How to Get Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance in Tennessee
Drivers who need SR-22 insurance in Tennessee but don’t have a car should look for non-owner insurance that meets the SR-22 requirements.
Written by Meaghan Branham
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you need to file an SR-22 to reinstate your license in the state of Tennessee but you don’t own a car, you will have to find non-owner SR-22 car insurance. This will give you
liability insurance
no matter whose car you are driving.Drivers in Tennessee who have been found guilty of certain driving violations and have had their license suspended will need to show proof of financial responsibility, known as an SR-22 before their privileges are reinstated.
Drivers who don’t own their own car, however, face another obstacle: finding a
car insurance
provider who offers legitimate non-owner SR-22 insurance in Tennessee. Here to make it simple is your guide to meeting the minimum legal insurance requirements in Tennessee with a non-owner SR-22. What is SR-22 insurance?
Before we get into how you go about getting
SR-22 insurance
, let’s talk about what it is and why you need it. An SR-22 is a form, not an insurance policy—though the two are closely related.An SR-22 form is also known as a certificate of financial responsibility. In Tennessee, it can be obtained through your insurance provider. Typically, your insurance company will file an SR-22 certificate with your state's DMV, which serves as proof that you have purchased the legally required amount of insurance coverage to be on the road.
You’ll know whether or not you need to obtain an SR-22 because you will either have been instructed in a court order or a letter from the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles following a driving infraction.
MORE: Tennessee reckless driving
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Tennessee auto insurance requirements
An SR-22 is considered proof that you have an insurance policy that meets Tennessee state requirements. In The Volunteer State, all drivers are required to carry the following types and amounts of coverage:
- Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
- Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
You can choose to add other types of coverage to your policy, but you only need these minimum levels of liability insurance to fulfill your SR-22 requirements.
Who needs an SR-22?
An SR-22 is required for drivers who have been found guilty of certain driving violations that classify them as
high-risk drivers
. Often, you can only have your driving privileges reinstated after suspension if you file an SR-22 to prove you have insurance, whether or not you own your car.In Tennessee, you may need to file an SR-22 following any of these infractions:
- Reckless driving
- Driving without a license
- Multiple infractions committed over a short time
There is a one-time fee for filing an SR-22 in Tennessee, which is usually between $15 and $25 depending on your insurance company. However, it is not uncommon for your car insurance rates to go up significantly for as long as you have to carry the SR-22.
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It may sound counterintuitive, but if an SR-22 is required to
reinstate a suspended license
, you need to have it even if you do not own your car. In this case, you’ll need to purchase non-owner car insurance
. This is car insurance that provides liability coverage to drivers who drive often but don’t own their vehicles.The good news? These policies are typically cheaper than regular SR-22 insurance. The bad news? Not all non-owner policies will work with SR-22s, so you’ll have to do some research on which companies can fulfill your needs. You may want to start by checking with companies like
Progressive
, National General, GEICO
, and State Farm
, which typically do offer non-owner SR-22 insurance.To get your non-owner SR-22 insurance in Tennessee, you’ll need to:
- Do your research: Ask your existing provider if they offer non-owner SR-22 insurance. If they do not, begin reaching out to local agencies to find out who might.
- Comparison shop: Even if the first company you speak with offers SR-22 insurance, it’s in your best interest to compare three to five offers before making a final choice.
- Ask about car insurance discounts: You may be able to qualify for a lower rate for something as simple as switching to paperless billing or based on your status as a homeowner.
You need to carry your SR-22 for between three and five years in Tennessee, depending on the severity of your infraction. Once you have completed that period, you can contact your provider to remove the SR-22.
Your provider must alert the Tennessee DMV if you have an
insurance lapse
during this time, and your license will be resuspended. If this happens, the period required will reset when you repurchase your insurance and SR-22.“I recently started looking for insurance. With my past ticket, I got rejected from several companies while others charged me extreme prices. My friend referred me toJerryand their amazing customer service helped me get the lowest insurance rate.” —Christina H.
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Does Tennessee Require SR-22 Insurance?
Tennessee only requires drivers who have been found guilty of serious infractions to file an SR-22 certificate. This may include DWI, DUI, driving without insurance, driving without a license, or other major offenses.
How much does an SR-22 cost in Tennessee?
When you first file an SR-22, there is a small one-time fee of between $15 and $25, depending on your provider. However, there may also be an increase in your insurance rates overall for as long as you carry the SR-22. Some insurance providers only raise your rates by around 20%, while others have been known to raise them by as much as over 100%.
