A Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) is proof or verification the holder is maintaining vehicle liability insurance in the required amounts. It is not a type of insurance—it is a form filed with the state’s department of public safety (DPS), department of transportation (DOT), or department of motor vehicles (DMV) and may also be referred to as an SR-22 Bond or SR-22 Form.

An SR-22 can be issued by most insurance providers, who will notify the state’s department of public safety or department of motor vehicles when an SR-22 is cancelled, terminated, or lapses.

The state will often require a driver whose license has been suspended following an arrest for DUI/DWI to provide an SR-22 in order to get their occupational or restricted license or to have their driver’s license reinstated.

In Illinois, an SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility required for certain drivers to reinstate or maintain their driving privileges. This certificate is not an insurance policy but a verification that the individual is maintaining the minimum amount of vehicle liability insurance required by state law. The Illinois Secretary of State's office mandates that drivers who have had their licenses suspended or revoked for reasons such as DUI/DWI, multiple traffic offenses, or driving without insurance must file an SR-22. Insurance providers that are authorized to do business in Illinois can issue SR-22 certificates and are required to notify the Secretary of State if the SR-22 is cancelled, terminated, or lapses. The requirement to carry an SR-22 typically lasts for three years, but the duration can vary based on the severity of the infraction and the number of offenses.