SR-22 in Arizona: When the 3 Years Start

Arizona's MVD calls it future financial responsibility. The period is usually 3 years; what varies is the date it starts counting from.

When the requirement applies, and how long it lasts

The Arizona MVD lists these violations and periods:

Violation	How long you keep the SR-22
Alcohol- or drug-related revocation	3 years from the end date of the revocation
DUI suspension from a court conviction	3 years from the end date of the suspension
Implied-consent suspension (refusing an alcohol or drug test)	3 years from the end date of the suspension
Insurance law violation (A.R.S. 28-4135 only)	3 years from the date you become eligible for reinstatement
Nonpayment of a judgment, default judgment	For the term of the judgment plus 2 full years after it's satisfied
Special ignition interlock restricted license (SIIRDL)	For the whole restricted-license period (not required when the SIIRDL is due to Admin Per Se)

A shorter ADOT FAQ says "three years from the date of suspension"; the MVD's detailed page above gives the start date by violation, so check your own notice or the Compliance Report on AZ MVD Now.

Two ways to meet it

1. An SR-22 certificate (the usual route): buy a policy from an Arizona-licensed insurer and ask it to file the SR-22, which it does electronically. If you don't own a vehicle, the MVD says you'll need a non-owner policy.
2. A $40,000 cash deposit with the Arizona State Treasurer's Office, then email the certificate of deposit to the MVD.

What the insurance must cover

Arizona's minimums are $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage.

If your coverage lapses

Your insurer must tell the MVD if the policy is cancelled or lapses, and the MVD may suspend your driving privileges immediately. To fix it, get new SR-22 coverage filed and pay the $10 suspension fee online at AZ MVD Now or at an MVD or authorized third-party office.

When it ends, and if you move away

You don't have to do anything when the period ends: the MVD removes the requirement automatically. Your insurer may keep filing after that, so ask it to stop filing once you're done. The MVD may also release you from the requirement if you're no longer, or never were, an Arizona resident, but that out-of-state waiver isn't available for judgments.

Related: When does my SR-22 end? (calculator) · Driving without insurance in Arizona · SR-22 requirements in every state