California SR-22 Insurance: Requirements, Cost, Filing, Duration, Non-Owner Policies, DUI

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance, but serves as proof of financial responsibility. An SR-22 is also known as a California Proof of Insurance Certificate.

A California SR-22 proves that you carry at least the mandatory minimum amount of insurance to the state. As of January 1, 2025, the required liability coverage is at least $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage.

The SR-22 form is filed through your insurance company and sent electronically to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It is a necessary proof of financial responsibility certificate if you want to reinstate your driving privileges.

An SR-22 can be filed in three ways: through a motorcycle policy, an auto insurance policy, or non-owners car insurance policy.

Who Needs SR-22 Insurance in California?

Only high-risk drivers need to file an SR-22 in California. SR22 insurance must be obtained in most cases to reinstate your license following a DMV license suspension or revocation.

You will be notified by the state of California when you have an SR-22 filing requirement. An SR-22 is typically required in California after committing one or more of the following serious driving offenses:

• Driving under the influence (DUI)

• Three or more minor driving violations

• Driving without insurance

• Having multiple traffic violations or at-fault accidents (too many points on your driving record)

• Reckless driving conviction

How do you get Car Insurance with an SR-22 in California?

To get SR-22 auto insurance, you must have your insurance agent file the SR-22 certificate after you have been convicted of a serious traffic offense.

Not all insurance companies provide coverage to individuals with an SR-22 filing on their driving record. You will be classified as a high risk driver and become ineligible for coverage with certain insurers.

If your current insurance provider decides not to renew your policy, you can still find companies specializing in high-risk auto insurance. These providers will file the SR-22 on your behalf, ensuring compliance with California SR-22 requirements.

Typically, these insurers require the full premium to be paid upfront. Failure to maintain payments may result in the policy being canceled.

Insurers are legally obligated to report any lapse in coverage to the state which can result in a suspended license.

What are the SR-22 Insurance California Requirements?

An SR-22 works to prove to the state of California that you meet the minimum amount of car insurance coverage required for all drivers.

When purchasing car insurance, you can (and should) increase your coverage limits, but the SR-22 insurance certificate is meant to prove you at least meet the mandatory minimum amount of insurance.

California law requires all drivers to carry the following minimum liability limits:

• $30,000 for bodily injury or death per person

• $60,000 for bodily injury or death per accident

• $15,000 for property damage liability

These limits took effect on January 1, 2025, under Senate Bill 1107, the Protect California Drivers Act. Senate Bill 1107 raised California's minimum limits for the first time since 1967. The law schedules a second increase on January 1, 2035. The 2035 limits will be $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

Your insurance company also offers you uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage. However, you can decline purchasing these insurance coverages if you do so in writing.

At the very least, you need to meet the states liability insurance requirements. Everything else is optional, but it is highly recommended that you purchase full coverage for yourself and your vehicle.

Auto liability insurance only covers the other party in a collision. It’s also important to increase your coverage limits as anything not paid for by your insurance carrier will have to come out of your pocket.

How Long Will I Need SR-22 Insurance in California?

The amount of time you will need to maintain your SR-22 insurance in California varies based on the traffic violation you were convicted of.

Most violations require an SR-22 for three years. Three years is the standard period the California DMV uses for proof of financial responsibility. The three-year period starts on the date of driving privilege reinstatement, not on the conviction date. Repeat offenses and more severe offenses can extend the SR-22 requirement to five years.

A court will outline the specifics of your requirement. It should also be noted that when your license is revoked or suspended for a period of time, the SR-22 requirement begins after that.

An SR-22 can help you in obtaining a restricted license or hardship license after your DUI conviction.

Your SR-22 is valid as long as your car insurance is active, and if your insurance lapses, you could lose your driving privileges. You need to maintain continuous coverage and not let your policy lapse during your SR-22 requirement period.

If you do so, your insurance carrier will have to notify the California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).

If you do not maintain continuous coverage for the SR-22, the California DMV will show a lapse in auto insurance coverage, which could result in a new driver’s license suspension or suspension of your vehicle registration.

How Much Does a SR-22 Insurance Cost in California?

Auto insurance with an SR-22 in California averages roughly $2,400 per year as of 2026, according to Compare.com. Some industry analyses place the average closer to $3,500, depending on the violation and the coverage level. The type of conviction drives the rate.

A DUI raises insurance rates more than any other conviction. A 176% increase means drivers often pay nearly triple the pre-conviction premium. Drivers labeled as high-risk due to needing an SR-22 often lose their good driver discount.

An SR-22 carries a filing fee of around $25. Some insurers charge the filing fee once. Other insurers charge the filing fee each policy term while the SR-22 remains on file. Separate DMV fees and fines also apply.

State laws can influence your car insurance premiums as well. California insurance companies generally cannot raise rates or cancel an auto insurance policy mid-term. The main exceptions are nonpayment of premium and fraud or material misrepresentation on the application.

However, once your policy has expired, it’s up to them to decide whether they will allow renewal of the policy.

This also happens when you see your car insurance premiums increase after a traffic violation, assuming your insurance carrier chooses to renew your policy.

If your insurance provider cancels your policy, you will need to get new insurance immediately. A lapse in coverage is never ideal, especially if you already have a major traffic violation on your record. Auto insurance companies may be less willing to offer you car insurance, given your questionable history.

California law makes drivers ineligible for the Good Driver Discount for 10 years after a DUI conviction. The Good Driver Discount guarantees a rate at least 20% below the rate for comparable non-qualifying drivers.

However, there are other car insurance discounts you can still get if you have a DUI, like multi-policy or bundling discounts.

Reaching out to your insurance agent for help to get car insurance and save money can be incredibly useful if you no longer have a clean driving record.

Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance in California

Drivers must file an SR-22 to reinstate a license after a suspension or revocation. The filing requirement applies whether or not the driver owns a car.

You can purchase non-owner SR-22 insurance if you need an SR-22 but don’t have a car. Anyone with a valid license in California who drives a car has to carry auto insurance coverage.

A non-owner SR-22 insurance policy can provide you with the required state minimum liability coverage.

Non-owner insurance will ensure you are protected should you end up in another traffic incident. It is also a cheaper kind of auto insurance when you compare it to traditional car insurance.

Don’t consider this type of insurance just because it is the cheapest type of SR22. You can only get a non-owner policy if you do not own a vehicle, nor do you have regular access to one.

Non-owner SR-22 insurance provides liability coverage when you drive a vehicle that you don’t own. You will be covered with non-owner SR-22 insurance in the event of an accident while driving another’s vehicle.

If you do not regularly drive, a non-owner SR-22 allows you to maintain your license. Purchasing non-owners insurance will count as coverage to successfully fulfill your SR-22 requirement in California.

A non-owner SR-22 policy is typically less expensive than standard auto insurance since it only provides liability coverage.

DUI Convictions in California

A DUI conviction is one of the most serious traffic offenses. Even if it is your first offense, you will have increased car insurance rates along with fulfilling an SR-22 insurance requirement to reinstate your license after a DUI.

California drivers pay an average of 176% more for full coverage after a DUI conviction, according to MoneyGeek. The average premium rises to roughly $389 per month after a DUI. A driver with a clean record pays roughly $141 per month. Finding car insurance is not the only area you have to worry about following a DUI conviction.

There are some serious legal penalties you are sure to be hit with. A DUI conviction in California carries costs beyond court fines and DUI School. The California DMV charges a $125 driver's license reissue fee before license reinstatement. The driver must also file proof of financial responsibility, known as an SR-22. The DMV charges additional restriction fees for certain restricted licenses.

Read more about SR-22 from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)