An SR22 is a certificate filed by an auto insurance company to prove that an individual has an insurance policy that meets the minimum requirements mandated by his or her state. The company will notify the state’s department of motor vehicles if the policy is cancelled for any reason during the specified time period.

Some of the reasons a person will be forced to file an SR22 include:

• driving under the influence
• being in an accident without insurance
• failing to prove to the DMV that you have liability insurance

If you have to get an SR-22 to drive, it will likely raise your auto insurance premiums substantially. Do what you can to avoid needing more a expensive auto insurance policy.

Getting caught driving while intoxicated can mean that you will have to find an insurance company that will file an SR-22 on your behalf for 3 to 5 years. How long does DUI affect car insurance? As much as 10 years!

The rules regarding an SR-22 vary by state. You should contact your motor vehicle department if you want to know your state’s specific requirements. Here is information on the Texas sr 22 insurance requirements.

More accidents mean more claims.  Since the cost of claims have to ultimately be paid by other drivers who are in the same demographic group, young teen drivers pay more.

You can find out how much is car insurance for a 16 year old by getting rate quotes online.

If you need to insure a teenage driver, it will pay to shop around and get quotes from several insurers.  Each company will likely charge different rates so comparison shopping for your 16 or 17 year old driver will likely be time well spent.

An insurance premium may be paid monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually.

At one time life insurance premiums were collected weekly. This is back in the days of the debit agents. These agents went door-to-door and sold small policies and collected premiums.

Insurance premiums can be guaranteed for the life of a policy as with some life insurance policies. They can also be subject to increase at any time as with some health insurance policies.

The money you pay your insurance company to keep your policy active is your premium. This may be one aspect of insurance that isn’t complicated.

Lower Your Price by Lowing Your Risk Factors

Prices are determined by factors that are both within your control and those that are not. Being aware of the factors that you have some influence on is the first step in reducing your costs.

Auto Insurance

The biggest issue here is your driving history. Those who drive more slowly and thoughtfully tend to have fewer tickets and accidents. They will often be rewarded with better auto insurance rates. The car you drive can have an impact on your rates. More expensive cars can cost more to insure. Buying a sports car can raise your rates as well. You may want to get an auto insurance quotation before committing to a new car. Your location also has an impact on your auto rates. If you are thinking about moving, see how it will affect your insurance rates.

House Insurance

Your history of claims is a big issue here. Making intelligent choices about combustible materials can reduce your chances of having a claim. Also being conscious of safety hazards can keep you from being sued and having a liability claim on your insurance. Owning certain breeds of dogs and other pets, certain types of pools and even trampolines can have impact on your insurability and rates. Have a discussion with your agent before you commit to something that might raise your rates.

Life and Health Insurance

How much your life or health insurance costs is largely determined by your health history and your height and weight. Doing what you can to be healthy will tend to keep your rates down. Sometimes a little thing can mean a lot; you can miss getting a preferred rate because you are one pound overweight. You can also be one pound too heavy to qualify for a policy at all. You may want to ask your agent for help here. If your weight close to a point that makes a difference in your rate, you should be aware of that and see if you can get your weight down before you apply.

Disability Insurance

Health history and body mass index (height and weight ratio) are big factors for disability insurance as well although your occupation plays a bigger role with disability insurance. If you are thinking about changing professions, you may want to see if you can get a better deal by buying disability insurance now or by buying it after you change jobs. As a general rule, the more physical a job is the more you will pay for disability insurance. If you are an office manager who wants to be a carpenter, you may want to lock your rate in before you change professions.

1. Shop for car insurance before you have a teenage driver.
2. Ask about good student discounts and driver’s education discounts for new drivers.
3. Switch to the company that will offer you the best deal before your oldest gets their license

Strategy for Getting the Best Deal

Shop for the best rate when your oldest is a year or so away from being eligible to drive. Ask each auto insurance agent to calculate the best rate for your present situation and for the situation you expect to have when your child begins to drive. Explain that you want to switch policies now. Switch policies early so that you are an existing policy holder before your child starts to drive.

This strategy has the added advantage of letting you know in advance the approximate rate you will pay when your “baby” starts to drive. Also since your car insurance rate may be impacted by your child’s grades, this may give you some extra incentive and leverage to motivate your child to do their homework.