Illinois SR-22 Requirements: Who Needs One and for How Long
An SR-22 is not insurance. It is a certificate your insurer files with the state to prove you carry coverage.
- Used in this state
- Yes
- Form
- SR-22
Illinois calls it a Financial Responsibility Insurance certificate. It is filed by the insurer directly with the Secretary of State and comes as an Operator's, Owner's, or Operators-Owners certificate.
- How long it must stay on file
- 3 years
The filing must be maintained for three years. For a third or subsequent conviction for driving uninsured, the three years run from the date the proof is first filed (625 ILCS 5/3-707(d)).
- What triggers it
- Safety responsibility suspensions · Unsatisfied judgment suspensions · License revocations · Mandatory insurance supervisions · Three or more convictions for mandatory insurance violations
- If coverage lapses
- Driving record suspended
If the SR-22 expires or is cancelled, the insurer must file an SR-26 Cancellation Certificate with the Secretary of State's Safety and Financial Responsibility Section. The driving record is suspended on receipt and stays suspended until a new filing is made. Renew at least 45 days before expiry.