An SR-22 is a proof of financial responsibility form required by the state or a court. It's not a type of insurance but rather a form filed by your insurance company on your behalf. An SR-22 form is usually needed after your driver's license has been suspended or revoked or after a major violation like a DUI. It proves that you have the state-mandated liability insurance required to be on the road.
If you need an SR-22, you'll pay an average of $993 a year more for car insurance. The amount of the increase depends on the reason you need an SR-22.
For example, if you’ve been convicted of a DUI and need an SR-22 certificate to reinstate your license, your rates will increase because you have a DUI on your record, not just because you need an SR-22. The SR-22 filing is one of the requirements for getting your license back; the insurance rate increase is due to the DUI, which makes you a high-risk driver.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about filing an SR-22, including how much car insurance costs with an SR-22 and the cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance.
Key takeaways
- An SR-22 is a form that your insurance company files with the state to provide evidence of insurance; it's not a type of insurance policy and doesn't change your coverage.
- Reasons for needing an SR-22 include a DUI or reckless driving charge and driving without insurance.
- If you need an SR-22, your insurance rates will increase; how much depends on why need the SR-22.
- What is SR-22 insurance?
- How much does SR-22 insurance cost?
- Why do I need an SR-22?
- How to get an SR-22 insurance filing
- How long is SR-22 insurance required?
- What is non-owner car insurance with an SR-22?
- What happens to an SR-22 if you move to another state?
- Which insurance companies offer SR-22 filings?
- Frequently asked questions about SR-22 insurance
- Methodology
What is SR-22 insurance?
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility mandated by the state to prove you have the required minimum car insurance. SR-22 insurance is not a specific type of car insurance; your policy remains the same in terms of coverage unless the state mandates higher limits.
The term SR-22 insurance is commonly used to describe any policy where the insurance company has to file an SR-22 for the insured driver. The insurance company will file the form with the state and report any lapse in your coverage. An SR-22 usually requires that you carry at least the state-mandated minimum liability coverage levels, but you can add any additional coverage you want, including comprehensive and collision.
How much does SR-22 insurance cost?
The cost of an SR-22 filing is a one-time filing fee. The standard SR-22 filing fee is $25, but it can be higher. That doesn’t affect your car insurance rates.
However, the violation that resulted in an SR-22 requirement will lead to higher rates. In short, your violation of the law and not the SR-22 will hike up your rates, so the rate increase depends on what that violation was.
For example, with one DUI, your rate will go up, on average, 57% or $993 a year, according to the most recent rate analysis by Insurance.com. With an SR-22 or FR-44 (a similar form required in some states), you may have to carry more than the state minimum, increasing your rates even more.
How much SR-22 insurance costs a month is a division of the annual rate into 12 payments. However, you may be required to pay the full amount for the term when your car insurance policy includes an SR-22 or FR-44 filing.
| State | Average rate | DUI rate | % Increase | $ Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $1,286 | $1,696 | 32% | $410 |
| Alabama | $1,580 | $2,548 | 61% | $968 |
| Arkansas | $1,652 | $2,613 | 58% | $960 |
| Arizona | $1,719 | $2,693 | 57% | $974 |
| California | $2,207 | $4,525 | 105% | $2,318 |
| Colorado | $2,125 | $3,266 | 54% | $1,141 |
| Connecticut | $1,529 | $2,602 | 70% | $1,074 |
| Washington, D.C. | $1,909 | $2,642 | 38% | $733 |
| Delaware | $1,791 | $2,986 | 67% | $1,195 |
| Florida | $2,981 | $4,136 | 39% | $1,156 |
| Georgia | $1,710 | $2,795 | 63% | $1,085 |
| Hawaii | $1,309 | $3,213 | 146% | $1,904 |
| Iowa | $1,241 | $1,653 | 33% | $412 |
| Idaho | $1,082 | $1,624 | 50% | $542 |
| Illinois | $1,559 | $2,194 | 41% | $635 |
| Indiana | $1,363 | $2,173 | 59% | $810 |
| Kansas | $1,557 | $2,321 | 49% | $764 |
| Kentucky | $2,086 | $3,199 | 53% | $1,113 |
| Louisiana | $3,126 | $4,852 | 55% | $1,727 |
| Massachusetts | $1,776 | $2,927 | 65% | $1,152 |
| Maryland | $2,172 | $3,040 | 40% | $869 |
| Maine | $1,068 | $1,577 | 48% | $509 |
| Michigan | $3,915 | $7,007 | 79% | $3,091 |
| Minnesota | $1,768 | $2,891 | 64% | $1,124 |
| Missouri | $2,669 | $3,591 | 35% | $923 |
| Mississippi | $1,535 | $2,322 | 51% | $787 |
| Montana | $1,709 | $2,409 | 41% | $701 |
| North Carolina | $1,442 | $3,699 | 157% | $2,257 |
| North Dakota | $1,357 | $2,254 | 66% | $897 |
| Nebraska | $1,926 | $3,106 | 61% | $1,180 |
| New Hampshire | $1,023 | $1,453 | 42% | $430 |
| New Jersey | $2,232 | $3,453 | 55% | $1,221 |
| New Mexico | $1,657 | $2,308 | 39% | $651 |
| Nevada | $2,427 | $3,797 | 56% | $1,371 |
| New York | $1,822 | $2,296 | 26% | $474 |
| Ohio | $1,136 | $1,762 | 55% | $626 |
| Oklahoma | $1,968 | $2,631 | 34% | $662 |
| Oregon | $1,484 | $2,203 | 48% | $719 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,508 | $2,498 | 66% | $990 |
| Rhode Island | $1,923 | $2,898 | 51% | $975 |
| South Carolina | $1,804 | $2,437 | 35% | $633 |
| South Dakota | $1,585 | $2,396 | 51% | $810 |
| Tennessee | $1,360 | $2,163 | 59% | $803 |
| Texas | $2,036 | $3,027 | 49% | $991 |
| Utah | $1,629 | $2,481 | 52% | $852 |
| Virginia | $1,319 | $2,054 | 56% | $735 |
| Vermont | $1,195 | $1,784 | 49% | $589 |
| Washington | $1,500 | $2,304 | 54% | $804 |
| Wisconsin | $1,818 | $2,923 | 61% | $1,104 |
| West Virginia | $1,474 | $2,192 | 49% | $717 |
| Wyoming | $1,880 | $2,973 | 58% | $1,093 |
Why do I need an SR-22?
There are a number of reasons the state or court might require you to file an SR-22:
- DUI/DWI or other major alcohol or drug moving violation conviction
- Serious moving violation conviction, such as reckless or negligent driving
- Multiple traffic offenses in a short time period
- Driving without insurance
- Being involved in an accident without insurance
- To obtain a hardship or probationary license
- To reinstate your driver's license after a suspension or revocation
Many think of an SR-22 as something you only need to get insurance after a DUI. In reality, you might need an SR-22 for many reasons.
If you need an SR-22, you will be notified by the state or the court. This notice will explain why an SR-22 is required, the minimum insurance requirements, and how long the SR-22 form must stay on file with the state.
A form called the FR-44 is similar to the SR-22 but requires drivers to carry much higher liability limits. It is currently only required in Florida and Virginia for drivers convicted of certain alcohol-related violations.
How to get an SR-22 insurance filing
To get an SR-22 filed, you'll need to request it from an insurance company. Only an insurance company can file an SR-22; you can't do it yourself.
Call your insurance company when you are notified that you need an SR-22.
Most car insurance companies will file an SR-22, although some don’t provide that service. If that’s the case with your current company, you must shop around. Since an SR-22 is associated with a driving violation affecting your rates, you might want to shop around either way.
How long is SR-22 insurance required?
How long you will need an SR-22 on file depends on the state and why you need it.
It's common for an SR-22 to be required for three years, although repeat violations could result in a five-year SR-22 requirement. When the clock starts also varies by state. It may begin with the offense date, conviction date, suspension date or the date when the state reinstated your license.
Make certain you know how long the state requires you to have an SR-22. If you cancel your car insurance policy before that time is up, your SR-22 filing will no longer be valid. Your license and registration may be suspended or revoked and the clock could start again on how long the SR-22 must be maintained.
The offense that resulted in the SR-22 also has an expiration date. When the violation falls off your driving record, your car insurance rates will go down as well.
What is non-owner car insurance with an SR-22?
If you don’t own a car but are required to carry an SR-22, non-owner car insurance is an option to fulfill your SR-22 filing requirements.
A non-owner policy insures you as the driver when you are behind the wheel of a car owned by someone else. Since you can’t get a regular car insurance policy if you don’t own a car, a non-owner policy allows you to get the required coverage and get your SR-22 filed with the state.
What happens to an SR-22 if you move to another state?
Not every state uses an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility. These are the states that don't use the SR-22:
- Delaware
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
If you have an SR-22 in one state and move to another state, you’ll typically still be required to keep an SR-22 on file in your previous home state. You’ll need to look for an out-of-state SR-22 filing from a nationwide auto insurance carrier.
How your SR-22 is handled will depend on the state. Some states will waive the requirement, while others will require you to file a new SR-22. Speak to your insurance company and the DMV to determine what you need to do.
Which insurance companies offer SR-22 filings?
Most car insurance companies, including some of the best-known insurers, can and will file an SR-22 form for you. All of the companies in the table below will file an SR-22.
You can see that the rate increase varies. For example, you could pay 166% more for a Geico SR-22 policy than for standard car insurance without the SR-22 requirement.
| Company | Average base rate | Rate with SR-22 for DUI | Average increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $1,352 | $3,595 | 166% |
| Nationwide | $1,523 | $3,420 | 125% |
| Farmers | $2,740 | $4,094 | 49% |
| State Farm | $1,672 | $3,146 | 88% |
| Allstate | $2,513 | $5,179 | 106% |
| Progressive | $1,933 | $3,028 | 57% |
An insurance company is more likely to deny you coverage because of the violation on your record than because you need an SR-22.
Frequently asked questions about SR-22 insurance
How do I get my SR-22 removed?
When your SR-22 requirement is removed, simply contact your insurance company to let them know you no longer need it.
Do I have to tell my insurer about my SR-22 requirement?
You’ll need to inform your insurance company that you need an SR-22 so that they can file it on your behalf. Your insurance company will learn about the violation that led to the SR-22 requirement when it runs your record, so there’s no reason to avoid reporting it.
How do I check the status of my SR-22?
Contact your insurance company to find out if your SR-22 has been filed. You can also check with the DMV or the court to determine if the SR-22 has been received and processed.
How long does it take to get an SR-22?
The process of filing an SR-22 can be time-consuming. The average wait is 30 days, so don’t wait to get it started.
Are there different types of SR-22 forms?
There are three different types of SR-22 forms, and your insurer can help you choose one:
- Owner: Covers you only when driving a car you own.
- Owner-Operator: Covers you when driving your car and cars owned by others.
- Non-owner: Covers you if you don’t own a car but drive cars owned by others.
Methodology
Insurance.com commissioned rate data from Quadrant Data Services based on a 40-year-old male driver with a 2021 Honda Accord LX. Rate data was collected in 2022 from multiple companies and ZIP codes in every state.
