conviction here in Tacoma, Washington?

Margarita

Tacoma, WA

Auto insurance companies can sometimes miss DUI convictions so it’s possible that your current insurance company will not find out you have had a DUI conviction in Tacoma, Washington if they don’t check your motor vehicle report and if you are not required to file an SR22 insurance with them. Computer error and human error, as you know, happen all the time. If your current auto insurance company doesn’t find out about your DUI conviction, one way to keep your current policy is to buy minimum liability with another provider with an SR22 insurance.

That way, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would be satisfied because you have made your filing and since you current auto insurance company has not found out about your DUI offense, you’re able to keep your current policy. This would be especially helpful when you have full coverage, higher liability limits, other family members/vehicles or coverage on a valuable vehicle, where the rates on a standard policy could be very high. This website can gladly provide a free online rate quote for you.

What happens if I don’t have a lawyer and I don’t attend the hearing at the Department of Motor Vehicles for my DUI case here in Washington? But if I do attend the hearing, do we have to request for the officer to be present at that hearing?

Jai

Enumclaw Plateau, WA

The hearing at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for your DUI case in Enumclaw Plateau, Washington is very important. If you don’t attend that hearing, you would not be able to drive for a period of one year because your driver’s license will be suspended. It is a serious traffic offense if you drive and be caught driving after your license has been revoked; it doesn’t matter if you drive for work or personal reasons. A very good DUI lawyer can advise you how to get driving privileges restored for work and school so you need to get a DUI lawyer to represent you at your DMV hearing and at your court trial.

If you don’t request for the officer to be present at the DMV hearing, you would have to subpoena him or waive his presence. The DMV hearing would be based on the officer’s report only. If this happens, you would not hear how the officer would testify. This is very important because your DUI lawyer could learn many things at this DMV hearing if the officer is present. If the officer fails to justify what was done or fails to appear, you could get your driver’s license back.

I have a serious charge of DUI here in Washington and one of my biggest concerns is the problem I would have with my auto insurance. What consequence shall I face with regard to my auto insurance after being charged for DUI?

Bruce

Bellingham, WA

The consequence that you would have to face with regard to your auto insurance after your DUI charge in Bellingham, Washington is that you should file an SR22 auto insurance. This is a form for an auto insurance policy that you would have to obtain from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in order get your driver’s license reinstated and legally drive again.

The SR22 auto insurance would essentially become a written agreement between your insurance company and the DMV. The agreement would oblige your insurance company to provide accurate coverage for your specific needs and let the DMV know if your insurance company is no longer providing coverage for you for whatever reason. Generally, the DMV would suspend your driver’s license again after they have received the notice that your insurance company is no longer providing coverage for you. You have to find an auto insurance company that will give you coverage for the SR22 insurance if your current insurance company is not providing this for you. Good news is, an online rate quote for SR22 auto insurance is readily available from this website.

I’m concerned that my sister would be greatly affected after her DUI arrest in Washington. What would be the emotional and financial costs of DUI on her?

Vern

Kennewick, WA

After being arrested for DUI in Kennewick, Washington, your sister might be ashamed of telling everyone about the DUI arrest. It would also be shameful for her on having to go to court and dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). She also might feel shame of having to tell her boss about the DUI arrest. The psychological and emotional costs of DUI are actually different for everyone but it would be the same when it comes to financial cost.

Even if your sister decides not to fight the DUI charges against her, her finances would still take a big hit. The initial costs would be the fines, penalties and surcharges. If it would be required for her, it would also cost money to do the sheriff’s work program. She would also have to pay a fee to choose, within certain limits, when she serves her jail time so that it is the least disruptive to her life. There would also be a program fee for enrolment in the alcohol classes and she would have to pay the DMV for reinstating her driver’s license.

A friend of mine asked me to help her find SR22 auto insurance here in Washington because she was convicted for DUI. What exactly is SR22 auto insurance and how can she find one?

Collette

Bellevue, WA

Your friend might have received the dreaded Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) letter requesting a certificate of financial responsibility because of her DUI conviction in Bellevue, Washington. SR22 auto insurance is really just a form that proves to the DMV that your friend has the minimum liability limits for her vehicle. Because of her DUI conviction, the DMV requires SR22 for drivers they deem “high risk.”

Washington State does not require auto insurance companies to offer this type of insurance but many insurance companies are willing to offer SR22 insurance, but for a higher price.

If your friend is currently insured with a company, you can ask her to check with them first. Ask if they are able to file an SR22 for her and what the filing fee is. Remember that this could raise her rates, depending on the reason the form is needed. If the price doesn’t suit her, you can help her shop around to out which insurance companies offer SR22 and better yet, which one offers the best price.

They say that I would have to hire a lawyer to represent me in my DUI case in Washington. I’m still thinking twice in doing so because it may cost me a lot of money. Is it really expensive to hire a DUI lawyer?

Evan

Yakima, WA

People caught operating a motor vehicle who are driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol are charged with a criminal offense. It is unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of Washington. Compared to other lawyers, DUI lawyers have a detailed knowledge of DUI laws and have a good experience in handling DUI cases. They are familiar with all the nuances and particulars involved with DUI offenses. People involved in DUI cases are strongly advised to consult and hire the services of an experienced and well-qualified attorney because the law enforces harsh measures on offenders.

The fee actually depends on the arrangement. Make sure that the fees fully clarified and are set in a written contract to protect yourself. Some DUI lawyers ask for an initial retainer. Some give ‘all-inclusive’ packages, but be careful with this kind of lawyer. You always have to make sure that the package covers extra costs such as those related to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license hearing, the fee for the expert witness, fees for blood reanalysis (if needed) and subpoena costs, among others. In general, DUI lawyers charge $500-$1,000 but it may go up in cases of repeat offense.