If you’re facing driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges under Section 49.04 of the Texas Penal Code and you are convicted, you will be required to obtain a Financial Responsibility Certificate (SR-22) from your auto insurance company, which will then need to be submitted to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). “What is an SR-22 certificate exactly?” The Financial Responsibility Certificate, otherwise known as an “SR-22” is a certificate that verifies that you are maintaining auto liability insurance.
Most auto insurance companies have the capability of issuing an SR-22, and these certificates simply state that a driver is carrying the minimum liability limits as are required by law. If you are convicted of DWI, you will have to obtain an SR-22 certificate from an automobile insurance company. If you cancel or terminate your SR-22, or if you allow it to lapse, your insurance carrier will automatically notify the DPS.
How Long Do I Have to Have an SR-22?
If your driver license is suspended or revoked because of a DWI conviction or because of a car crash, you will be required to file an SR-22 with the DPS and continuously maintain coverage for two years from the date of the conviction. DWI defendants cannot supply an insurance policy or card in place of an SR-22 – they will not be accepted. As of this writing, the minimum liability coverage required by law in Texas is 30,000/60,000/25,000. To learn more about the minimum liability insurance laws in the state, you can go to the Texas Department of Insurance’s website.
Note: If your driver license is suspended or revoked due to a DWI conviction, you are not only required to maintain an SR-22 for two years , but you will also have to pay a driver license reinstatement fee. Are you or someone you love facing DWI charges in Plano, Dallas or Fort Worth? If so, contact The Zen Law Firm to meet with a top-rated Plano DWI lawyer.