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 Virginia, an SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility required by the state to verify that an individual is maintaining the minimum vehicle liability insurance required by law. This certificate is not an insurance policy but a form that is filed with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It is typically required for drivers who have had their licenses suspended or revoked due to certain traffic violations, such as a DUI/DWI. The SR-22 form must be issued by an insurance provider, which will then notify the DMV if the SR-22 is cancelled, terminated, or lapses. Drivers may be required to maintain an SR-22 for a set period, often three years, to have their driving privileges reinstated or to obtain a restricted license. Failure to maintain an SR-22 when required can result in further penalties, including the loss of driving privileges.