- USAA: $2,776 per year
- Progressive: $2,894 per year
- American Family: $3,053 year
- Erie: $3,099 per year
Penny Gusner is a senior insurance writer and analyst at Forbes Advisor. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers learn how insurance laws, data, trends, and coverages affect them. Penny enjoys translating the complexities of insurance into easy-to-understand advice and tips to help consumers make the best choices for their needs. Her work has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including The Washington Post and Kiplinger’s.
Penny Gusner
Penny Gusner is a senior insurance writer and analyst at Forbes Advisor. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers learn how insurance laws, data, trends, and coverages affect them. Penny enjoys translating the complexities of insurance into easy-to-understand advice and tips to help consumers make the best choices for their needs. Her work has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including The Washington Post and Kiplinger’s.
Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.
Fact Checked
Michelle Megna
Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
USAA and Progressive have the cheapest SR-22 auto insurance, based on Forbes Advisor’s analysis. Full coverage car insurance with a DUI and an SR-22 costs an average of $2,776 per year with USAA and $2,894 per year with Progressive.
The high cost of SR-22 insurance is based mainly on the rate increase for the infraction that has led to the SR-22 requirement, like a DUI. The SR-22 could potentially tack on a few hundred dollars more, depending on the company and state, making comparison shopping a must when on the hunt for cheap SR-22 insurance.
Read more
Show Summary
- The Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies
- Summary: The Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies
- The Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies: In More Detail
- How Much Does an SR-22 Cost by State?
- Tips for Finding Cheap SR-22 Insurance
- How To Get an SR-22
- Proof of Car Insurance Besides the SR-22
- Methodology
- Cheap SR-22 Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Next Up In Car Insurance
The Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies
Summary: The Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies
| Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Average annual cost for drivers with a DUI and SR-22 | Average monthly cost for drivers with a DUI and SR-22 | LEARN MORE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USAA* |  |
5.0 |  |
$2,776 | $231 | Get Quotes | Compare rates via EverQuote’s website | |
| Progressive |  |
4.5 |  |
$2,894 | $241 | Get Quotes | Compare rates via EverQuote’s website | |
| American Family |  |
4.0 |  |
$3,053 | $254 | Get Quotes | Compare rates via EverQuote’s website | |
| Erie |  |
4.0 | |
$3,099 | $258 | Get Quotes | Compare rates via EverQuote’s website |
* USAA auto insurance is available only to the military, veterans and their families.
The Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies: In More Detail
An SR-22 is not actually a type of car insurance but rather a form filed by an insurer with the state verifying you have auto insurance in place. To find cheap SR-22 insurance, you must first find out which insurers will do an SR-22 filing in your state—not all do. To determine the cheapest SR-22 insurance companies, we evaluated the costs of full coverage car insurance for a driver with a DUI conviction requiring an SR-22.
USAA
USAA has the cheapest SR-22 insurance among the companies we analyzed. USAA’s average SR-22 insurance cost with a DUI is $2,776 a year or $231 a month. USAA has great rates for drivers with a DUI or speeding ticket on their records, so it’s a good fit for drivers who also need an SR-22 filed.
USAA also offers non-owner car insurance policies, which can be helpful to those who need an SR-22 but don’t own a vehicle. USAA car insurance is sold only to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Progressive
If you don’t qualify for USAA insurance, Progressive has the cheapest SR-22 insurance for drivers without a military affiliation among the car insurance companies we evaluated. The average Progressive car insurance cost for an SR-22 and a DUI is $2,894 per year or $241 a month.
Progressive is available nationwide, so if you live in one state and need an SR-22 filed in another, Progressive can help you out. It’s worth looking at Progressive if you’re shopping for cheap SR-22 insurance.
American Family
American Family has very competitive rates for drivers with a DUI conviction and who need an SR-22 filed. American Family’s average SR-22 insurance cost is $3,053 per year ($254 per month). With or without an SR-22, American Family has affordable rates for drivers with a DUI and those with a speeding ticket or accident on their records.
American Family sells auto insurance in 19 states. The company deserves consideration if you’re comparing SR-22 insurance quotes in a state where American Family car insurance is available.
Erie
Erie has decent rates not just for those needing an SR-22 but also for drivers who have caused an accident or received a speeding ticket. SR-22 insurance with a DUI is relatively cheap with Erie car insurance, coming in at an average of $3,099 per year or $258 per month.
Erie is worth adding to your list of companies for comparing quotes if you live in one of the 12 states where it operates.
How Much Does an SR-22 Cost by State?
The national average cost for SR-22 insurance with a DUI conviction is $3,572 per year. We found that Idaho is the cheapest state for SR-22 insurance at $2,174 a year. Michigan has the most expensive SR-22 insurance at $5,629 a year, a whopping 159% more expensive than Idaho.
The company offering the cheapest SR-22 insurance varies by state. It can pay off to shop around for quotes so you don’t overpay. See what company offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance in your state.
Cheapest SR-22 Companies by State
| State | Cheapest company for SR-22 insurance with a DUI | Annual cost of SR-22 with DUI from the cheapest company |
|---|---|---|
|
Safeway
|
$2,533
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,462
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$2,330
|
|
|
$1,954
|
||
|
Wawanesa
|
$2,799
|
|
|
Colorado Farm Bureau
|
$1,983
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$2,892
|
|
|
$3,649
|
||
|
Security National
|
$3,557
|
|
|
$2,744
|
||
|
State Farm
|
$2,072
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$1,262
|
|
|
Mercury
|
$1,725
|
|
|
Indiana Farmers Mutual
|
$1,392
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$1,549
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,047
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$3,013
|
|
|
Southern Farm Bureau
|
$3,150
|
|
|
Concord Group
|
$1,489
|
|
|
$1,885
|
||
|
Geico
|
$1,711
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$2,115
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,037
|
|
|
Allstate
|
$2,952
|
|
|
Missouri Farm Bureau
|
$1,930
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$1,585
|
|
|
Nationwide
|
$2,264
|
|
|
Capital Insurance
|
$2,334
|
|
|
Nationwide
|
$2,144
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$2,727
|
|
|
Nationwide
|
$2,364
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$1,582
|
|
|
Nationwide
|
$3,820
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,009
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$1,694
|
|
|
Mercury
|
$2,420
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,185
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,928
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$1,310
|
|
|
Southern Farm Bureau
|
$2,603
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,314
|
|
|
State Farm
|
$2,024
|
|
|
Geico
|
$2,390
|
|
|
Progressive
|
$2,204
|
|
|
Nationwide
|
$1,526
|
|
|
Virginia Farm Bureau
|
$1,564
|
|
|
PEMCO
|
$1,520
|
|
|
Nationwide
|
$2,548
|
|
|
Integrity Mutual
|
$1,030
|
|
|
American National
|
$1,493
|
In some instances USAA was the cheapest, but we have listed the next-cheapest company because USAA auto insurance is only available to veterans, military members and their families.
You can live in a state without an SR-22 requirement but still need to file an SR-22 in a different state. This may happen if:
- You move to a state without an SR-22 requirement but you have an SR-22 still required in your previous state.
- You are convicted of an infraction, such as a DUI, in a state with an SR-22 requirement but live in a state without one.
In these cases, you must find SR-22 insurance with an auto insurer that operates in both states. This way the insurer can sell you a policy in your current state and file the SR-22 in the other state. It may be easier for nationwide insurance companies, such as Progressive, State Farm and USAA, to help you in this situation.
Tips for Finding Cheap SR-22 Insurance
1. Shop Around
The problem that caused you to need an SR-22, such as a DUI conviction, is the primary reason your car insurance will be more expensive. The best way to combat higher prices is to compare car insurance quotes with multiple insurers. We recommend getting quotes from at least three insurance companies. That gives you more chances to find an insurer with cheap SR-22 insurance rates.
2. Seek Out Discounts
The final cost is important, so look for auto insurers’ car insurance discounts. You may find ones for paying in full upfront, going paperless or getting a quote in advance of starting the new policy.
3. Consider Limiting Your Coverage
Higher liability limits are generally smart so that you’re less likely to exhaust your insurance if you cause an expensive accident. But if you need cheap SR-22 insurance you could consider limiting your coverage to the state minimum required for your SR-22.
If you lease a car, this may not be possible as leasing companies typically mandate you keep higher limits on your auto policy.
4. Buy a Non-Owner Policy
If you don’t own a vehicle but need SR-22 insurance, seek out a non-owner policy. Non-owner car insurance includes liability insurance, which pays out if you damage or injure others in an at-fault auto accident. SR-22 filings require you to carry liability car insurance, so a non-owner policy fulfills that mandate when you don’t own a car.
Because you don’t have a specific vehicle insured under a non-owner policy, it can be cheaper than a standard car insurance policy. A non-owner policy will extend liability coverage when you borrow or rent a car. However, if you buy a car while carrying a non-owner policy, you’ll need to upgrade it to a standard policy.
How To Get an SR-22
Make certain to take the proper steps to ensure you get the required SR-22 by the deadline given to you by the state or court. If you miss the deadline, you can face penalties, such as a license suspension.
Find a Car Insurance Company Offering SR-22 Insurance
See if your current auto insurer offers SR-22 insurance. If so, inform it of your situation. If the insurer doesn’t provide SR-22 filing services, quickly shop around and switch car insurance companies to one that does.
If you must look for a new company, make sure you’re upfront that you need an SR-22. Switching to a company that won’t file the SR-22 is no help. When filling out online quote forms, look for a section that asks if you need an SR-22 filed. If the form doesn’t include this question, speak with an agent or keep shopping around with other insurers.
Pay the SR-22 Filing Fee
An SR-22 filing fee is typically $25. Most car insurance companies will pass this fee onto you, but some insurers, such as Dairyland, don’t charge you the filing fee.
Your Car Insurance Company Files the SR-22
Generally your car insurance company files the SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility electronically with the DMV or other entity requiring it. The form has to be mailed in some states, but your car insurance company is still responsible for sending it in.
Get Confirmation
Confirm with your car insurance company that it sent in your SR-22 filing and follow up with the entity that required the SR-22 to ensure it was received. Electronic filings are typically received quickly but mailed filings may take up to 30 days to process.
For instance, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office notes that it can take up to 30 days to process an SR-22. Once that is done, you should receive a copy of the SR-22 from your car insurance company and a letter from the secretary of state’s office confirming receipt of your SR-22.
Proof of Car Insurance Besides the SR-22
Depending on your state, you may encounter forms similar to an SR-22.
SR-21 Insurance
An SR-21 is a form used in some states after an accident as a one-time verification that you had car insurance at the time of the incident. States such as Hawaii, New Jersey and Wyoming use the SR-21 form and, like the SR-22, your car insurance company needs to fill out the insurance information.
Similarly, an SR-1 in California used to report auto accidents that result in property damage over $1,000, injuries or death and to verify you have car insurance.
Arkansas combines the two numbers for its SR-1-21 form. It’s both an SR-1 auto accident report and SR-21 verification of car insurance (to be filled out by your auto insurer).
SR-22A Insurance
The SR-22A is a form used to verify car insurance in Georgia, Missouri and Texas. An SR-22A certifies that you have prepaid in full for six months of coverage.
The reasons for requiring an SR-22A vary by state. The main reasons are being in an auto accident without having car insurance or having multiple driving convictions without insurance.
FR-44 Insurance
The FR-44 is similar to the SR-22 but requires much higher car insurance limits. SR-22s require you to carry state-minimum car insurance. Two states, Florida and Virginia, require the FR-44, typically after a DUI conviction.
Those required to have an FR-44 in Florida must buy liability car insurance limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $50,000 for property damage (known as 100/300/50 coverage). In Virginia, drivers must carry double the state minimum limits.
SR-50 Insurance
SR-50 is a form used in Indiana to show proof of current car insurance coverage. The SR-50 form is similar to the SR-22 but it just shows your existing policy’s start and end dates. According to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, this form is used to reinstate your driver’s license after a suspension for being uninsured but it stopped being used in 2013.
Methodology
To find the cheapest SR-22 car insurance, we analyzed car insurance rates based on a 30-year-old driver with a DUI conviction and an SR-22 who is insuring a new Toyota RAV4.
Rates include $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 in property damage liability (known as 100/300/100), uninsured motorist coverage and any other coverage required in the state. The rate also includes collision and comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible.
Cheap SR-22 Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is SR-22 insurance?
The SR-22 is not actually a type of car insurance but a form an insurance company must file with the state on your behalf to verify you have an auto policy in place. The form is also called a certificate of financial responsibility.
Many people refer to the car insurance you carry to fulfill the requirements (and the form associated with it) as SR-22 insurance. So when shopping for SR-22 insurance, you’re seeking out car insurance companies that will sell you a policy and file the SR-22 form on your behalf.
How long do you need to carry an SR-22?
How long you need to carry an SR-22 varies by state, but three years is a common time requirement. It may also depend upon the offense and could be extended if you drop coverage at any point or commit another serious offense, such as getting a second DUI.
For example, in Idaho you must have an SR-22 for one year after a first offense for driving without insurance, but need it for three years for each subsequent offense.
How do I find out when my SR-22 expires?
Your paperwork from the state or court should tell how long you have to keep the SR-22, but if you can’t find it, contact the entity mandating it to find out the exact length of time. Don’t cancel your car insurance or ask your car insurance company to remove the SR-22 insurance until you’re positive your time is up. Otherwise, you could face penalties, such as license suspension.
What states don’t require an SR-22?
Not all states mandate an SR-22 after a DUI or other serious traffic offense. The following 12 states do not use the SR-22 form:
- Delaware
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- West Virginia
