What happens to your license
After a DUI arrest in Washington, your license can be suspended by the Department of Licensing (DOL), separately from anything the court decides. Your DOL notice explains your suspension, any hearing you can request and the deadline to request it. Those deadlines are short, so read the letter right away.
What you usually need to reinstate
- Finish the suspension or revocation period.
- Show proof of insurance with an SR-22 filing, usually for three years.
- Pay the DOL reissue fee.
- Meet any ignition interlock requirement, if the DOL or court ordered one.
- Complete anything else your DOL letter lists, such as tests if your license expired.
How the SR-22 works
An SR-22 isn't a separate policy. It's a form your insurance company files with the DOL to show you carry at least the required liability coverage. We file it within 24 hours of your policy starting. If the policy cancels, the insurer has to tell the DOL, and your license can be suspended again, so keep it paid for the whole period.
If you don't own a car
A non-owner or broadform policy with an SR-22 covers you as the driver and meets the filing requirement. It usually costs less than insuring a vehicle.
What it does to your rates
A DUI raises rates, and some carriers won't write you at all. We work with carriers that do write high-risk drivers and compare them so you pay as little as possible. As the DUI ages, your rates should come down, so we re-shop at renewal.