Quick answer
An SR-22 is not insurance. It is a certificate your insurance company files with your state to prove you carry at least the minimum required liability coverage. States usually require one after serious violations such as a DUI or driving uninsured, most often for about three years, but the period varies by state.
If a court or your state's motor vehicle agency told you that you need an SR-22, you are not being asked to buy a special kind of insurance. You are being asked to prove, officially and continuously, that you carry at least your state's minimum liability coverage. Here is how it works, who needs one and how to keep the cost down.
What an SR-22 actually is
An SR-22, sometimes called a certificate of financial responsibility, is a form that your insurance company files directly with your state on your behalf. It tells the state that you have an active auto liability policy that meets the minimum limits. The state then monitors that coverage for a set period. If your policy is canceled or lapses, the insurer is required to tell the state.
Because the insurer has to report on you, and because the SR-22 is linked to a serious violation, drivers who need one are usually treated as high-risk, which is what drives up the cost.
Who needs an SR-22
States typically require an SR-22 after:
- a DUI or DWI conviction,
- being caught driving without insurance, or causing a crash while uninsured,
- serious or repeated traffic violations, such as reckless driving or too many points on your license,
- driving with a suspended or revoked license,
- an unpaid judgment from a crash you caused, or
- reinstating a license after certain suspensions.
The court or agency that orders the SR-22 will tell you the date it must be filed by. Your license generally will not be reinstated until the filing is received.
How long you need an SR-22
Most states require an SR-22 for about three years, but it varies:
- Texas generally requires it for two years from the date of your most recent conviction or judgment, not from the date you file it. See our Texas car insurance requirements.
- Other states count from the date your license is reinstated, or set longer periods for repeat or more serious offenses.
The period must usually be continuous. A single day without coverage can restart the clock or trigger a new suspension, so set your policy to auto-renew and keep your payments current.
How to get an SR-22, step by step
- Confirm the requirement. Check the notice from the court or your state's motor vehicle or public safety agency for the filing deadline and how long you need it.
- Find an insurer that files SR-22s. Not every company does. Tell each company you need an SR-22 so the quote includes it.
- Buy a policy that meets the minimums. The policy must meet at least your state's minimum liability limits.
- The insurer files the form. Most insurers file electronically, and many file the same day. You usually pay a small filing fee.
- Pay any reinstatement fees your state charges and confirm the state received the filing before you drive.
- Keep coverage continuous until the required period ends. When it does, ask your insurer to remove the filing. It is not removed automatically in every state.
Non-owner SR-22 insurance
If you don't own a car but need to reinstate your license, you can buy a non-owner car insurance policy with an SR-22 filing. It provides liability coverage when you drive vehicles you don't own, such as a borrowed or rented car. Non-owner policies are usually cheaper than a standard policy, but they don't cover a car you own or a car you regularly have access to, such as one in your household.
SR-22 vs. FR-44 and states without SR-22s
Florida and Virginia also use an FR-44 form, mainly after DUI convictions. It works like an SR-22 but requires liability limits well above the state minimum. A few states, such as New York and Pennsylvania, do not use the SR-22 form and handle proof of insurance differently. If you move, you generally still need to keep the filing required by the state that ordered it until its period ends.
How much an SR-22 costs
There are two separate costs:
- The filing fee – usually a one-time charge from your insurer, commonly around $15 to $50.
- The higher premium – the real cost. The violation behind the SR-22, especially a DUI, can raise your rate substantially for several years.
How to lower the cost
- Compare quotes from several insurers, including companies that specialize in high-risk drivers. Prices for SR-22 drivers vary more between companies than prices for drivers with clean records.
- Consider a non-owner policy if you don't own a car.
- Raise deductibles on collision and comprehensive, or drop them on an older car you could afford to replace.
- Take a defensive driving course if your state or insurer gives a discount for it.
- Keep a clean record. As violations age, your rate should come down, and you can shop again once the SR-22 period ends.