SR-22 Insurance in Louisiana
When Louisiana requires an SR-22 (or similar) certificate of insurance, how long you must keep it, and what happens if it lapses.
Short answer: Anyone required under Louisiana's motor vehicle safety responsibility law to give proof of financial responsibility must keep that proof on file for three years. La. R.S. 32:909; Louisiana OMV, Suspensions
| SR-22 filing | Anyone required under Louisiana's motor vehicle safety responsibility law to give proof of financial responsibility must keep that proof on file for three years. The Office of Motor Vehicles requires proof of financial responsibility (SR-22 insurance) for 3 years from the date of conviction to reinstate after a DWI or underage DWI suspension, and for 3 years from the date of arrest after a chemical-test refusal suspension, in addition to reinstatement fees. Statute: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=88641 |
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| Driving without insurance | If a driver cannot show proof of insurance when stopped, the vehicle is impounded, the license plate is removed, and a notice of noncompliance is issued. The owner has three calendar days (excluding weekends and holidays) to show the vehicle was insured; otherwise, after sixty days the plate is destroyed and the registration revoked. When the state finds a vehicle uninsured or coverage lapsed, it revokes the registration, impounds the vehicle and cancels the plate until proof of insurance is provided and reinstatement fees are paid: $100 for a lapse of 1 to 30 days, $250 for 31 to 90 days, and $500 for more than 90 days (with no fee in some first-time lapses of ten days or less). Submitting false information that a vehicle is insured brings sanctions of 12 to 18 months and fees of $250, $500 and $1,000 for first, second and third or later violations. Roadside enforcement: https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=88607 |
More Louisiana car insurance & vehicle laws
- Minimum Car Insurance in Louisiana
- Driving Without Insurance in Louisiana
- When a Car Is a Total Loss in Louisiana
- Transferring a Car Title in Louisiana
- All Louisiana car insurance & vehicle laws rules
FAQ
When do you need an SR-22 in Louisiana, and for how long?
Anyone required under Louisiana's motor vehicle safety responsibility law to give proof of financial responsibility must keep that proof on file for three years. The Office of Motor Vehicles requires proof of financial responsibility (SR-22 insurance) for 3 years from the date of conviction to reinstate after a DWI or underage DWI suspension, and for 3 years from the date of arrest after a chemical-test refusal suspension, in addition to reinstatement fees.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Louisiana?
If a driver cannot show proof of insurance when stopped, the vehicle is impounded, the license plate is removed, and a notice of noncompliance is issued. The owner has three calendar days (excluding weekends and holidays) to show the vehicle was insured; otherwise, after sixty days the plate is destroyed and the registration revoked. When the state finds a vehicle uninsured or coverage lapsed, it revokes the registration, impounds the vehicle and cancels the plate until proof of insurance is provided and reinstatement fees are paid: $100 for a lapse of 1 to 30 days, $250 for 31 to 90 days, and $500 for more than 90 days (with no fee in some first-time lapses of ten days or less). Submitting false information that a vehicle is insured brings sanctions of 12 to 18 months and fees of $250, $500 and $1,000 for first, second and third or later violations.
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.