SR-22 Insurance in Colorado
When Colorado requires an SR-22 (or similar) certificate of insurance, how long you must keep it, and what happens if it lapses.
Short answer: A person convicted of driving uninsured must file and maintain proof of financial responsibility for the future (commonly an SR-22 filing from an insurer) for three years from the date of conviction. Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-4-1410, 42-7-408
| SR-22 filing | A person convicted of driving uninsured must file and maintain proof of financial responsibility for the future (commonly an SR-22 filing from an insurer) for three years from the date of conviction. The Department of Revenue sends notice; if proof is not provided within 20 days, or if it later lapses or becomes invalid, the director suspends the driver's license until proof is provided. Proof may be given by a liability policy, a bond, a deposit of money, or securities, and generally must be kept for three years from the date last required (time when the person was not licensed counts toward the three years). Read in the Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 printout (Title 10 / Title 42) published by the Colorado General Assembly. |
|---|---|
| Driving without insurance | Driving (or letting your vehicle be driven) without required insurance, or failing to present proof when required, is a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense with a mandatory minimum fine of $500 for a first offense; the court may suspend up to half the fine if the person shows they have since obtained insurance. A second or later conviction within five years carries a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 (the statute says this minimum may not be suspended, though it also lets the court suspend up to half of the fine on proof that insurance has been obtained) plus any jail imposed under the misdemeanor traffic penalty statute. The court may also order at least 40 hours of community service. A person convicted of driving uninsured must file proof of future financial responsibility (SR-22) for three years; if it is not filed within 20 days of notice or lapses, the driver's license is suspended until proof is provided. Read in the Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 printout (Title 10 / Title 42) published by the Colorado General Assembly. |
More Colorado car insurance & vehicle laws
- Minimum Car Insurance in Colorado
- Driving Without Insurance in Colorado
- When a Car Is a Total Loss in Colorado
- Transferring a Car Title in Colorado
- All Colorado car insurance & vehicle laws rules
FAQ
When do you need an SR-22 in Colorado, and for how long?
A person convicted of driving uninsured must file and maintain proof of financial responsibility for the future (commonly an SR-22 filing from an insurer) for three years from the date of conviction. The Department of Revenue sends notice; if proof is not provided within 20 days, or if it later lapses or becomes invalid, the director suspends the driver's license until proof is provided. Proof may be given by a liability policy, a bond, a deposit of money, or securities, and generally must be kept for three years from the date last required (time when the person was not licensed counts toward the three years).
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Colorado?
Driving (or letting your vehicle be driven) without required insurance, or failing to present proof when required, is a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense with a mandatory minimum fine of $500 for a first offense; the court may suspend up to half the fine if the person shows they have since obtained insurance. A second or later conviction within five years carries a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 (the statute says this minimum may not be suspended, though it also lets the court suspend up to half of the fine on proof that insurance has been obtained) plus any jail imposed under the misdemeanor traffic penalty statute. The court may also order at least 40 hours of community service. A person convicted of driving uninsured must file proof of future financial responsibility (SR-22) for three years; if it is not filed within 20 days of notice or lapses, the driver's license is suspended until proof is provided.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.