Nebraska SR-22 High Risk Auto Insurance Financial Responsibility Information
Mandatory Insurance Coverage
In the State of Nebraska, it is illegal to operate motor vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds or golf carts on Nebraska roadways without liability insurance coverage. It is also illegal for any motor vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive the vehicle without insurance. Every state mandates specific limits of liability insurance. Some states may refer to it as mandatory liability coverage; others may call it compulsory coverage.
Minimum mandatory insurance coverage for the State of Nebraska is:
■ $25,000 bodily injury for one person in one accident
■ $50,000 for two or more persons in one accident
■ $25,000 property damage incurred in one accident
Nebraska requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage.
Generally, law enforcement officials will ask for proof of insurance at the time of a traffic stop or at the time of an accident in which damage or injury occurs. A valid insurance card must be presented to provide proof of insurance coverage. If, however, a policy has lapsed or has not been renewed, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend operator’s privileges until proof of insurance is provided.
If, because of a violation or an accumulation of violations, such as reckless driving, driving under the influence (DUI) or (DWI), or refusal to test, at fault accidents or driving without insurance, the Nebraska DMV will mandate proof of financial responsibility in the form of SR-22 insurance. This insurance is also known as high-risk auto insurance.
State motor vehicle departments, as a rule, do not maintain databases of individual insurance policies. However, insurance companies do have the obligation to maintain a database and to issue a form (FR-4) or (SR-26) notifying the Nebraska DMV when an individual’s insurance policy has been cancelled, lapsed or has not been renewed. The owner also gets a copy and must then show Nebraska proof of insurance. Failure to do so will result in suspension of a driver’s license. At this time, the DMV will require an SR-22 high-risk auto insurance policy in order for the license to be reinstated.
Who are high-risk candidates?
They are individuals who exhibit poor driving habits interlaced with risky behavior. These habits are most often displayed when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or in an unsafe manner. Speeding, reckless driving and accumulation of at fault accidents, multiple citations for various violations indicate a high-risk level of behavior.
Statistics have shown that individuals with poor credit ratings tend to report more claims as well as those who have difficulty financially maintaining continuous auto insurance coverage.
Finally, education levels and environmental factors play a large part in defining high-risk individuals. Again statistics show that city residents tend to have more accidents due to high population levels than those who live in suburban or rural areas. Sex, age and gender also determine high-risk insurance needs. Younger males exhibit riskier behavior. Women have fewer risk factors than men. Ultimately, the insurers and the DMV determine an operator’s requirement for SR-22 high-risk auto insurance.
What is High-risk SR-22 financial responsibility insurance?
An SR-22 insurance policy is a rider to a high-risk auto insurance policy. It is a guarantee, by the insurance company, that the driver has and will keep in effect at least the very basic mandatory liability insurance for a specific period of time. It is a mechanism for the State of Nebraska to monitor the driver’s responsibility to obtain and maintain an SR-22 insurance policy. Not all insurance companies can or will provide SR-22 insurance coverage.
How can an operator reinstate a suspended license?
To comply with the State of Nebraska’s requirement, a simple remedy would be to purchase liability insurance utilizing the Nebraska minimum requirements in filing an SR-22 high-risk auto insurance form with the State DMV. These policies may be one of two types:
An owner policy – an insurance policy that provides liability coverage for the owner’s personal vehicle will be described in the insurance Declaration sheet. It can also be written and issued with collision and comprehensive coverage. Full coverage, uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, medical payments, towing and rental car payments may also be covered with additional premiums.
A non-owner policy – also known as an operator policy is an insurance policy that provides basic mandatory liability coverage on any vehicle that the policyholder operates but does not own. For example, it may be a friend’s vehicle or a company car used on the job. This policy may be written exclusive of existing insurance. In other words, if other vehicles in the household have existing insurance, this policy may be issued discretely to satisfy the Nebraska SR-22 high-risk auto insurance requirement. Your current insurance carrier does not need to be notified of your requirement for high-risk short term SR-22 insurance coverage. If the carrier discovers extreme violations, the premiums may be increased or the policy may be cancelled.
These policies are issued by an agent in cooperation with an acceptable insurance company licensed to operate in the State of Nebraska. After the policy is issued, the insurer’s main office electronically files an SR-22 high-risk auto insurance form with the Nebraska DMV Department of Financial Responsibility on the insured’s behalf. The issuing agent also files an SR-22 insurance form with the State of Nebraska and the insured receives a copy of the SR-22 insurance form along with the policy and proof of insurance cards. Both Owner and non-owner SR-22 high-risk insurance policies can also be written for motorcycles.
Another form of compliance to indicate financial responsibility would be to purchase a bond in the amount specified by the State of Nebraska – usually between $30,000 and $50,000. An authorized surety or insurance company may issue the bonds.
The Nebraska DMV determines the length of time that proof of SR-22 high-risk auto insurance must be provided based on the seriousness of the violation(s). The timeframe can be between 3 – 5 years. However, if carried for 36 consecutive months without any additional violations the requirement for SR-22 insurance may be terminated.
It is imperative to keep the policy in effect. The insurance company closely monitors the policy and if the policy lapses or is cancelled, Nebraska DMV will immediately suspend the license for this reason alone. Reinstatement fees and penalties are then assessed at a higher cost to the driver.
DO NOT ALLOW THE SR-22 HIGH-RISK AUTO INSURANCE TO LAPSE!
For additional information regarding Nebraska financial responsibility SR-22 high-risk auto insurance contact:
Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
Financial Responsibility Division
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94877
Lincoln, NE 68509-4877
Phone: 402-471-3985
