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 New York, drivers are required to have a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage, which includes bodily injury liability and property damage liability. When stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation or involved in an accident, drivers must show proof of this insurance. Failure to do so can result in a citation for not maintaining financial responsibility. However, if a driver had insurance at the time but couldn't provide proof, they may be able to have the citation dismissed by later showing evidence of insurance and potentially paying a reduced fine. For those convicted of serious traffic offenses such as DUI/DWI, driving without insurance, or reckless driving, New York may require the driver to file an SR-22 form. This form is not insurance itself but a certification of insurance that must be filed with the state's DMV. An SR-22 is typically required to reinstate a suspended license or to obtain a restricted license after such convictions. Insurance providers usually charge additional fees for issuing an SR-22, and they are obligated to inform the DMV if the SR-22 is cancelled, terminated, or lapses.