What is SR22 Insurance? Do I Need It?
SR22 insurance is required by high-risk drivers to prove that they meet the minimum car insurance requirements.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
- Which auto insurance companies have the cheapest SR-22 insurance quotes?
- How much does SR-22 insurance cost in my state?
- What states don’t require SR-22 insurance?
- What is SR-22 insurance?
- How to get SR-22 insurance
- How long do you need to carry SR-22 car insurance?
- Find cheap car insurance quotes with an SR-22
Load full table of contents
An SR-22 isn’t actually a type of auto insurance—it’s a certificate of financial responsibility that you’re required to file in certain states verifying that your insurance coverage meets the state’s minimum requirements. If you have a
DWI/DUI conviction
or another major violation on your record, you may need an SR-22. In most cases, getting an SR-22 is as simple as asking your insurance company to file the certificate with the state. But having an SR-22 can raise your insurance premium significantly—so how can you meet your filing requirements without taking on a huge financial burden?
If you’re navigating a tricky SR-22 situation,
Jerry
is here to help. As a licensed insurance broker
, Jerry can find the cheapest rates on car insurance
for SR-22 holders—and we’ve got answers to all your questions about SR-22 insurance. Let’s get started. Which auto insurance companies have the cheapest SR-22 insurance quotes?
If you already have an insurance policy with a major company like
Allstate
, Progressive
, or Nationwide
, you can inform them that you need an SR-22 certificate and have them file it on your behalf. But you’re likely to see your insurance rate increase significantly once they file—unless you shop around for new quotes.
Every insurance company uses a different algorithm to calculate insurance premiums, so the rest of your profile—your age, ZIP code, marital status, credit score, and more—could get you different quotes from every company. The best way to find cheap insurance with an SR-22 is to shop with Jerry.
Jerry partners with over 55 top insurance providers, including some that specialize in coverage for high-risk drivers, such as:
Working with a licensed insurance broker like Jerry is the best way to match your profile to the company with the cheapest coverage.
How much does SR-22 insurance cost in my state?
Filing an SR-22 certificate usually costs between $15 and $30, depending on the state.
But it’s not the filing fee you need to worry about—it’s the inflated insurance premiums that follow. Because an SR-22 certificate is only required for high-risk drivers with major violations, insurance companies see that certificate as a red flag for claims and will increase your payments once it’s filed.
State | Average annual premium with SR-22 | Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|
Alaska | $1,945 | 56% |
Alabama | $2,470 | 89% |
Arkansas | $2,732 | 76% |
Arizona | $3,579 | 156% |
California | $5,119 | 187% |
Colorado | $2,992 | 79% |
Connecticut | $3,113 | 57% |
District of Columbia | $2,945 | 56% |
Delaware | $3,525 | 92% |
Florida | $3,780 | 68% |
Georgia | $3,378 | 86% |
Hawaii | $4,464 | 256% |
Iowa | $1,915 | 78% |
Idaho | $1,799 | 77% |
Illinois | $2,217 | 89% |
Indiana | $1,561 | 48% |
Kansas | $2,310 | 64% |
Kentucky | $2,714 | 68% |
Louisiana | $3,612 | 62% |
Massachusetts | $3,198 | 98% |
Maryland | $2,025 | 31% |
Maine | $1,331 | 51% |
Michigan | $8,324 | 252% |
Minnesota | $2,611 | 95% |
Missouri | $2,237 | 74% |
Mississippi | $2,531 | 68% |
Montana | $2,726 | 72% |
North Carolina | $5,563 | 375% |
North Dakota | $2,003 | 78% |
Nebraska | $2,307 | 79% |
New Hampshire | $2,008 | 74% |
New Jersey | $3,851 | 171% |
New Mexico | $2,735 | 83% |
Nevada | $2,489 | 58% |
New York | $1,854 | 53% |
Ohio | $1,700 | 77% |
Oklahoma | $2,198 | 50% |
Oregon | $2,296 | 73% |
Pennsylvania | $2,330 | 62% |
Rhode Island | $3,627 | 80% |
South Carolina | $2,379 | 76% |
South Dakota | $2,247 | 80% |
Tennessee | $2,348 | 75% |
Texas | $2,701 | 64% |
Utah | $2,009 | 66% |
Virginia | $1,693 | 70% |
Vermont | $1,786 | 53% |
Washington | $2,211 | 69% |
Wisconsin | $1,794 | 56% |
West Virginia | $2,767 | 89% |
Wyoming | $2,747 | 74% |
What states don’t require SR-22 insurance?
Some states don’t require drivers to file for an SR-22 certificate. The states that currently don’t require an SR-22 certificate include:
- Delaware
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
In addition to these states,
Florida
and Virginia
require a certificate called an FR-44
instead of an SR-22. FR-44 certificates work the same way as SR-22s, but instead of certifying that the driver carries the minimum required insurance, they typically require a higher coverage level than the state minimum. That means Virginia and Florida car insurance costs
for people with an FR-44 will be a lot higher than the state average.If you have an SR-22 and move to a new state that doesn’t require SR-22s, you’re still required to maintain the SR-22 certificate in your old state until the originally mandated time frame is up.
What is SR-22 insurance?
There’s actually no such thing as “SR-22 insurance,” since an SR-22 is a certificate that provides proof of financial responsibility to your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV). It’s typically required after serious or repeated traffic violations, and may coincide with a suspended license or other loss of driving privileges.
An SR-22 shows your DMV that you’ve met the state’s insurance requirements, which typically include basic
liability coverage
including bodily injury
and property damage liability
insurance. If your state requires other types of coverage, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
or personal injury protection (PIP)
, the certificate should show that your auto insurance policy includes those minimum coverages. There are three main types of SR-22 certificates, depending on your car ownership:
- Owner-operator: Allows a driver to operate any vehicle, owned or not (e.g. work vehicles). This is the most common type of SR-22 certificate.
- Owner: Allows a driver to operate only the vehicles listed on the SR-22 certificate
- Non-owner: Allows a driver who doesn’t own a car to operate vehicles owned by other people
Who needs SR-22 insurance?
An SR-22 certificate is typically required by a court or by your state DMV. If it’s court-ordered, you’ll be informed in court of the SR-22 requirement, but if it’s state-mandated, you’ll likely hear by mail.
Most SR-22 certificates are for high-risk drivers with serious traffic offenses on their record. You can be required to file an SR-22 for:
- A DUI or other major alcohol conviction
- Drivingwithout car insurance coverage
- Multiple at-fault accidents
- Multiple speeding tickets
- Reckless driving charges
- Too many driver violation points on your driver’s license
In other words, if your driving record indicates a history of dangerous or illegal driving, you’re likely to have to file an SR-22. Many of the offenses that can earn you an SR-22 requirement come with other steep penalties, such as license suspension or revocation, heavy fines, and even jail time.
But your SR-22 insurance filing could be a result of something other than a bad driving record. If you fail to pay your mandatory child support payments, your license can be suspended. In this scenario, if you need to apply for a hardship license, you might need to file an SR-22 certificate before
your suspended license will be reinstated
. A non-owner SR-22 certificate is also a requirement in some cases for drivers who rent or borrow a car often. This certificate allows you to keep your insurance coverage when you find yourself in between cars.
MORE: 9 common reasons your license can be revoked
How to get SR-22 insurance
The simplest way to get an SR-22 certificate is to ask your current car insurance provider to file it for you. But there are two risks to asking your insurer to file: your premium is likely to go up, and your provider could even choose to drop your policy.
Here’s a better approach: shop for new rates with
Jerry
. Jerry’s 55+ partner companies include companies like The General and Dairyland that specialize in low rates for high-risk drivers. Finding a free quote through Jerry with an insurance agency that understands your position can give you the peace of mind you need to set up an affordable SR-22 policy. You can also file the SR-22 form on your own! You’ll need to provide your DMV with the following information:
- Your full name, birth date, and Social Security Number (SSN)
- Your mailing address
- Your car insurance policy number and the name of the company
- Court case number (if applicable)
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle make, model, and year
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- The state you’re filing in
- The car insurance company’s NAIC number
Here are some other things to keep in mind if you have an SR-22 requirement:
- Don’t drive until the certificate comes back: Once your insurance company files the paperwork, it takes roughly 30 days for the certificate to come back from your Secretary of State. During this period, you cannot drive because your license will still be suspended.
- Carry your SR-22 with you: Once you’ve received your SR-22 certificate, make sure to carry it in your car at all times. It will prove that you’re in compliance with the law if you’re pulled over.
- Avoid policy lapses: Your insurance company will notify the DMV if your insurance coverage lapses. If you allow your insurance coverage to lapse, your license is liable to be suspended again.
MORE: How to fill out and file an SR-22
How long do you need to carry SR-22 car insurance?
How long you’ll have to keep an SR-22 certificate on file depends on your state, but it’s typically a fixed period. The average amount of time is three years, but in some states, the requirement is as long as five years for certain violations.
Remember—don’t let your insurance lapse during your SR-22 period. If you commit another violation or let your coverage lapse, the clock will start again.
Once the SR-22 filing period is over, your insurance agent can file an SR-26 on your behalf certifying that you no longer need SR-22 insurance.
Find cheap car insurance quotes with an SR-22
Don’t let an SR-22 hold you back from driving. Instead, download the
Jerry
app to find the best coverage regardless of your driving record. Signup takes less than 45 seconds, and you’ll get access to quotes from over 55 top insurers, including some of the leading experts on high-risk insurance. When you shop with Jerry, you can trust that:
- You’re looking at real-time quotes from actual insurance companies—not sponsored ads
- Your personal information will never be sold to a third party (i.e., no spam calls!)
- You won’t have to talk on the phone unless you want to
- You’ll get the option to choose your coverage levels and deductibles (if applicable)
- You’ll find the lowest rate based on your unique driver profile
On average, Jerry users save over $800 on car insurance. Want to see for yourself? Download the app today.
“I have a really bad record, so all of my previous insurance quotes were pretty high. I started usingJerryand the fantastic app saved me $130 a month on my insurance.” —Jett A.
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