How to get an SR-22 car insurance certificate

If you’ve been convicted of a serious moving violation like a DUI, received multiple speeding tickets, or driving without insurance or a license, you may be required by a court of law or your state Department of Motor Vehicles to obtain an SR-22 form to drive legally.

For some people, this may come as a shock.

“But these notices are pretty common for high-risk drivers, unfortunately,” says Evan Marcotte, owner of Florida-based 5-Star Insurance and SR22direct.com.

Although some call it “SR-22 insurance,” an SR-22 is not a policy. It’s a certificate of financial responsibility that proves you’ve bought the minimum car insurance required in your state either to drive legally or to get your license reinstated after having been convicted of a serious driving offense.

Your insurer files the SR-22 with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. However, not all car insurance companies will do this, and you may need to find a new carrier that offers coverage for high-risk drivers if your present carrier won’t continue to insure you.

Although states have different criteria, most require drivers to carry an SR-22 certificate for three years.

Key highlights

• An SR-22 is a legal form that certifies you carry sufficient auto insurance to meet your state’s minimum coverage laws.
• Car insurance companies can file an SR-22 on your behalf, but not all carriers will insure you if you’re required to carry an SR-22.
• If required to file an SR-22, you could pay as much as $4,000 per year or more for full coverage insurance, depending on the carrier.

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a bond or certificate of financial responsibility that your insurer must file with your state Department of Motor Vehicles to certify that you have car insurance that meets or exceeds the minimum liability coverage requirements.

SR-22s are sometimes confused with car insurance policies, but they are different.

Who needs an SR-22?

While the criteria for SR-22 certificates vary by state, they’re generally required of people who have been convicted of:

• Driving under the influence (DUI or DWI)
• Reckless or negligent driving
• Causing an accident and not being insured
• Multiple traffic violations within a short timespan
• Driving without insurance
• Driving without a license

You may also be required to file an SR-22 form if you:

• Have had your driver’s license suspended or revoked, or have a hardship license
• Have an unpaid court judgment, including child support

How do I obtain an SR-22 certificate?

You must ask your car insurance company to file an SR-22 on your behalf. If your current carrier does not insure drivers with SR-22s, you must find an insurer that does.

Once you purchase coverage, your new insurer will file an SR-22 with the state, and it should take effect within a day, Marcotte says. The price of SR-22 certificates varies by state, but it’s usually around $25. Insurance companies generally roll the cost into your premium.

What type of SR-22 do I need?

There are three types of SR-22 certificates. Your insurer can help you choose the right kind of certificate:

• Owner, if you’re driving a vehicle for personal use that you own or lease
• Owner-operator, if you’re driving a vehicle for both personal and work purposes that you either own or lease
• Non-owner, if you don’t own a vehicle but drive borrowed or rented cars occasionally

It’s essential to have the right SR-22 certificate for your situation, Marcotte says.

For instance, let’s say you have an SR-22 certificate for vehicle owners. if you borrow a friend’s car and are involved in an accident, your insurance company may not cover the incident because your SR-22 doesn’t apply to vehicles other than yours. In addition, your state DMV may be notified that you’re not complying with its SR-22 requirements, which could result in suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.

How much does car insurance cost for drivers with an SR-22?

The average cost of an annual full coverage car insurance policy for a good driver is $1,897. If you’re required to obtain an SR-22 because of reckless driving or a related conviction, you’ll probably be classified as a high-risk driver. The average cost of an annual policy for high-risk drivers is $2,762. But as the table below illustrates, prices can vary significantly among insurers.

The rates below were collected from auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com for single, 40-year-old male and female drivers of a 2023 Honda Accord LX with an SR-22 and one DUI on their record for full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles.

How can I save on car insurance with an SR-22?

You may be tempted to save money through an SR-22 policy that meets only the minimum liability coverage amount required by your state. But that may not be sufficient if you’re involved in a major accident.

“We don’t ever recommend state minimums for liability because they’re horribly low,” says Steve Hakes, owner of Rocky Mountain Insurance Center, a Colorado-based insurance broker. “For instance, in Colorado, the state minimum coverages were established in 1968 and have never been changed.”

Although you’ll be paying more than a driver with a clean record, you can save money if you need SR-22 insurance with these tips:

• Shop around. Average rates for drivers with an SR-22 vary widely. Experts recommend getting at least three quotes from different insurers. An independent insurance agent can help you find coverage if you don’t want to do the work yourself.
• Consider a non-owner SR-22 policy. Marcotte says premiums for SR-22 vehicle non-owner policies can be as low as $79 a month compared to vehicle owner policies that run $200-$300 a month.
• Check-in with your insurer at least once a year while your SR-22 is in effect. Rates may drop as your driving record improves.

What states require an SR-22?

All but a handful of states use the SR-22 certificate as part of their legal arsenal. These nine states do not:

• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania

Florida and Virginia require an SR-22 for certain alcohol-related offenses but an FR-44 certificate for more severe violations.

If you’ve been issued an SR-22 certificate and move to a state that doesn’t require it, your new state may still insist you comply with its terms. Check with your insurance company or your state’s DMV for details.

What is the difference between an SR-22 and a FR-44?

An FR-44 form is legal proof of car insurance similar to an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility. Florida and Virginia require FR-44 certificates for serious driving offenses, like DUIs or multiple accidents. An FR-44 mandates that a driver carry much higher liability insurance minimums than needed for an SR-22.

The minimum liability limits for an FR-44 in Florida are 100/300/100, or $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $100,000 for property damage. In contrast, the state’s liability minimum is 10/20/10. Florida drivers must also carry personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $10,000.

In Virginia, FR-44 minimum liability requirements are $60,000 per person and $120,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $40,000 for property damage. That amount is double the state’s liability insurance policy minimum limits of 30/60/20; in January 2025, Virginia’s policy minimums will increase to 50/100/25.

Frequently asked questions

How can I remove an SR-22?

It’s up to you to keep track of when your SR-22 certificate requirements end. Once your SR-22 expires, notify your insurance company, which will file an SR-26 form with your state DMV to declare your SR-22 policy has been canceled. You can then negotiate a new policy and rates with your current insurer or switch carriers.

What information is required for an SR-22?

Generally, you’ll need to give your insurance company the notification you received about your SR-22, your date of birth, Social Security Number and a driver’s license or state ID. People with foreign or international driver’s licenses may also have to submit a picture.

How do I check the status of my SR-22?

The information may be available in your court order or through your state’s DMV website, or you can contact your DMV directly.

What if I refuse to get an SR-22 certificate?

Marcotte says it depends on the state, but your driver’s license will usually be revoked if you don’t obtain an SR-22 certificate and insurance for the entire period required.

States may also revoke your license and charge you fees if your insurer notifies the DMV that you’ve canceled your SR-22 policy or haven’t paid your premium. Your SR-22 certificate timeframe may also be reset.

For instance, if you’re required to have an SR-22 for three years but your insurance lapses after a year, you’d need to start over with a new three-year SR-22 certificate and insurance policy.

Methodology

Editors collected rate information from auto insurance comparison site CarInsurance.com and its data partner Quadrant Information Services for single, 40-year-old male and female drivers of a 2023 Honda Accord LX with an SR-22 and one DUI on their record for full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductibles.

We analyzed more than 53 million quotes, more than 34,000 ZIP codes and 170 insurance companies nationwide.

Note: 100/300/100 means up to $100,000 for the medical bills of those you injure, up to $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability for all persons injured in one accident, and $100,000 to repair other drivers’ cars and property that you damage.