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 Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC to meet with a top-rated Plano DWI lawyer.