What is an SR22

Reader question:

What is an SR22 for teens?

Grace

Great question, Grace.

An SR22 is what, for teens, will allow them to get their driver’s license reinstated by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or Public Transportation, or whatever it is called in your state–the place where you go to get driver’s licenses) after it has been suspended for such violations as drinking and driving, driving without insurance, accruing too many points from traffic tickets, and so on.

Teen insurance cost a pretty penny, so an SR22 is what will really put you over the edge in terms of cost. That is why you should make you sure you get your teenager the right kind of car.

The right kind of car for a cheap teen insurance policy is one that is not too small or too big, but just in the middle. It’s at least a few years old; new enough to have safety features, old enough to be inexpensive, basically. It does well on safety crash tests. It has plenty of airbags. It is a sensible car, not a sports car.

Once you buy your teen, or have them buy, the right car, you also have to make sure they are listed correctly on the policy. Be sure to specify that your teen is the main driver of that car, because if you don’t the insurer will put them with the most dangerous and expensive car, making your rates shoot up.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.