College students lead stressful lives. Between classes, homework, extracurriculars, and part-time jobs, it’s easy to understand why these young adults would want to kick back and have a few drinks with some friends. However, like all people, college students face severe, life-changing repercussions if they decide to mix drinking with driving. Here are some of the consequences of getting a DUI in college.

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Driving under the influence is a serious offense that leads to serious consequences. If you’re facing a DUI conviction, the penalties will depend on where you live, how serious the offense was, what other violations you’ve committed, and other details. Here are some of the potential consequences of a DUI charge. (more…)

A DUI charge, also known as driving under the influence, is a serious offense that can majorly impact on your life. However, there are a lot of myths that surround drunk driving charges. If you find yourself in a situation involving a DUI, it’s important that you know the difference between fact and fiction. Stay knowledgeable and informed with these common misconceptions about DUIs.

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For many people, alcohol is simply something used to unwind or further enjoy a night out on the town. Unfortunately, there are others who rely more and more heavily on alcohol until it turns into an addiction. This dependency is dangerous to all aspects of life, from your wallet to your physical health. Understanding the impact this can have on you or a loved one is the first step to identifying the problem and seeking help. Learn more about how alcoholism affects your entire life with this overview. (more…)

There are various factors that go into car insurance rates. Insurance providers consider your driving record, your vehicle type, where you live, and many, many more elements when calculating your premium. However, one of the most important factors companies consider is age. Here’s how your age impacts car insurance rates throughout your life as a driver.

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One of the most common consequences of a DUI is losing your right to drive. In most cases, the state will suspend your license after you receive a DUI conviction. This means you’re going to want to do everything you can to get your license and freedom back as soon as possible. While there are a few steps to the process, it helps to know what your requirements are and how you should meet them. Here’s our guide for how to reinstate your license after a DUI.

Fulfill Requirements

Conviction of a DUI often involves court dates and processes. You will likely have the chance to appeal the case in a court hearing. However, if you don’t request a hearing or you fail to attend one, the state will suspend your license until you fulfill all court requirements. These vary depending on where you live. You might have to pay fines, participate in alcohol education programs or driving classes, or install an ignition interlock device in your car. Whatever your requirements are, meeting them is the first step to getting your license back.

Figure out Insurance

Almost every state requires a certificate of financial responsibility, otherwise known as SR22 insurance, to prove you have auto insurance after your DUI. When looking for SR22 insurance, it’s important to shop around to make sure you have the best policy and provider for your situation. You can look online for SR22 rates to find the right plan for you. It’s important to remember you must maintain SR22 insurance for as long as your state requires it—typically around three years. If you let your policy lapse in that time, your license will become suspended and you’ll have to start your SR22 insurance over again.

Head to the DMV

Once you fulfill all the court and state requirements and have your SR22 insurance, there’s one more task you’ll need to complete. The final step on how to reinstate your license after a DUI is to go to your local Department of Motor Vehicles. There will likely be a reinstatement fee for you to pay. Once you do this, the DMV will give you back your license and your freedom to get back on the road.

For many people, driving is a major part of everyday life. From commuting to work to picking up friends or family, we often get into our cars without a second thought about potential driving dangers. Fortunately, you can reduce that danger by practicing safer habits behind the wheel. Here are eight tips for becoming a safer driver for you, your family, and everyone else you meet on the road. (more…)

Vacations are a time to kick back and have fun—especially if you’re visiting somewhere out of state. For many people, a night out includes plenty of good food and drinks, but things can get difficult if you don’t drink responsibly. While you may know the DUI laws in your own state, things can get a little more complicated when you’re pulled over elsewhere. Here’s what happens if you get an out-of-state DUI.

What Happens in the State of the Arrest?

After you’re pulled over for driving under the influence, the arresting officer will report the incident to that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Your license will be temporarily suspended in that state as the case goes to court or you request a hearing to appeal the charges. If you lose or fail to attend a hearing, the suspension becomes final; you’ll have to face that state’s consequences in order to reinstate your license.

What Happens in Your Home State?

The state of the arrest will notify your state when you’re convicted of a DUI or DWI. Your home state can uphold the other state’s consequences or enforce their own requirements—often, you’ll have to face whichever laws are more severe. The arresting state will also report your suspended license to the National Driver Registry, which means you won’t be able to reinstate your license in any state until you’ve met your requirements.

Possible Consequences

Apart from having your license suspended, there are many possible consequences of a DUI or DWI conviction. You might have to pay court fines or a reinstatement fee when you’re allowed to get your license back. If you don’t meet any additional requirements put forth by the court or state—such as fines or DUI safety education programs—your license can remain suspended indefinitely. Some states even require jail time after a DUI. There are long-term consequences as well. After a DUI conviction, your auto insurance rates might increase, as you’re now a high-risk driver. The court or state might also require you to file for SR22 insurance. For example, you may need help securing SR22 insurance in Las Vegas. If you need SR22 insurance, talk to Serenity Group today—we can help.

For many people, their initial questions after receiving an SR22 insurance requirement are financially related: how much is this going to cost, and how can I afford it? While the specific price of SR22 insurance depends on several variables, there are a few things you can look into to get a better idea of what you’ll be paying. Here are some factors that can affect your SR22 insurance rate.

What is SR22 Insurance?

If you find yourself needing to file for SR22 insurance, one of the most important things to do is to learn more about the process, requirements, and any other information you need. Knowing what you’re facing will help make the entire procedure as easy and efficient as possible. For those that aren’t familiar, SR22 insurance is a way for the state to ensure that you are meeting the minimum liability requirements and keeping up with your auto insurance. It’s also technically not insurance. The SR22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that affects your insurance, but it is not a policy in and of itself.

Who Needs an SR22?

Generally speaking, SR22 certificates are required for drivers who are deemed high-risk. By filing for and keeping up with your SR22, you are guaranteeing to the state that you meet their auto insurance requirements. Your state may require you to file for an SR22 certificate after certain driving instances:

  • Conviction of a DUI or DWI
  • Driving without auto insurance
  • Multiple or serious traffic violations
  • Causing a car accident, or getting in an accident while uninsured

If your state or judge requires you to get SR22 insurance, you will have to inform your auto insurance company. They will take the proper steps to file the SR22 certificate with the state and update your insurance policy to reflect the changes.

What Can Affect Your Rates?

Type of Violation

One of the biggest factors that can affect your SR22 insurance rate is, of course, the type of violation that caused you to receive the SR22 requirements. More serious infractions—such as driving under the influence or causing a serious car accident—will severely increase your auto insurance rates. Some states require you to get a different certificate of financial responsibility for these more severe violations. In Florida and Virginia, for example, you may need FR44 insurance after conviction of a DUI or DWI. The minimum liability limits for FR44 insurance are even higher than those of SR22 insurance, which means your insurance policy will cost more.

Type of SR22 Coverage

There are different types of SR22 insurance to fit your situation: operator, owner, and operator/owner. An operator policy, also known as a non-owner policy, is designed for drivers who don’t own their own car and instead borrow or rent their vehicle. An owner SR22 insurance policy is for drivers who own their own car and use it as their primary vehicle. If you fall into both categories, you might need operator/owner insurance, which is designed for drivers who both own their own car but also occasionally borrow or rent their vehicle. The different types of SR22 insurance make it easier to find a policy that is right for you and your situation.

Insurance Provider

Your insurance company plays a huge part in your SR22 insurance. When you are first looking for the right SR22 policy, don’t be afraid to shop around between insurance companies. Some providers won’t even cover drivers who have an SR22 certificate, while others offer much higher rates than their competitors. Every insurance company and policy is different, which is why it’s important to consider your options ahead of time.

Where You Live

Every state has different SR22 insurance requirements, so your rates will vary depending on where you live. The minimum liability requirements in your state determine your SR22 insurance’s cost. For example, the minimum liability requirements in Colorado are $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage. These are the rates that will define your SR22 insurance costs if you are required to file for the SR22 in Colorado. Some states have higher minimum liability requirements, while others are lower. A few states—Delaware, Kentucky, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Oklahoma—don’t have SR22 requirements. However, even if you move in the middle of your SR22 policy, you are still required to pay the original state rates where your SR22 certificate was filed.

Failure to Meet Requirements

Because it’s a guarantee to the state that you’re maintaining the required auto insurance, it’s vital that you maintain your SR22 policy throughout the entire required coverage period. As soon as you drop your policy or fail to meet the requirements, your insurance provider is legally obligated to contact the state that your SR22 certificate is no longer active. Once again, the consequences will be different depending on where you live and your specific situation, but you might have your license suspended and have to pay other fines. However, you might have your SR22 insurance for up to five years, and a lot can happen in that time. If you must change insurance providers—either because you’re moving to a new state or you find a better policy—make sure your SR22 coverage never slips during the change. Don’t cancel your old policy until the new one is in place.

Policy Extensions

Even if it’s by accident, a lapse in coverage may result in consequences that could make your SR22 insurance rates cost more and last longer. In addition to the penalties you’ll face, if your state finds out that you aren’t meeting and maintaining your SR22 requirements, you will need to start your coverage period over again. For example, if you get caught without your SR22 certificate two years into a three-year probation, your policy will restart, and you will have to continue with your SR22 insurance for another three years. This is why you should take extra care to meet your requirements and have a copy of the SR22 certificate with you whenever you drive.

In short, many different variables affect your SR22 insurance rate. If you are facing SR22 requirements and aren’t sure what to do next, learning more about state requirements, insurance providers, and other details is a great first step.

Factors that Can Affect Your SR22 Insurance Rate infographic

If you are required to file for SR22 insurance, chances are you have many questions about what that means, what your requirements are, and how this will affect your everyday life. For many people, car insurance is a matter of renting and borrowing a vehicle rather than owning one, which can make policies seem more complicated. Fortunately, there’s an SR22 policy for you and your situation. Here’s an overview for anyone asking, can you rent a car with SR22 insurance?

What is SR22 Insurance?

SR22 insurance, otherwise known as a certificate of financial responsibility, is a state or court-mandated document that proves a driver has auto insurance that meets the minimum liability requirements for their state. SR22 insurance is intended for high-risk drivers. You may have to file for it if any of the following conditions apply to you:

  • You have a DUI or DWI
  • You’ve been caught driving without auto insurance
  • You’re found to be at fault in a serious accident
  • You have multiple or serious traffic violations

Types of SR22 Insurance

The details and requirements of your SR22 insurance will vary based on where you live, why you received the requirement, and other details of your situation. However, there are three different types of SR22 insurance to help you find the policy that’s best for you. The first is owner insurance, for drivers who own their own car. Next is non-owner insurance, for drivers who don’t own their own car and instead rent or borrow a vehicle. Finally, for drivers who do a mix of both, there is owner/operator insurance that covers both owned and borrowed cars.

Renting a Vehicle

Life doesn’t stop just because of your SR22 requirements, which means there many questions that may come up while you have it—such as, can you rent a car with SR22 insurance? If you rent a car regularly for travel or daily life, you will have a non-owner policy. These are usually cheaper than other SR22 insurance policies, but they also usually only provide minimum coverage and don’t cover repairs to the vehicle you’re driving. As such, not all rental car companies will rent to SR22 holders. However, every company is different. If you’re looking to rent, contact the company ahead of time and ask if they rent to those with SR22 insurance. It’s also a good idea to read the fine print on both the rental car contract and your insurance policy.

There are many variables when it comes to SR22 coverage, which is why it’s important to have all the information about your policy and regulations. If you are looking for SR22 insurance in Denver, Serenity Group can help you learn everything you need to know and find the right insurance plan for you.

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