Nevada drivers need an SR-22 to reinstate their suspended licenses following a DUI and certain other traffic violations. An SR-22 is a “proof of financial responsibility” statement issued by a driver’s car insurance company.
The time period drivers need to maintain SR-22 with the Nevada DMV varies depending on the case. After a DUI, an SR-22 is required for three (3) years following a license suspension.
All states have some form of SR-22 requirement, and having an SR-22 will usually cause the driver’s insurance premiums to spike. But a skilled Nevada criminal defense attorney may be able to avoid a license suspension altogether by getting the traffic charges dismissed and winning a DMV hearing.
In this article, our Las Vegas DUI attorneys explain what an SR-22 is in Nevada, when it is needed, and how to get it. Click on a topic to jump to that section:
- 1. What is SR-22 in Nevada?
- 2. Do I need SR-22 to get my license back after a DUI in Nevada?
- 3. When else is SR-22 necessary to keep a driver’s license in Nevada?
- 4. How do I get SR-22 in Nevada?
- 5. How long do I need SR-22 in Nevada?
- 6. What happens to my SR-22 if I lose my car insurance in Nevada?
- 7. Can an SR-22 requirement be satisfied through a motorcycle insurance policy in Nevada?
- 8. Do SR-22 rules apply to out-of-state drivers in Nevada?
- 9. What happens to my SR-22 if I move away from Nevada?
- 10. Is there a way to get out of SR-22 requirements in Nevada?
1. What is SR-22 in Nevada?
An SR-22 is a document issued by a car insurance company that serves as a driver’s “proof of financial responsibility.” An SR-22 verifies that the driver currently has the minimum liability coverage legally required to keep a driver’s license in Nevada, which is:
- $25,000 for the bodily injury or fatality of one person,
- $50,000 for the bodily injury or fatality of two or more people, and
- $20,000 for damage to others’ property
People who have had their driver’s licenses suspended by the Nevada DMV often have to file a SR-22 with the DMV before they can get their licenses reinstated.1 It is irrelevant whether or not the person owns a vehicle . . . “non-owner” SR-22s are available.
2. Do I need SR-22 to get my license back after a DUI in Nevada?
Yes. An SR-22 is necessary to reinstate a Nevada driver’s license once the DUI suspension period ends.2 The length of a driver’s license suspension depends on whether the person had previous DUIs within the last seven (7) years:
- A first-time DUI carries a 185 day driver’s license suspension.
- A second-time DUI carries a one (1) year driver’s license suspension.
- A third-time DUI carries a three (3) year driver’s license suspension.3
And if the person does not get an SR-22 after a DUI, the driver’s license remains suspended indefinitely.
3. When else is SR-22 necessary to keep a driver’s license in Nevada?
People need SR-22 if they cause a car accident without insurance, or if they are caught driving with an insurance policy that has been expired for more than 90 days.4
4. How do I get SR-22 in Nevada?
The person contacts his/her car insurance company and requests an SR-22. There is usually a fee involved to file the SR-22. The insurance company then notifies the Nevada DMV that the person has an SR-22.5
Note that insurance companies tend to see drivers with SR-22 as “high risk” and may charge them higher premiums in the future. See our article on how DUIs affect car insurance in Nevada.
5. How long do I need SR-22 in Nevada?
It depends on why the person’s driver’s license was originally suspended. In DUI cases, people are required to file an SR-22 with the Nevada DMV for three (3) years from the date they reinstate their license.6
Note that the Nevada DMV does not notify drivers when their SR-22 period is over. So drivers should contact the DMV if they are uncertain about when they no longer need an SR-22.
6. What happens to my SR-22 if I lose my car insurance in Nevada?
If someone’s car insurance lapses or gets canceled before his/her SR-22 period ends, the insurance company will issue an SR-26 form to the Nevada DMV. An SR-26 indicates a discontinuation in auto insurance coverage.
At that point, the DMV will notify the driver by certified mail that they will suspend the driver’s registration in ten (10) days unless he/she can secure new insurance and another SR-22.
Unfortunately, a lapse or cancellation in insurance coverage “restarts the clock” for SR-22 coverage. For example, a DUI defendant whose insurance gets canceled two (2) years into a three (3) year SR-22 period would need to get a new SR-22 for another three (3) years.7
7. Can an SR-22 requirement be satisfied through a motorcycle insurance policy in Nevada?
It depends on the case. If the driver had a DUI with a motorcycle, the SR-22 can usually be satisfied through motorcycle insurance.
8. Do SR-22 rules apply to out-of-state drivers in Nevada?
People with out-of-state licenses will usually have to follow similar SR-22 rules in their home state.
9. What happens to my SR-22 if I move away from Nevada?
People who move out of state would still need to fulfill their SR-22 filing period for Nevada despite no longer living in Nevada.
10. Is there a way to get out of SR-22 requirements in Nevada?
The best way to try to avoid SR-22 requirements is to retain criminal defense counsel as soon as possible following the traffic citation or arrest. The lawyer can then request a Nevada DMV hearing to contest the driver’s license suspension. If the hearing is successful, the person may no longer be required to get an SR-22.
Call us for help . . .
If you are facing “SR-22” status in Nevada, contact our Las Vegas criminal defense lawyers for help. We may be able to resolve the issue so you keep your license without having to file an SR-22.
For information on California SR-22 laws, read our article on California SR-22 laws.
Legal References:
- NRS 485.3091.
- NRS 485.3075.
- NRS 483.460.
- See NRS 485.
- Id.
- NRS 485.3092.
- Id.