If you've gotten yourself into trouble while driving in Atlanta and your license has been suspended revoked or canceled, there's one important step you'll have to take before you can get it back: you're going to have to get Atlanta SR22 insurance.

There are a number of reasons why you might need an SR22 but generally it's due to getting into an accident or being convicted of a traffic violation and being unable to prove you have insurance. In legal terms it would be called failure to show "financial responsibility", meaning you don't have the insurance required by Georgia law. When that happens, you'll have a judgment against you and your driving privileges will be taken away.

To get your license back you have to "satisfy the judgment" with an SR22. All this means is that your insurance company has to provide a document showing proof of insurance to the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and keep them informed if it's canceled or lapses. Depending on the circumstances, if you drive in Atlanta your insurance company may have to file the SR22 for 6 months, one year or three years. And if you let it lapse before the time period is up you will have to file a brand new SR22 and pay in full for the entire term that was originally required. Clearly it's not a very good idea to let your SR22 lapse. It will only cost you more -- more time, more money and more aggravation.

Not only is the SR22 an extra document you'll need over and above your regular insurance but it has to be issued by an authorized insurance company. If you already have a policy in Atlanta with a company that doesn't provide SR22, then you'll need to shop around for a new insurance company to issue both the Atlanta SR22 and a regular insurance policy. You can't have your standard policy with one company and an SR22 with another.

Hold on, we're not finished yet... Living in Atlanta comes with some extra red tape since Georgia is one of only three states that has an additional form called the SR22a. If you need one of these, it means you have an unsatisfied judgement against you. That is, you were required to get an SR22 but continued to drive without it. So you're now considered to be a repeat offender and less trustworthy than before. You won't be able to drive in Atlanta until you get your SR22a and it must be pre-paid for the first six months. After the six month period you'll be allowed to pay monthly but you'll need to keep the SR22a in force for a full three years.

One more question that often comes up regarding SR22 is why a driver who doesn't own a vehicle has to have it. See, even if your car has been taken off the road and is inoperable and has no registration you still need to carry the Atlanta SR22 (or SR22a) insurance. Even if you have no car at all...you guessed it. To satisfy the requirement you'd need to get a non-owner's SR-22. That will cover you for any vehicle you're given permission to drive as long as it doesn't belong to a household member and it's not a car someone's given you for regular use.

Now, SR22 insurance isn't cheap. Insurance companies put you into a high risk category once you need Atlanta SR22 or SR22a. Some won't cover you at all so be forewarned that your current carrier might just cancel your coverage as soon as they find out about your situation.

If you do get dropped like a hot potato, never fear. There is always someone out there who is willing to take your money. That's the good news and the bad news, because it means you could end up overpaying for Atlanta SR22 out of fear that you have to take the first quote you get.

Don't settle for the first insurance company that offers to cover you. If you have the luxury of being able to shop around you should definitely do it. I have seen many instances of policies without SR22 costing more than policies with SR22 because different insurance companies use different formulas to decide what to charge you. Some quotes are extremely high even without special coverage. But if you find a company with a very low rate, then adding the SR22 may still leave you with affordable insurance.

That's another way of saying that it pays to shop for the best price. I recommend you get at least a dozen Atlanta auto insurance rate quotes before making any decisions. The fastest and easiest way to do this is online, where you can access multiple insurance companies by filling out a single form. Be sure to note that you'll need the Atlanta SR22 when providing your information. And be sure that any company you choose has a good rating, good feedback from consumers, and you feel secure about dealing with them.

Now you can get back on the road and maybe not have to eat SPAM sandwiches just so you can afford your car insurance. Drive safe!