The short answer
An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state confirming you carry at least the minimum required liability cover. It is usually required after a DUI, driving uninsured, licence suspension, or repeated serious violations, and typically lasts three years.
What it actually costs
The filing fee itself is small — usually $15–$50 one time. The real cost is the underlying premium, which commonly doubles or more because the violation that triggered the filing also reprices the policy.
- Filing fee: $15–$50.
- Premium increase after a DUI: often 70–150%.
- Not every insurer files SR-22s, which narrows your market and reduces competition.
- A lapse in cover during the filing period restarts the clock and can re-suspend your licence.
FR-44 and non-owner filings
A few states use an FR-44, which requires higher liability limits than the state minimum. If you do not own a car but must maintain a filing, a non-owner policy satisfies the requirement at a much lower premium.
Shop it properly
Rates for high-risk drivers vary more than for any other segment. Upload your current policy to PolicyPal and we identify the coverages you can safely trim while the filing is in force so the total cost stays manageable.
Frequently asked
- How long do I need an SR-22?
- Typically three years from the reinstatement date, though some states and offences require five.
- Can I switch insurers with an SR-22?
- Yes, but the new insurer must file before the old one cancels, or the state will record a lapse.
- Does the requirement follow me to another state?
- Generally yes. The state that imposed it will keep the requirement until it expires, regardless of where you move.
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