Best SR-22 Insurance

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that verifies a driver is carrying the minimum amount of car insurance required by their state. Drivers are typically required to file an SR-22 form with their state if they are convicted of a major moving violation or caught driving without insurance. Depending on the state, drivers are required to have their SR-22 form on file with the DMV for 1-5 years.

If your state requires you to file an SR-22, you should expect to pay more for car insurance, since you'll be designated as a high-risk driver. However, if you practice good driving habits, your rate will go back down once you no longer need the SR-22.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to SR-22 insurance.

SR-22 insurance costs an average of $62 to $122 per month, depending on the insurer and the offense that led to the SR-22 requirement. The DMV in your state will also charge a one-time fee to file the necessary paperwork. 

It costs $25 to $50 to file an SR-22 form with the DMV, depending on the state. In addition to proving you have enough coverage to drive legally, the  SR-22 flags you as a high-risk driver, which explains why your insurer will charge you more than the average policyholder for coverage.

SR-22 Insurance Cost by Company

Factors That Affect SR-22 Insurance Costs

Premiums vary based on infraction, company, state, and individual driver. How much coverage you buy also makes a difference in cost. For instance, if you only buy the minimum amount of insurance required by your state, you can fulfill your SR-22 requirement for a lower price than if you purchased a full coverage policy. And since you only need to have an SR-22 for 1-5 years, depending on the state, your premium will eventually go back down.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's complete guide to SR-22 insurance.

The difference between SR-22 and regular insurance is that SR-22 insurance is for high-risk drivers who are convicted of major moving violations, while regular insurance is for anyone who drives a car. The underlying insurance coverage is the same, but the SR-22 designation will make that coverage more expensive. An SR-22 is a form that an insurer files with the state to show that a driver has the legally required amount of insurance. Regular insurance does not require any sort of form.

Key Differences Between SR-22 Insurance and Regular Insurance

People who drive under the influence, drive without insurance, or are habitual traffic law violators may end up needing an SR-22 to help reinstate their license or meet their state's legal requirements. SR-22 insurance usually costs significantly more than regular insurance because of the high-risk designation that comes along with offenses such as DUI and reckless driving.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to SR-22 insurance.

SR-22 insurance covers the cost of other people's injuries and property damage after accidents that you cause, and it does not cover damage to your own vehicle. If the court or state tells you that you need SR-22 insurance certification, your minimum coverage requirements are still the same as for any other resident.

SR-22 is actually the name of the form the court or state requires from drivers convicted of certain violations, such as DUI/DWIs, reckless driving, and driving without a license or insurance. The SR-22 must be filled in by your insurance company and certifies that you have the legally required coverage.

What SR-22 Insurance Covers Depending on State

Many states only require liability insurance. In these states, SR-22 insurance covers the costs of the other driver's injuries or property damage if you're at fault in an accident. Some states, like Florida and Michigan, also require Personal Injury Protection, which pays medical expenses for you and your passengers. States such as New Jersey and New York mandate uninsured or underinsured motorist protection, as well. This kind of insurance pays for your losses if another driver is at fault and either has no/low liability insurance or is a hit-and-run driver.

SR-22 Insurance Limits

Like all insurance, SR-22 insurance policies are written with limits. These limits are the maximum amounts the insurance company will pay out for losses. The coverage limits for your SR-22 insurance policy will follow the requirements of the state in which you were convicted or now live, whichever are higher.

Even though it's minimal, SR-22 coverage can be expensive. The violation you committed will put you into the insurance company's high-risk pool of drivers. This can raise your insurance costs 25% or more.

SR-22 insurance is so expensive because it's mainly required for high-risk drivers who have recently been convicted of a major moving violation, like DUI or reckless driving. Drivers considered to be high-risk will inevitably pay higher premiums due to their increased likelihood of filing a claim.

On average, SR-22 insurance costs between 3% and 278% more than a standard policy, depending on the state and the specific offense that leads to the SR-22. For example, a DUI conviction raises premiums by an average of 105%, while a reckless driving offense raises premiums by an average of 91%.

Even though SR-22 insurance is expensive, you'll only need to have it for 1-5 years, depending on your state. After that, your rate will start to go back down again. To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to SR-22 insurance.

The cheapest SR-22 insurance company in California is Geico, with premiums costing an average of $512 per year. Since drivers with an SR-22 are considered high-risk, they usually pay above-average rates for coverage, sometimes more than twice as much as a standard policy. The average rate increase in California is 3%.

Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies in California

Note: Premiums are for a 45-year-old driver in California; individual premiums will vary.

If these premiums all seem incredibly high, remember that the increase is only temporary. In California, you are only required to have an SR-22 on file for 3 years, and if you practice safe driving habits in the meantime, you should see your premiums begin to go down. 

Tips for Getting Cheap SR-22 Insurance in California

• Figure out how much insurance you really need by looking at the minimum requirements for California.
• Consider a non-owner SR-22 certificate if you need to be able to drive but do not own a vehicle.
• Continue to compare insurance rates annually to make sure your insurer is still offering you the best price.

It is possible that you will not be able to find a company that is willing to insure you. If that happens, you may be able to apply for car insurance through your state, since many states provide programs to match high-risk drivers with partnering insurers. However, this should be used as a last resort because the premiums will likely be very expensive. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to SR-22 insurance.

The cheapest SR-22 insurance company in Texas is State Farm, with premiums costing an average of $419 per year. Since drivers with an SR-22 are considered high-risk, they usually pay above-average rates for coverage, sometimes more than twice as much as a standard policy. The average rate increase in Texas is 7%.

Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies in Texas

Note: Premiums are for a 45-year-old driver in Texas; individual premiums will vary.

If these premiums all seem incredibly high, remember that the increase is only temporary. In Texas, you are only required to have an SR-22 on file for 2 years, and if you practice safe driving habits in the meantime, you should see your premiums begin to go down. 

Tips for Getting Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Texas

• Figure out how much insurance you really need by looking at the minimum requirements for Texas.
• Consider a non-owner SR-22 certificate if you need to be able to drive but do not own a vehicle.
• Continue to compare insurance rates annually to make sure your insurer is still offering you the best price.

It is possible that you will not be able to find a company that is willing to insure you. If that happens, you may be able to apply for car insurance through your state, since many states provide programs to match high-risk drivers with partnering insurers. However, this should be used as a last resort because the premiums will likely be very expensive. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to SR-22 insurance.

The cheapest insurance for drivers in New York who have committed SR-22-type violations is from Progressive. New York is one of eight states that do not require high-risk drivers to file an SR-22 form as proof of insurance, but coverage can still be a lot more expensive than average for drivers who would need an SR-22 elsewhere.

For example, drivers in New York can expect to pay an average of 68% more for car insurance after actions like DUI, driving with a suspended license or reckless driving.

Cheap Insurance Companies in New York for High-Risk Drivers

Note: Premiums are for a 45-year-old driver in New York; individual premiums will vary.

Fortunately, the increase in premiums after a high-risk offense is only temporary. If you practice safe driving habits moving forward, you should see your premiums begin to go down. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guides to SR-22 insurance and the cheapest car insurance companies.

The cheapest SR-22 insurance company in Florida is USAA, with annual premiums costing an average of $295. Since drivers with an SR-22 are considered high-risk, they usually pay above-average rates for coverage, sometimes more than twice as much as a standard policy. The average rate increase in Florida is 5%. 

Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies in Florida

If these premiums all seem incredibly high, remember that the increase is only temporary. In Florida, you are only required to have an SR-22 on file for 3 years, and if you practice safe driving habits in the meantime, you should see your premiums begin to go down. 

Tips for Getting Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Florida

• Figure out how much insurance you really need by looking at the minimum requirements for Florida.
• Consider a non-owner SR-22 certificate if you need to be able to drive but do not own a vehicle.
• Continue to compare insurance rates annually to make sure your insurer is still offering you the best price.

It is possible that you will not be able to find a company that is willing to insure you. If that happens, you may be able to apply for car insurance through your state, since many states provide programs to match high-risk drivers with partnering insurers. However, this should be used as a last resort because the premiums will likely be very expensive. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to SR-22 insurance.

The cheapest insurance for drivers in North Carolina who have committed SR-22-type violations is from National General. North Carolina is one of eight states that do not require high-risk drivers to file an SR-22 form as proof of insurance, but coverage can still be a lot more expensive than average for drivers who would need an SR-22 elsewhere.

For example, drivers in North Carolina can expect to pay an average of 296% more for car insurance after actions like DUI, driving with a suspended license or reckless driving.

Cheap Insurance Companies in North Carolina for High-Risk Drivers

Note: Premiums are for a 45-year-old driver in North Carolina; individual premiums will vary.

Fortunately, the increase in premiums after a high-risk offense is only temporary. If you practice safe driving habits moving forward, you should see your premiums begin to go down. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guides to SR-22 insurance and the cheapest car insurance companies.