SR-22 Insurance Guide

SR-22 insurance covers the minimum protection required by state law. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

GEICO SR22 insurance covers drivers classified as “high-risk” by their state's department of motor vehicles. Although high-risk insurance is often called SR22 insurance, SR22 is actually a form required by the court or state, verifying that a driver has auto insurance liability coverage. GEICO will file the SR22 on behalf of its policyholders. The filing fee is $25 in most states.

Regulations vary from state to state, but an SR22 is usually required for a driver to regain his or her license after driving-related violations, such as:

• DUI convictions
• Reckless driving
• Accident caused by an uninsured driver
• Driving without a license or insurance

GEICO has a history of working with high-risk drivers to help them keep their insurance and driving privileges. The biggest cost of SR22 insurance comes in the form of higher premiums. Premiums can rise 25% or more after a driving violation, depending on the type of violation as well as the driver's age and location.

Time and a clean record will bring premiums down in the long run. Meanwhile, GEICO discounts—such as those for air bags (25%-40% off personal injury protection), anti-theft systems (25% off comprehensive coverage), or anti-lock brakes (5% off collision coverage)—may partially offset increases. The best way to get an accurate, personalized SR22 insurance quote is through GEICO's website.

Progressive offers SR-22 insurance to drivers classified as “high-risk” by their state. High-risk insurance is often called SR-22 insurance, but SR-22 is actually not a type of coverage. It's a form verifying that you have met the state's minimum requirements for car insurance coverage. In most states, Progressive will electronically file your SR-22 document with the department of motor vehicles immediately after you purchase your policy, unless they are required by state law to file by mail. The filing fee is usually around $25.

Most drivers do not need an SR-22. It's most commonly required if you were driving without insurance or a license, or if you were convicted of a DUI/DWI. In states like Florida or Virginia, you might need an FR-44, which is similar but requires more coverage than an SR-22.

If you do need SR-22 insurance from Progressive, call 866-749-7436 to speak with a Progressive representative. Progressive rates only increase by about 5% nationwide for SR-22 drivers, so it tends to be an affordable option for high-risk insurance compared to other large companies.

You can get non-owner SR-22 insurance by calling insurance companies that offer it, such as Geico, Progressive, Esurance, State Farm, The General and Dairyland, and then buying a policy. Non-owner SR-22 insurance is for people who do not have regular access to a car but need to file an SR-22 with their state to prove they have insurance. An SR-22 is not actually a type of insurance, but a form that the insurance company will send to the DMV.

It's important to note that many insurers won't provide non-owner policies to people with a car in their household, even if the vehicle is registered under a different name. So if you live with a spouse, family member, or even a roommate who owns a car, you might not be eligible. In addition, if you have a non-owner policy and fail to switch to an owner policy when you buy a car, the insurer will likely deny any claims that you file.

How Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance Works

Non-owner insurance includes liability coverage by default, although some companies allow drivers to add more coverage as well. Non-owner policies are also secondary coverage, which means that if you crash a borrowed car, the owner's insurance will pay first. Then, your non-owner policy will kick in to cover any leftover balance. 

Standard non-owner insurance policies are generally cheaper than insurance with a car, particularly since non-owners drive much less frequently. However, drivers who need an SR-22 usually pay more than drivers who don't need one, since an SR-22 indicates increased risk for the insurer.

Where to Get Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance

Like any other insurance policy, you should always compare quotes when looking for non-owner SR-22 insurance. Insurers usually offer quotes for non-owner policies over the phone, so be prepared to call several companies. By getting multiple quotes, you can ensure that you have sufficient coverage for your needs at the lowest price.

If you can't find a non-owner policy through a regular insurer, nonstandard insurance companies that specialize in high-risk drivers could be a good option.

The General provides insurance to drivers who need SR-22 certification. Although high-risk insurance is often called “SR-22 insurance,” SR-22 is actually a form required by the state verifying that drivers with certain violations are carrying auto liability insurance. Some insurance companies will not insure these high-risk drivers.

The General sells SR-22 insurance, along with other types of policies, in all states except Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey. You can apply online or by calling (844) 328-0306. If you need an SR-22 form completed, a copy of the form will be included with your final policy documents. The General will file the form for you in most states, for the state fee of $15 - $25.

SR-22 insurance is likely to be pricey from any company. Insurers want to be paid for their added risk when they cover drivers with poor records. The premiums for a driver convicted of a DUI, for example, can rise 50% to 200%, depending on the insurer, state, driver's age, previous record, etc. The General is worth getting a quote from, because the company specializes in high-risk drivers and is highly rated for SR-22 policies. However, it's always a good idea to compare several quotes to get the best price possible for your needs.

SR-22 certification is usually mandatory for drivers who cause accidents while driving without insurance, are convicted of a DUI, have their license revoked or suspended, or get many tickets and/or traffic convictions in a short time period. You will need to keep your SR-22 current for 1-5 years, depending on the state. Your higher premiums will likely last at least three years. However, they can last seven or more, depending on the violation and your state's regulations.

An FR-44 is a form verifying sufficient car insurance coverage that is required in Florida and Virginia for drivers who have been convicted of DUI. FR-44s require drivers to have additional coverage beyond the minimum amount required by state law, unlike SR-22 forms.

Drivers are often required to file an FR-44 in order to reinstate a suspended license after a DUI. To get an FR-44, you need to contact your car insurance company and ask them to file one with the state on your behalf. If you don't already have enough coverage to meet the state's FR-44 requirements, then you will need to purchase additional insurance.

You should expect your insurance company to charge an FR-44 filing fee between $15 and $25. Since an FR-44 classifies you as high-risk and means that you have to purchase additional coverage, it will raise your rate by an average of 66%. But the good news is that an FR-44 only lasts for three years. Once you no longer need an FR-44, your premium will start to decrease if you practice good driving habits and maintain continuous coverage.

SR-22 insurance costs $2,336 per year, on average, nationwide. Because an SR-22 flags you as a high-risk driver, your insurance company will charge you a higher premium than the average driver. But the cost of SR-22 insurance changes dramatically based on where you live.

Michigan drivers pay the most for SR-22 insurance, with rates averaging $7,472 annually. On the other hand, Maine has the cheapest SR-22 insurance, with drivers only paying an average of $1,051 per year. How much coverage you buy also makes a difference in cost. If you only buy the minimum amount of insurance required by your state, you can fulfill your SR-22 requirements while keeping your rates as low as possible under the circumstances.

It should be noted that the SR-22 form itself doesn't cause your rates to go up. In fact, your insurance company will only charge you a one-time filing fee of around $25. Instead, your premium will go up based on the infraction that caused you to need an SR-22 in the first place. SR-22s are usually required after serious traffic offenses like DUI, reckless driving, or driving with a suspended license. So, even if your state didn't require you to have an SR-22, your insurance company would still charge you a higher rate based on your risk as a driver.

Since you only need to have an SR-22 for 3-5 years, your premium will eventually go back down. In the meantime, switching to an insurer with lower rates is the best way to save money on SR-22 insurance. As long as your coverage doesn't lapse, it won't affect how long you need the SR-22.

Yes, State Farm does have SR-22 insurance. State Farm's SR-22 insurance is for drivers who have been convicted of DUI/DWI, had their license suspended, or otherwise need a certificate of financial responsibility to present to their state's department of motor vehicles. An SR-22 certificate verifies that a high-risk driver has purchased the state's minimum insurance coverage.

With that being said, State Farm could potentially decline to renew your policy or grant you one as a new customer if you're required to carry SR-22 insurance. It ultimately depends on the specifics of your driving history and other factors, like your marital status, age and where you live.

State Farm Offers SR-22 Insurance For:

• Drivers with a suspended/revoked license
• Drivers convicted of DUI/DWI
• Drivers with multiple traffic offenses in a short length of time
• Drivers who fail to maintain their state's auto insurance requirements

Given its high-risk nature, State Farm's SR-22 insurance may be more expensive than your existing premiums. State Farm and other insurance providers also typically charge fees, which vary by state, to file the SR-22 paperwork for you. You may be required to maintain your SR-22 certificate for as long as three to five years, depending on your state. Once you have satisfied your state's SR-22 obligations, you must contact State Farm to make changes to your policy.

If you want more information about SR-22 insurance from State Farm and other insurance companies, check out WalletHub's SR-22 guide.

To get an SR-22 removed, a driver needs to contact their insurance company once they are no longer required to have the SR-22 on file with their state DMV. While each state has its own rules for how long drivers must maintain an SR-22, it can usually be removed after 3-5 years. Since individual drivers do not handle SR-22 forms themselves, the insurance company will take care of the cancellation.

You can contact your state's DMV to find out exactly when your SR-22 filing period ends. Once you confirm that you no longer need an SR-22, you can call your insurance company and let them know. Your insurer will then notify the DMV that they have cancelled the SR-22 filing.

You should never try to remove your SR-22 before the state-mandated period ends. If the DMV finds out that you cancelled your SR-22 insurance early, you could face serious consequences that include a driver's license suspension, vehicle registration suspension, and hefty fees. In addition, you will likely have to start the SR-22 filing period all over again.  

Finally, if you cancel your SR-22 insurance because you are switching insurance companies, you should cancel the old policy a few days after the new one begins. It can take some time for your state DMV to receive the new filing, and having the policies overlap by a few days helps you avoid a lapse in SR-22 coverage.

Non-owner SR-22 insurance costs at least $15 - $25, due to the fee insurers charge for filing an SR-22 form with the DMV. Non-owner SR-22 insurance also costs roughly 3% more than a standard non-owner car insurance policy, on average, given the high-risk surcharge that insurers apply to the premiums of drivers who need an SR-22.

The exact cost of a non-owner SR-22 policy depends on where the driver lives and how much car insurance they're required to have. But because non-owner SR-22 insurance applies only to drivers, and not their cars too, it generally costs less than regular SR-22 coverage.

How Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance Works

Non-owner SR-22 insurance is coverage for drivers who do not own a car but are required by their state to file an SR-22 as verification of insurance. Most states require drivers to file an SR-22 after they are convicted of a major moving violation, such as DUI or reckless driving. This applies even if you don't own a car, which is where non-owner SR-22 insurance comes in handy.

You will not be eligible for non-owner SR-22 insurance if anyone in your household owns a car. If you purchase a non-owner SR-22 policy, you will only need it for 3-5 years, depending on your state. Those who do not plan on driving in the future can drop their coverage once they are no longer required to have an SR-22 on file.