Do I still need to carry an SR-22 insurance to get an occupational license in Wisconsin if I already have full car insurance?

Harry

Janesville, WI

In the state of WI, proof of financial responsibility should set a liability insurance in the amounts of at least $25,000 and $50,000 for personal injury or death and $10,000 for property damage. This proof of insurance is filed by obtaining an SR-22 certificate issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in WI. Substitutions, such as a bond from an insurance company or a cash deposit of $60,000 posted with the WI Department of Transportation (DOT) will be accepted in some cases.

An SR-22 is required by the state in order to obtain an occupational license or to reinstate a driver’s license after operating privileges or vehicle registration has been revoked. You can have more auto insurance than what the state requires as a proof of insurance but you will still need your insurer to file the SR-22 since it is a requirement for obtaining an occupational license. So even though you have full coverage, it does not matter since it is mandated by your state law.

I would suggest contacting WI DOT for more information on what is needed to get an occupational license in Janesville, Wisconsin. You will need to obtain new auto insurance coverages through an insurance carrier who does work with SR22s if your current insurance provider does not file the SR-22 form.

Is there any database available in Wisconsin to verify what car insurance company a person has? It think that there should be some way to check out if an uncooperative at-fault driver has car insurance.

Marie

Milwaukee, WI

It is likely that the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will be able to assist you track down the at-fault person’s insurance company, if he has one. The WI Department of Motor Vehicle checks for insurance coverage on all motorists listed on an accident report. So hopefully you called the law enforcement officer to your accident scene to take a report.

If the Wisconsin DMV finds that a driver involved in an accident is uninsured, the other parties involved in the accident are informed. Those who are injured or have property damage can report their damages or injuries to the DMV. The Wisconsin safety responsibility law helps protect those who suffer damages in accidents caused by uninsured drivers by first taking away their vehicle registration and drivers license if the uninsured driver is at-fault and did not pay for the damages they caused.

So either way, if the at-fault party did or did not have car insurance at the time of the accident the DMV should be able to assist you so that your damages can be taken care of by the individual who caused the accident.