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An SR-22 is a document that your insurance company files with your state as proof that you carry an active policy meeting minimum liability requirements. In other words, it’s your official proof of insurance to legally get back on the road after a serious driving violation. SR-22’s aren’t permanent, but you can save money while you have one by comparing multiple car insurance quotes.
An SR-22 is a form your car insurance company files with the DMV. It’s usually required after a serious driving violation. An SR-22 proves you have an insurance policy that meets your state’s legal minimum liability car insurance requirements, that way you can keep your driver’s license active or get it back after it’s revoked.
The traffic court where you appeared for your traffic violation or your state DMV will let you know by mail if you need to file for SR-22. Depending on your state’s laws, you could be required to file an SR-22 if you:
Any of these marks on your record can result in your state considering you a risk, at which point filing for an SR-22 can help reinstate your license.
Filing SR-22 forms costs around $15 to $50 bucks, depending on your state. But, the real cost of filing an SR-22 is the impact of a serious driving violation on your driving record. How much more you’ll pay for insurance comes down to which type of violation you have on your record, what insurer you’re with and the state where you reside.
| Company | Cost to file |
|---|---|
| USAA | $15 to $25 |
| Farmers | $17 and up |
| American Family | $25 to $50 |
| Liberty Mutual | $25 to $50 |
| The General | $15 to $25 |
| Progressive | $25 to $50 |
| State Farm | $15 to $25+ |
| Nationwide | $25 to $50 |
| Travelers | $25 to $50 |
| Allstate | $15 to $25 |
| Geico | $25 to $50 |
We pulled sample rates for a 30-year-old living in California, selecting state minimum coverage with either a clean driving record or one violation on their driving record requiring an SR-22. A person with a DUI can see a rate increase as high as over 200%, while someone caught driving without insurance may see rates increase as much as 56%.
| Company | Clean driving record | A DUI | Driving with a suspended license | Driving without insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geico | $39.12 | $91.91 | $67.10 | $61.29 |
| Progressive | $49.73 | $90.48 | $71.16 | $71.16 |
| Allstate | $76.00 | $277.00 | $277.00 | $80.00 |
| The General | $83.39 | $126.43 | $126.43 | $93.51 |
Depending on your state and your circumstances, you might only need an SR-22 for two to five years — assuming you maintain a clean record. Your SR-22 can stay valid for up to three years, depending on which state you live in.
If your SR-22 certificate expires, you’ll need to contact your insurance company to issue a new one. After you’ve met your requirement, simply request that your insurer remove the SR-22 requirement from your policy.
Insurance companies don’t consider these violations as permanent, either. Most companies only look back five years on your driving record to determine how risky you are to insure. So if you don’t rack up any more driving violations, you can lower how risky you are to insure within five years.
If you’re required to file an SR-22 because you got into trouble behind the wheel, your existing car insurer might consider you too high risk to insure and cancel your policy. And depending on your policy, you might get until the end of your policy term, or you might be dropped effective immediately.
If your insurer does cancel your insurance, don’t panic. You’ll receive written notice before your policy ends to give you enough time to find a new insurer. Plenty of insurance companies specialize in high-risk insurance, including well-known companies like The General and Geico.
Even if your insurer doesn’t drop you, it may not offer the lowest rates for high-risk drivers. Having a change in your driving record is a perfect time to shop around.
Compare quotes from companies that cater to high-risk drivers and people with an SR-22.
Watch our short video for five tips to get the cheapest rate possible on your SR-22 insurance.
Depending on your state, you may still need to file an SR-22 even if you don’t have a car or plan to use your driver’s license much.
You can usually get nonowner’s car insurance and satisfy the requirements to file an SR-22. Keeping insurance even when you’re not planning to drive your own car can help prevent your rates from spiking even more from a lapse in coverage, too.
After you’ve satisfied your SR-22 requirement, there are a few important steps to take.
These states don’t require SR-22 insurance if you’re a current resident, but you might need to keep your SR-22 insurance if you move to these states from a state that does require it.
Depending on where you live you might need this certificate to prove your policy meets your state’s minimum car insurance requirements after particular auto incidents. The effects of your SR-22 come down to the reason for having one. However, compare state requirements and quotes to find the best value for you.
Your best bet is to compare your options and find the best deal for your situation.
Our minimum coverage rates are based on a single 30-year-old driver with either a clean driving record or one driving violation on their driving record living in California. California is one of seven states that don’t use gender to determine car insurance costs. We chose full coverage car insurance with liability limits that exceed the California state minimum requirements, which include:
Your rates may be different based on details like your ZIP code, location, job and annual mileage.
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I just found out that I needed a SR-22 . Until I get the SR-22 my license is sependent till I get one. I lived in Oregon an now living in Utah. How can I get a Utah SR-22? I need the SR-22 now so I can get a Utah License.
Hi James,
Thanks for reaching out to us.
If you have been convicted of a violation in another state, you have to continue paying your SR22 insurance premiums for the duration of your requirement. Otherwise, if your policy lapses, you’ll encounter problems in your new state of residence.
If you have existing car insurance in Oregon, you need to contact your insurer before moving to another state. You will then have to get standard insurance in your new state. You can compare car insurance in Utah to help you find a cover that’s suitable for you.
Your new insurer will then need to be able to perform a cross-state SR22 filing in your previous state. You may have to verify with the DMV and your new insurer if your existing SR22 coverage is sufficient in Utah.
Hope this helps! For any other inquiries, feel free to send us a message anytime.
Kind regards,
Nikki