Auto Insurance SR22 Washington

Reader’s Question:

Can you please tell me what the RCW is with respect to the SR-22 requirement. Is it is it 3 years from the date you get your license back or 3 years from the date of license suspension ? Does having SR-22 insurance while having an occupational license count toward the three year requirement?

Albert

Seattle, WA

The usual time that a driver is required to maintain an SR-22 is three years in the state of Washington. The reason that you are required to acquire the SR-22 may change the length of time you are required to maintain it though.

You can be mandated by Washington state to get a SR22 for different reasons from a driver’s license suspension reinstatement because of DUI, a second or subsequent offense of leaving a child unattended in a running vehicle, accident without insurance, etc.

In Washington, normally when you are eligible to reinstate your driver license, you must file future proof of financial responsibility, also known as an SR-22, for three years from the date you are eligible to reinstate your driver license for that incident.

Your may contact the Washington State Department of Licensing to get more information on how long you will need to carry the SR-22 and if you get a ORL if this times counts towards the total amount of time you must maintain this proof of financial responsibility.

While your driver license is revoked or suspended, you may be eligible to receive an Occupational/Restricted Driver License (ORL). An ORL is good for the length of your revocation or suspension period.