{"id":4508,"date":"2023-03-13T14:08:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T21:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/?p=4508"},"modified":"2023-03-09T14:09:15","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T22:09:15","slug":"save-on-car-insurance-after-an-sr-22-in-seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/car-insurance\/save-on-car-insurance-after-an-sr-22-in-seattle\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Save on Car Insurance After Getting an SR-22 in Seattle\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Maybe you\u2019ve gotten a letter in the mail that\u2019s left you confused and concerned. It says you have to obtain an <a href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/sr22\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SR-22<\/a> before you can legally drive in Seattle. You\u2019re wondering what that is, why you have to get one, and what it will cost you in terms of what you pay for car insurance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All good questions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bad news first: Your premiums will go up. That\u2019s just about unavoidable. The good news is that the increase doesn\u2019t have to be a permanent situation. You can eventually bring the costs of coverage down and may even end up paying less than you were charged before your Seattle DMV reached out with your unwelcome news.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start by answering a couple of your very basic questions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is an SR-22?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you had your license suspended for any reason or are considered a high-risk driver, you must provide proof of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.wa.gov\/driverslicense\/sr22.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">financial responsibility<\/a> by filing an SR-22. An SR-22 is a legal document stating that you have the minimum liability coverage required per state law. In Washington, that equates to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>$25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person\u00a0<\/li><li>$50,000 for bodily injury or death to two or more people\u00a0<\/li><li>$10,000 for property damage\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your car insurer will file the SR-22 certificate on your behalf. Just know that you can\u2019t legally drive without this coverage if the state of Washington requires it of you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Did I Get One?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several reasons you might need an SR-22. One of the more common reasons is a <a href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/car-insurance\/dui-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">driving under the influence (DUI) violation<\/a>, but there are other reasons as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might have been convicted of a serious driving charge. You could also have gotten into several car accidents or have multiple moving violations on your record over a short period of time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever your circumstances, it means the state has declared you a high-risk driver. As a result, Washington doesn\u2019t want to take the chance that you\u2019ll get into an at-fault accident and not have the financial ability to pay for the damages. Therefore, you must have at least liability insurance, which helps pay for the costs of others resulting from an accident that\u2019s your fault. The SR-22 is proof of such coverage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Washington drivers typically need to have proof of this coverage for a period of at least three years. You could pick up fines and even jail time if you get caught driving without it, so be sure you get an SR-22 on file as required.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/vf-SR-222.jpg\" alt=\"Happy young man adjusts his rearview mirror\" class=\"wp-image-4510\" width=\"573\" height=\"382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/vf-SR-222.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/vf-SR-222-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/vf-SR-222-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/03\/vf-SR-222-800x534.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 573px) 100vw, 573px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do I Bring My Car Insurance Premiums Down After Getting an SR-22?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned, your car insurance rates will rise after your tangle with the state\u2019s judicial system. High-risk drivers always pay more for their Seattle car insurance because the companies see an increased chance that these drivers will get into accidents that cost the insurers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, there are ways to minimize those rates and even <a href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/car-insurance\/are-you-paying-too-much-for-car-insurance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bring down the cost of your auto insurance<\/a> in the long run. Here are a few.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Go Shopping and Compare Insurance Companies&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While there\u2019s no avoiding the rise in your rates after getting an SR-22, there\u2019s no set amount of increase from all the insurers in Seattle or Washington state. That\u2019s another way of saying that some companies are more motivated to give you a better deal than others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So all you have to do is get on the phone and call up dozens of insurance companies, explain your situation, ask for a cost quote from each of them, and then compare all those rates. We never said it was simple.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Actually, there is an easier way to go insurance shopping.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reach Out to an Independent Insurance Agent&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem with the usual way of contacting insurance agents directly is that each can only provide you with rates from their own companies. That makes it a slow and tedious process of contacting every company that might (or might not) provide high-risk auto insurance at rates you can afford. A better way is to place just one call \u2014 to an independent broker.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s because an independent broker does business with multiple carriers of insurance products, not just one. This means this person places all those phone calls instead of you. You\u2019ll be presented with a list of options that meet your criteria.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Independent agents typically do a lot of business on behalf of many SR-22 drivers, so they know the process. They can file your paperwork, <a href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/sr22-insurance\/sr22-faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">answer all your questions<\/a>, and quickly and easily get you the most affordable rates for Seattle car insurance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Change Your Driving Ways and Save a Lot&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned earlier, your higher rates for auto insurance aren\u2019t necessarily permanent. Your driving record can actually, in effect, heal itself. By driving slower and safer, your driving violations will, over time, drop off your record.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When that happens, auto insurers will take notice and start to offer you lower rates on coverage. When you\u2019re no longer considered a <a href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/high-risk\/auto-insurance-high-risk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">high risk<\/a>, you\u2019re much more desirable as a customer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by taking a serious look at how you drive. Is your foot heavy on the accelerator? Do you drive aggressively, taking too many chances behind the wheel? Do you drink and drive? Whatever you\u2019re doing, it\u2019s costing you money in terms of moving violation tickets, fines, higher insurance costs, and maybe even jail time and lawyer costs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Change your ways now, and you\u2019ll see real savings over time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find Affordable SR-22 Insurance in Seattle, WA Today&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve helped countless Seattle drivers obtain affordable SR-22 coverage, and get their unrestricted driving privileges back at lower insurance rates. Call us at <a href=\"tel:(800)%20455-8276\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(800) 455-8276<\/a> or get a <a href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quick online quote<\/a>. You can also find a Vern Fonk agent at a Seattle <a href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/locations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">office near you<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/rate.vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/\">Get a Quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"tel:1-800-455-8276\">Call Us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/locations\/\">Find Your Office<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maybe you\u2019ve gotten a letter in the mail that\u2019s left you confused and concerned. It says you have to obtain an SR-22 before you can legally drive in Seattle. You\u2019re wondering what that is, why you have to get one, and what it will cost you in terms of what you pay for car insurance.&nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-car-insurance"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4508"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4511,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4508\/revisions\/4511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vernfonk.confiedevstg.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}