Home / What Is SR-22 Insurance? How to Get It, How Long It Lasts and Every State's Rules
What Is SR-22 Insurance? How to Get It, How Long It Lasts and Every State's Rules
The short answer
An SR-22 is not a type of insurance. It is a certificate your insurance company files with your state to prove you carry at least the state's minimum liability coverage. States require it from some drivers, for example after a DUI, a conviction for driving uninsured, an uninsured crash or an unpaid crash judgment, before the license comes back. In our data for all 50 states and DC, 3 years is the most common rule (23 states and DC); 2 states require 2 years, 4 states require 1 year and others use a different rule. New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island say they do not use SR-22, and Kentucky and West Virginia have no SR-22 requirement in current law (Rhode Island still requires proof of insurance for 1 to 3 years after some suspensions).
Key facts from state sources
- 3 years is the most common rule. Texas and Iowa require 2 years. Four states require 1 year (Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ohio for suspensions from April 9, 2025), and Vermont requires 1 year in most cases. Indiana requires 180 days after an insurance suspension. See every state.
- Only Tennessee charges its own state SR-22 fee ($50). Everywhere else the state charges a reinstatement fee instead.
- New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island say they do not use SR-22, and Kentucky and West Virginia have no SR-22 requirement in current law (Rhode Island still requires proof of insurance for 1 to 3 years after some suspensions). Which states do not use SR-22.
- The lowest bodily injury minimums are Florida's SR-22 limits ($10,000 / $20,000 / $10,000); the highest overall are North Carolina's ($50,000 / $100,000 / $50,000). Pennsylvania has the lowest property damage minimum ($5,000).
What an SR-22 costs
An SR-22 has three costs. First, the state's own fees: a license reinstatement fee in nearly every state, from $10 in Arizona to several hundred dollars after a DUI in some states, plus Tennessee's $50 SR-22 fee. Second, the insurer's filing fee, which varies by company; Connecticut caps it at $10. Third, the insurance policy itself, usually priced higher because the SR-22 marks a high-risk driver. We do not publish insurance prices; every state's fees are on the SR-22 cost page.
How an SR-22 works
- The state or a court tells you an SR-22 is required, usually in your suspension notice.
- You buy a liability policy that meets your state's minimum limits and tell the insurer you need an SR-22.
- The insurer files the SR-22 with the state, usually electronically.
- You pay the state's reinstatement fee and any other fees on your notice.
- You keep the policy active for the whole period. A lapse is reported to the state.
- When the period ends, confirm the end date with the state before canceling the filing.
Same rule, other names
Some states use a different form or name for the same requirement.
- Alabama: An insurer-filed certificate of insurance with ALEA (Code of Ala. 32-7-20); state pages do not use the name SR-22.
- Arizona: Called "future financial responsibility"; a $40,000 deposit is the alternative.
- Connecticut: Only when the DMV commissioner requires it, not automatically after a DUI.
- Delaware: An insurer-filed certificate of future responsibility, mainly after unpaid judgments (21 Del. C. 2947); DMV pages do not mention SR-22.
- Florida: SR-22; after a DUI, an FR-44 with higher limits instead.
- Georgia: SR-22A after repeat no-insurance convictions; SR-22 after a DUI.
- Michigan: A certificate of insurance your insurer files with the Secretary of State (MCL 257.518).
- Minnesota: Insurance Certification form PS35016, signed by the insurer.
- North Carolina: Form DL-123, a certificate of insurance from your insurer.
- Oklahoma: Statutory proof of financial responsibility (47 O.S. ch. 7); no current state form named SR-22 found.
- Oregon: Uses SR-22; state law calls it a "future responsibility filing."
- Virginia: SR-22; after a DUI, an FR-44 with double the SR-22 limits instead.
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Compare fees, limits and duration in one table
FAQ
Is an SR-22 insurance?
No. It is a certificate your insurer files with the state to show you carry the required liability insurance. You still need a policy.
Who files the SR-22?
Your insurance company files it with the state. You cannot file it yourself, and not every insurer offers it.
Do I need a car to get an SR-22?
No. Some insurers offer non-owner SR-22 policies for drivers without a vehicle.
Does the state charge a fee for the SR-22?
In our data only Tennessee charges its own SR-22 fee ($50). Elsewhere the state charges a license reinstatement fee, and the insurer may add a small filing charge.
What happens if my SR-22 lapses?
Your insurer notifies the state, and the state can suspend your license again. Keep the policy active for the whole period and check the end date with the state before canceling.