SR-22 Insurance in Connecticut
When Connecticut requires an SR-22 (or similar) certificate of insurance, how long you must keep it, and what happens if it lapses.
Short answer: When a driver's record on file justifies it, the DMV Commissioner can require proof of financial responsibility (at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage) before issuing or keeping a license or registration; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112
| SR-22 filing | When a driver's record on file justifies it, the DMV Commissioner can require proof of financial responsibility (at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage) before issuing or keeping a license or registration; if it is not provided, the license or registration is suspended or revoked until it is. Proof can be an insurer's certificate (an SR-22-type filing) that cannot be canceled without 10 days' written notice to the Commissioner (insurers may charge up to $10 for the filing), a surety bond, or a deposit of money or collateral with the State Treasurer. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112 |
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| Driving without insurance | An owner who drives or allows a registered vehicle to be driven without the required insurance faces a fine of $100 to $1,000 on conviction (a knowing violation with a commercial-registration vehicle is a class D felony), and the DMV suspends the owner's registration and license for one month on a first conviction and six months for a second or later conviction; the license is not restored until the owner proves insurance on every registered vehicle. Separately, when an insurer reports a lapse of more than 14 days, the DMV mails a suspension warning notice; the owner can resolve it by showing current insurance and paying a $200 civil penalty under a consent agreement, or by proving continuous coverage. If the owner does not respond, the registration and all registration privileges are suspended, and the owner's license may be suspended if the matter is not resolved within 30 days of the registration suspension. Lapse process: https://portal.ct.gov/dmv/vehicle-services/compliance-issues ; consent agreements: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_246.htm |
More Connecticut car insurance & vehicle laws
- Minimum Car Insurance in Connecticut
- Driving Without Insurance in Connecticut
- When a Car Is a Total Loss in Connecticut
- Transferring a Car Title in Connecticut
- All Connecticut car insurance & vehicle laws rules
FAQ
When do you need an SR-22 in Connecticut, and for how long?
When a driver's record on file justifies it, the DMV Commissioner can require proof of financial responsibility (at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage) before issuing or keeping a license or registration; if it is not provided, the license or registration is suspended or revoked until it is. Proof can be an insurer's certificate (an SR-22-type filing) that cannot be canceled without 10 days' written notice to the Commissioner (insurers may charge up to $10 for the filing), a surety bond, or a deposit of money or collateral with the State Treasurer.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Connecticut?
An owner who drives or allows a registered vehicle to be driven without the required insurance faces a fine of $100 to $1,000 on conviction (a knowing violation with a commercial-registration vehicle is a class D felony), and the DMV suspends the owner's registration and license for one month on a first conviction and six months for a second or later conviction; the license is not restored until the owner proves insurance on every registered vehicle. Separately, when an insurer reports a lapse of more than 14 days, the DMV mails a suspension warning notice; the owner can resolve it by showing current insurance and paying a $200 civil penalty under a consent agreement, or by proving continuous coverage. If the owner does not respond, the registration and all registration privileges are suspended, and the owner's license may be suspended if the matter is not resolved within 30 days of the registration suspension.
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.