Almost every state (except New Hampshire and Virginia) requires its licensed drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance coverage. The required insurance generally includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage in certain minimum amounts.

You are required to show proof of the minimum insurance coverage to a police officer when you are stopped for a moving traffic violation or involved in a traffic accident—and you may receive a citation if you are not able to show proof of insurance—also known as failure to maintain financial responsibility (FMFR) or no proof of insurance. And in some states, you are required to show proof of insurance to register your car. In those states, the failure to register your car may result in an additional citation.

But a ticket or citation for no proof of insurance may be correctable—a fix-it ticket of sorts—if the driver did have the required insurance but was unable to provide proof of it when requested by the law enforcement officer. Laws vary from state to state but in that situation the driver may be able to have the ticket dismissed upon showing proof of insurance and possible payment of a smaller fine.

If you have been convicted of DUI/DWI (or a similar offense) or of driving without insurance (failure to maintain financial responsibility) or of reckless or negligent driving, you may be required to get a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22). An 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. There are usually significant additional costs for an insured (driver) to get an SR-22.

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

In California, drivers are mandated to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance, which includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. The minimum coverage amounts are $15,000 for injury/death to one person, $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person, and $5,000 for damage to property. Drivers must provide proof of this insurance when stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation or after an accident. Failure to show proof can result in a citation for failure to maintain financial responsibility. However, if a driver had valid insurance at the time but couldn't provide evidence, the citation might be dismissed upon presenting proof of insurance and potentially paying a reduced fine. For those convicted of DUI/DWI, driving without insurance, or serious traffic offenses, California may require an SR-22 form to be filed by the insurance company with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This form verifies that the driver has the necessary liability coverage. An SR-22 is not insurance but a certification of financial responsibility, and obtaining it usually incurs additional costs. Drivers needing to reinstate a suspended license or obtain a restricted license after a DUI/DWI may be required to provide an SR-22.