Hi guys, I’m looking for some insurance insight.
I live in Washington State. In October 2022, I was arrested for DUI, but the case was ultimately reduced to Negligent Driving (M3) since it was my first offense. My Washington driving record reflects negligent driving only with no DUI conviction.
As a result, I had my license suspended since at the time I was not able to afford my car or the insurance rates. I decided that uber, and getting rides/biking to work would be alright. I was told that after 3 years my suspension would expire, so I waited until November of 2025 where I recently had to complete the knowledge and driving exam. After I passed the exams I thought that I would be in the clear to reinstate my license, but I was told that I needed to file SR22 for insurance, and that it would be set to expire on 2/26/2026. I was thinking about getting a car soon but I also want to see what would make sense for me.
- For insurance rating purposes, do carriers rely strictly on the final conviction listed on the driving record(negligent driving), or do they treat it as DUI if alcohol was involved but not listed?
- Should I wait to reinstate my license until after the SR22 deadline, or would there not be a work around? I only say that because there is less than a month left.
- Once the SR-22 requirement is satisfied and no longer active, does it stop impacting rating as an active factor?
- Are there particular carriers in WA that are generally more receptive to drivers who are post-SR22 with a negligent driving conviction rather than DUI?
I would to purchase a 2016-2020 Civic after the SR-22 period ends and want to understand how insurers will view my record going forward.
Washington State – (post-SR22 / negligent driving vs DUI)
byu/Realistic_Answer_367 inInsurance
Posted by Realistic_Answer_367
1 Comment
1. I could be wrong but a violation like negligent driving can go back 5 years in WA. Insurance carriers may still rate for your violation.
2. Reinstate your license immediately. Why wait? What would insurance think about somebody getting licensed the same day they get coverage? On this topic, you have also had a lapse in coverage, which is going to impact your rate.
3. Not necessarily. Don’t think of an SR22 as a special policy. The SR22 is pretty much a surcharge on a typical insurance policy. The surcharge is for the insurance company to report to the DMV that you have insurance and are maintaining your “financial responsibility”. It’s just a fee, carriers will often have more of an issue with the initial violation (see point 1).
4. Not sure, shop around and maybe find a broker. Be upfront about your entire situation, otherwise you’ll be wasting your time. Your complete record is usually pulled when it’s time to finalize.