The cheapest SR-22 insurance is from Geico and AAA, according to WalletHub’s analysis of 26 major insurers. In addition to relatively low premiums for drivers who need an SR-22, these companies offer discounts that can help policyholders save even more on their high-risk coverage.
Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies
- Geico: $512 per year
- AAA: $529 per year
- Wawanesa: $548 per year
- Grange: $566 per year
- USAA: $567 per year
- Progressive: $574 per year
- Mercury: $629 per year
- Travelers: $689 per year
- Esurance: $695 per year
- Auto-Owners: $697 per year
- Kemper: $699 per year
- Allstate: $781 per year
In addition to national insurers with cheap premiums, you should compare quotes from local insurers such as Wawanesa, Country Financial, and Hastings Mutual as they have the cheapest SR-22 insurance rates in certain states. For instance, Wawanesa has some of the cheapest rates in California.
On average, an SR-22 requirement will raise a driver’s premium by up to 18%. If your state requires you to have an SR-22, your insurance company will file the form with the DMV on your behalf and charge a $15-$25 filing fee. Depending on your state, you’ll need to maintain your filing for 1-5 years.
Cheap SR-22 Insurance Companies
GEICO
GEICO
Geico is the cheapest car insurance company for drivers with an SR-22 because of their competitive rates ($512 per year) and generous discounts. In addition to consistently being one of the cheapest insurance companies across the board, Geico has great ratings from WalletHub editors and from customers.
Geico also offers a wide range of coverage options, besides SR-22 insurance. This includes non-owner insurance, which is a great alternative for SR-22 drivers who do not own a vehicle.
AAA Insurance
AAA Insurance
AAA is one of the cheapest car insurance companies for SR-22 drivers. AAA also has great ratings from consumer watchdog groups, and they offer a wide variety of coverage options and discounts.
In addition to their well-known roadside assistance program, AAA offers retail benefits and trip planning services to their members. However, AAA tends to receive more customer complaints than their peers, and their customer service could use some improvement.
Wawanesa Insurance
Wawanesa Insurance
Wawanesa offers an extensive range of coverage options and has great reviews from consumer watchdog groups. Wawanesa also offers some of the cheapest rates for high-risk drivers with an SR-22. However, coverage is only available to drivers in California and Oregon.
Grange Insurance
Grange Insurance
Grange Insurance has very good rates for SR-22 insurance and positive reviews from consumers. Grange also offers a wide range of coverage options and discounts. However, Grange only operates in 13 states.
USAA Insurance
USAA Insurance
USAA is a great choice for SR-22 drivers who happen to be current or former military members, or relatives of one. USAA has cheaper rates than many of their competitors. Additionally, USAA receives good reviews from consumer watchdog groups and WalletHub’s editors. USAA also offers a long list of discounts and coverage options, including non-owner insurance.
However, their claims process and customer service department don’t always receive good reviews.
Progressive
Progressive
Progressive has a great collection of available discounts, and their claims process is consistently praised for being quick and convenient. Perhaps most importantly, Progressive offers competitive rates for SR-22 drivers, too. They also have non-owner insurance as part of their wide range of coverage options.
Mercury Insurance
Mercury Insurance
Even though Mercury is only available in eight of the states that use SR-22 forms, they are still a great choice for high-risk drivers. Mercury offers competitive rates and has a great selection of discounts available.
While they have a great variety of coverage options, Mercury’s customer service isn’t the best. Mercury also doesn’t allow people to purchase policies online, which can be frustrating for tech-savvy consumers.
Travelers Insurance
Travelers Insurance
Travelers has great reviews from consumer watchdog groups and WalletHub’s editors. They also offer a significant variety of discounts and coverage options, including non-owner insurance. However, Travelers is more expensive than some of their competitors for SR-22 insurance.
Esurance
Esurance
Esurance’s all-online system can be a big bonus for tech-savvy drivers who need an SR-22. Esurance also has very competitive pricing and discounts.
However, they lack a diverse list of coverage options, and their lack of local agents can make managing policies a bit difficult. They also receive complaints for delayed claims and unexpected rate increases.
Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners offers some of the most competitive rates for SR-22 insurance, along with a wide variety of coverage options and helpful discounts. The company also has great reviews from consumer watchdog groups and WalletHub’s editors.
However, Auto-Owners’ online insurance services are limited, which makes working with them slightly more difficult. For instance, you cannot get a quote or file most claims on the Auto-Owners website.
Kemper
Kemper
Kemper offers SR-22 insurance to drivers in all 50 states. Kemper also offers cheaper premiums for SR-22 insurance than many of its competitors. However, Kemper does not offer as many types of coverage or discounts, and the company has received a relatively high volume of customer complaints.
Allstate
Allstate
Allstate offers competitive rates for drivers with an SR-22, as well as a wide variety of discounts. Allstate is also highly rated for its financial stability, its ability to pay out claims, and its business practices in general. However, Allstate receives more complaints than the average insurer its size.
Cheapest SR-22 Insurance by State
| State | Company | Average Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Cincinnati Insurance | $279 per year |
| Alaska | USAA | $280 per year |
| Arizona | Noblr | $228 per year |
| Arkansas | USAA | $258 per year |
| California | Geico | $512 per year |
| Colorado | American National | $188 per year |
| Connecticut | Geico | $466 per year |
| Delaware | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| District of Columbia | Chubb | $372 per year |
| Florida | USAA | $295 per year |
| Georgia | Country Financial | $389 per year |
| Hawaii | USAA | $298 per year |
| Idaho | American National | $172 per year |
| Illinois | Westfield | $337 per year |
| Indiana | USAA | $251 per year |
| Iowa | Hastings Mutual | $134 per year |
| Kansas | Geico | $230 per year |
| Kentucky | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| Louisiana | Southern Farm Bureau | $564 per year |
| Maine | USAA | $243 per year |
| Maryland | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| Massachusetts | State Farm | $322 per year |
| Michigan | Travelers | $158 per year |
| Minnesota | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| Mississippi | National General | $277 per year |
| Missouri | USAA | $226 per year |
| Montana | USAA | $173 per year |
| Nebraska | EMC Insurance | $212 per year |
| Nevada | Auto Owners | $354 per year |
| New Hampshire | USAA | $251 per year |
| New Jersey | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| New Mexico | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| New York | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| North Carolina | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| North Dakota | USAA | $184 per year |
| Ohio | USAA | $243 per year |
| Oklahoma | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| Oregon | Geico | $417 per year |
| Pennsylvania | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| Rhode Island | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| South Carolina | American National | $182 per year |
| South Dakota | Farmers Mutual of Nebraska | $185 per year |
| Tennessee | Auto Owners | $267 per year |
| Texas | State Farm | $419 per year |
| Utah | QBE Insurance | $378 per year |
| Vermont | Patriot | $172 per year |
| Virginia | ALFA | $396 per year |
| Washington | PEMCO | $287 per year |
| West Virginia | Does not require SR-22 | Does not require SR-22 |
| Wisconsin | Grange | $180 per year |
| Wyoming | USAA | $187 per year |
Tips for Finding Cheap SR-22 Insurance
1. Shop Around
Considering how expensive SR-22 insurance is, it’s important to explore your options so that you can find the most affordable policy. It’s typically recommended that you compare quotes from at least three different insurance companies before purchasing a policy in order to find the best deal.
2. Look for Discounts
In addition to comparing quotes, you should also compare discounts between car insurance companies. If you have an SR-22, you likely won’t be able to qualify for discounts related to safe driving, but you can still find discounts that are based on your policy choices or your car.
For example, many insurers offer discounts for drivers who opt for paperless billing and pay for their entire policy in full up front. Additionally, you can often get a discount if your vehicle is equipped with certain safety features or anti-theft devices.
3. Consider Limiting Your Coverage
No matter what, you have to meet your state’s minimum coverage requirements in order to drive legally. But getting more coverage beyond that is up to you, and if you’re struggling to afford SR-22 insurance, then sticking with the minimum coverage may be the best choice. Keep in mind that if your car is leased or financed, you also need to meet your lender’s or lessor’s requirements.
4. Purchase a Non-Owner Policy
If you don’t own a vehicle, a non-owner car insurance policy is a great way to fulfill your state’s SR-22 requirement at a low price. Non-owner SR-22 insurance covers you when you drive rented or borrowed vehicles, and since it doesn’t cover a specific car, it’s usually less expensive than standard SR-22 insurance policies. However, this is only an option if you do not own a car and do not live with someone who does.
Video: How to Find Cheap SR-22 Insurance
Methodology
WalletHub editors compared 17 car insurance companies to determine the cheapest options for SR-22 insurance. Premiums reflect the average of a series of quotes sourced from Quadrant Information Services, using California ZIP codes and state-minimum insurance coverage.
Ask the Experts
To gain more insight about cheap SR-22 insurance, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. Click on the experts below to view their bios and answers.
1. Do you have any advice for drivers who need to file an SR-22 but want to minimize the cost of insurance?
2. What are the most costly mistakes people make with SR-22 insurance?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Economics – Chair, Department of Economics – The Catholic University of America
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