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How much does SR-22 insurance cost?

Find out how much car insurance costs after getting an SR-22.

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If you’re in need of SR-22 insurance, you could be in a rush to get back on the road. Don’t worry: Filing for an SR-22 isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Learn how much you might pay for an SR-22, how to start the filing process and how long you might have to carry it.

How much does it cost to get SR-22 insurance?

Filing for an SR-22 comes with two costs: filing fees and higher insurance premiums. Most insurance companies charge $15 to $35 fee for filing and renewing your SR-22.

But more expensive than the filing fee is the higher premiums you’ll pay. You can get an idea of what to expect based on increased rates in each state after a DUI, according to Finder’s analysis of rates after drunk driving for 2019. The average DUI increase is around $1,250 per year.

StateAverage annual rate in 2019Increase after SR-22How much it increased
Alabama$723$1,11354%
Alaska$872$1,57080%
Arizona$844$1,15637%
Arkansas$736$1,23768%
California$841$1,708103%
Colorado$857$1,14934%
Connecticut$1,049$2,097100%
Delaware$1,146$1,50131%
Florida$1,185$1,65940%
Georgia$897$1,31847%
Hawaii$765$1,23962%
Idaho$574$82143%
Illinois$8,034$1,36670%
Indiana$666$1,03956%
Iowa$599$95860%
Kansas$698$1,02046%
Kentucky$802$1,18748%
Louisiana$1,232$1,99562%
Maine$618$96456%
Maryland$1,017$1,53551%
Massachusetts$1,059$1,76867%
Michigan$1,231$1,3429%
Minnesota$788$1,07937%
Mississippi$827$1,05127%
Missouri$745$1,03639%
Montana$693$96339%
Nebraska$682$1,07758%
Nevada$985$1,27129%
New Hampshire$775$1,38779%
New Jersey$1,266$1,86147%
New Mexico$763$1,11346%
New York$1,235$1,84049%
North Carolina$656$1,389112%
North Dakota$638$84833%
Ohio$703$92031%
Oklahoma$824$1,05428%
Oregon$828$1,04326%
Pennsylvania$878$1,09825%
Rhode Island$1,148$1,43525%
South Carolina$854$1,08427%
South Dakota$616$78227%
Tennessee$738$87819%
Texas$934$1,34544%
Utah$784$1,09039%
Vermont$680$1,13667%
Virginia$751$1,06642%
Washington$884$1,13228%
Washington, DC$1,190$1,1940.30%
West Virginia$855$1,36059%
Wisconsin$665$1,00451%
Wyoming$657$99852%

Not everyone that files for an SR-22 reports higher insurance premiums. For example, you might see less of a hike to your car insurance rates for getting caught driving without insurance. The only way for you to know exactly how much you’ll pay overall is to get an insurance quote from a provider.

Will my rates go down after I no longer need an SR-22?

Most likely. But remember: It’s not the SR-22 that affects your premiums, it’s the conviction on your driving record.

Your driving record — along with your age, state of residence and other factors — are what ultimately determine your rate. Most insurance policies renew annually or every six months. Each time your policy is renewed with no new incidents to report, you could see decreased premiums.

Many insurance providers gradually lower your rates after three years following a conviction. To increase your chances of receiving lowered premiums from your provider, renew on time and practice safe driving on the road. The longer you stay free of incidents, the more likely you’ll see lower premiums with your renewals.

How do I get an SR-22?

You must hold an active insurance policy before you can file for an SR-22. If you already carry a policy, contact your local insurance agent to ask that they file an SR-22 for you.

If your current company doesn’t file SR-22s or denies you a policy, shop around for companies that are willing to cover high-risk drivers. You can try either standard companies like Geico or those that specialize in insuring high-risk drivers like The General.

Have the following information ready for your agent:

  • Your date of birth and Social Security number.
  • Your existing policy number, if you have one.
  • Your state of residence and driver’s license number.
  • The date your license was suspended.
  • The date you anticipate your SR-22 will no longer be required.
  • Any applicable information about your conviction.

Your provider will file an SR-22 on your behalf and notify you of any associated filing fees for handling the documents.

How long does it take to process an SR-22?

It can take up to two weeks for your local department of motor vehicles to fully process your SR-22 documents. If your driving privileges are revoked until you’ve an SR-22 in place, follow up on the status of your insurance with either your provider or your local DMV before you get back behind the wheel.

How long will I be required to keep an SR-22?

How long you’ll need to file for an SR-22 depends largely on where you live and the severity of your violation. However, most states require that you carry SR-22 insurance from three to five years. During this time, you will be considered a “high risk” driver so your premiums will be higher than normal.

You must maintain your insurance policy while you carry SR-22 insurance with no lapse and safe driving practices. If you miss a renewal, you could lose your SR-22 documents, pay steep fines and even find your license revoked.

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Publisher

Roslyn McKenna Ayers is insurance manager at ValuePenguin and a former publisher at Finder, specializing in home and auto coverage. Her expertise and analysis has been featured on Bankrate, MSN and Reader's Digest. She holds a BA in writing and communications from Maryville College. See full bio

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6 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    luisDecember 28, 2018

    I have to have SR-22 because the registration was suspended. How much will that cost or affect my existing policies?

      AvatarFinder
      CharisseDecember 28, 2018Finder

      Hi Luis,

      Thanks for reaching out to finder.

      The cost of SR-22 insurance premiums vary from one provider to another. You need to contact your existing insurance provider and inquire with them directly if they are willing to provide you an SR-22 insurance and request a quote from them, so you will have an idea of the additional cost.

      You can also request SR-22 quotes from insurance providers listed on this page by clicking on “Go to site” button.

      I hope this helps. Please feel free to message us if you have further questions.

      Cheers,
      Charisse

    Default Gravatar
    KevinDecember 7, 2018

    I’m buying a truck off the lot and prolly gunna need full coverage. The truck isn’t brand new it’s a 1999 ford diesel. I have to have sr-22 insurance due to my DWI a couple years ago. How much will my rates be you think?

      AvatarFinder
      ValDecember 11, 2018Finder

      Hi Kevin,

      Thank you for reaching out to Finder.

      The cost for SR-22 varies by provider however, DUI or drunk driving offense will mostly result in an increase in your car insurance rate so it can double or nearly triple your insurance premium. On top of that, you can also expect to pay a filing fee of $15 to $35.

      To know how much your car insurance will cost after getting an SR-22, you need to get an insurance quote from a provider. You can use the table to compare SR-22 insurance quotes then simply click on the “Get quotes” button to receive a quote from your preferred insurer.

      Please review the Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions before making a decision on whether it is right for you.

      Regards,
      Val

    Default Gravatar
    PatriciaJuly 8, 2018

    I haven’t had my lic.for a very long time .I just found out that I can go for my lic but do not have a car . My question is how much am I looking at as for a MO : payments

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangcoJuly 22, 2018

      Hi Patricia!

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder.

      If you’re notified that you need to file for SR-22 insurance but don’t own your own vehicle, you’ll might be required to file as a non-owner. Check with your local department of motor vehicles to learn whether a non-owner policy is required by your state.

      As for the monthly payments, you can read through the monthly payments on the information provided above that says “Breaking down the actual cost of getting SR-22 insurance”

      Hope this helps!

      Nikki

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