SR-22 Insurance Cost by State: The Filing Fee, the Premium Increase and the State Fees
Part of our guide to car insurance by driver profile.
The SR-22 form itself is cheap. ValuePenguin says insurers may charge a flat fee of $15 to $50 to file it. What makes "SR-22 insurance" expensive is everything around the form: the higher premium your violation brings, the state's reinstatement fee, and the number of years the state makes you keep the filing.
Key takeaways
- Think of SR-22 cost as four parts: the insurer's filing fee, the premium increase from the underlying violation, state reinstatement fees, and the length of the filing term.
- The premium increase is the big number. In ValuePenguin's Texas estimate, minimum coverage for its sample driver goes from $51 a month with a clean record to $88 a month after a DUI that requires an SR-22.
- Among the states in the table below, reinstatement fees start at $20 for most Missouri suspensions. Nevada's insurance-lapse fees and fines can reach $1,750.
- Not every state calls the filing an SR-22. Minnesota uses its own Insurance Certification to reinstate a revoked license, and North Carolina asks for proof of liability insurance at restoration. Florida and Virginia use an FR-44 after DUI, with higher limits.
What are you actually paying for with an SR-22?
An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state saying you carry at least the required liability coverage. Illinois describes it as a filing that "monitors the insurance of problem drivers and authorizes the Secretary of State's office to suspend upon cancellation or expiration." It is not a separate policy, so there is no single "SR-22 price."
Your real cost has four parts:
- The filing fee. A charge from your insurer to file the form. ValuePenguin says insurers may charge $15 to $50.
- The premium increase. Insurers price the violation that triggered the SR-22, such as a DUI, driving uninsured or a serious crash. ValuePenguin says the higher Texas rate it measured "is primarily due to the DUI, or whatever ticket caused you to need an SR-22 filing."
- State fees. Reinstatement fees and, in some states, separate fines. These are published by the DMV, and the table below lists them for several states.
- Time. You pay the higher premium for every month the state requires the filing. That ranges from one to five years in the table and notes below.
How much does an SR-22 raise your premium?
It depends on the violation, your insurer and your state, so treat any single number as an estimate for one profile. Here is one published estimate.
ValuePenguin's Texas analysis uses quotes for a 30-year-old single man with good credit who drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX, with the state minimum coverage. It reports an average of $51 a month with a clean record and $88 a month after a DUI that requires an SR-22, which it describes as 72% higher.
| ValuePenguin Texas estimate (minimum coverage, sample driver) | Monthly | Over Texas's 2-year SR-22 term |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $51 | $1,224 |
| After a DUI requiring an SR-22 | $88 | $2,112 |
| Difference | $37 | $888 |
The two-year column is our arithmetic on ValuePenguin's monthly figures, assuming the monthly rate held for all 24 months, using the two-year term Texas DPS publishes. Texas DPS's enforcement chart (DL-176) lists DWI among the convictions that require an SR-22 for two years from the date of conviction. DPS says reinstating takes a valid SR-22 and the $100 reinstatement fee, plus any other fees owed. Add the insurer's filing fee, and the paperwork is a small share of the total. Your own quote can be far above or below this; the sample driver is not you.
A DUI can outlast the filing on your record: in Texas, the DPS enforcement chart (DL-176) says a DWI conviction "remains on the driver record indefinitely." We cover those clocks in how long a DUI affects car insurance.
What does each state charge, and for how long?
These rows come from each state's official DMV page as of October 19, 2026. States not listed may differ, and many publish different terms for different offenses. For a longer state-by-state list of filing terms and when each one starts, see how long you need an SR-22.
| State | Filing the state names | How long (per the state page) | State fee published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | SR 22 | 3 years after a DUI; 3 years during a suspension that follows a collision without insurance | DUI restricted license: $55 reissue fee and $15 restriction fee | California DMV |
| Florida | SR-22; FR-44 after a DUI conviction after October 1, 2007 | FR-44: 3 years from reinstatement | Up to $500 reinstatement fee for failing to keep required insurance | FLHSMV |
| Illinois | SR-22 | 3 years | $70 per safety responsibility (uninsured accident) or unsatisfied judgment suspension; $500 per revocation | Illinois Secretary of State |
| Missouri | SR-22 | 2 years for most suspensions; 3 years after a no-insurance suspension | $20 most suspensions; $45 alcohol-related; $200 and $400 for 2nd and 3rd mandatory insurance offenses | Missouri Dept. of Revenue |
| Nevada | SR-22 | 3 years if insurance lapsed 91 days or more, or any lapse on a 3rd offense within five years | $250 registration reinstatement fee on a first lapse, plus fines on longer lapses; $75 license reinstatement fee | Nevada DMV |
| Ohio | SR-22 or bond | 1 year for non-compliance offenses added on or after April 9, 2025 | Reinstatement fee required; amount not on that page | Ohio BMV |
| Texas | SR-22 | 2 years from the conviction or judgment | $100 reinstatement fee, plus any other fees owed | Texas DPS, DL-176 |
| Utah | SR22 | Typically 3 years from conviction, varies by reason | Not on that page | Utah Driver License Division |
| Virginia | SR-22; FR-44 after DUI | Not on the cited pages | $145 for insurance-related suspensions; $220 for a financial responsibility requirement or DUI | Virginia DMV |
| Wisconsin | SR22 | 3 years from the date you are eligible to reinstate | $60 reinstatement; $200 for OWI-related suspensions or revocations | Wisconsin DOT |
| Minnesota | Insurance Certification (PS35016) to reinstate a revoked license | Insurance kept for one calendar year | Not on that form | Minnesota DPS |
| North Carolina | Proof of liability insurance (DL-123 accepted) | Not on the cited pages | $83.50 restoration fee ($167.25 after a DWI) plus a $50 service fee (exceptions apply) | NCDMV |
A few notes on the rows:
- Nevada stacks fees and fines by the length of the lapse. On a first offense, a lapse of 181 days or more totals $1,250, and the DMV says fees and fines can reach $1,750 for repeat offenses.
- Wisconsin does not require an SR22 after a revocation if the only reason is a first-offense OWI or non-compliance with a driver safety plan, according to its DMV.
- Ohio keeps the old three-year requirement for a first non-compliance offense added to your record before April 9, 2025, and five years for a second or later offense added within five years before that date.
- Virginia sets FR-44 limits at double its SR-22 limits. Florida's FR-44 requires $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage liability. Both are compared in SR-22 vs FR-44.
Do all states use the SR-22 form?
The name and the paperwork vary. Two examples from the states in the table:
- Minnesota. Reinstating a revoked license uses the state's own "Insurance Certification" (form PS35016), which "is required before an operator's revoked license can be reinstated" and is completed by the insurance company. The form says insurance "must be maintained for one calendar year."
- North Carolina. The NCDMV handbook says proof of liability insurance applies to drivers "whose licenses are being restored after revocation or suspension." NCDMV accepts a "DL-123 insurance form (provided by a North Carolina insurance company)" among several proofs, including a policy, an insurance card or a binder.
Whatever the form is called, the cost logic is the same: a filing fee, a premium shaped by your record, and state fees.
Does the filing fee come back if you switch insurers?
Expect to pay it again. A new insurer has to file a new certificate, and Colorado's DMV says that if you change insurance companies, "you must get a new SR-22 filed before the old one expires." ValuePenguin describes the filing fee as a flat fee an insurer may charge to file the form on your behalf, so a new insurer's filing can mean a new fee. The bigger risk in switching is a gap, which can trigger a new suspension and, in Nevada, may restart the three-year requirement. See what happens if your SR-22 lapses.
How do you keep the total down?
The filing fee is small. The premium is where the money is, and you control two things: which insurers you ask, and how you set up coverage.
- Compare quotes with the filing named. Insurers price DUIs and lapses very differently. Ask each one whether it files SR-22s in your state and whether the quote already includes the filing.
- No car? Ask for an operator's certificate. Illinois issues an "Operator's Certificate" that "covers the motorist in the operation of any non-owned vehicle." Texas DPS tells drivers without a vehicle to ask about a non-owner SR-22 policy. Our guide to an SR-22 without a car explains how these work.
- Never let it lapse. A cancellation notice goes to the state. Illinois says the driving record "will be suspended" on receipt and tells drivers to renew at least 45 days in advance. A new suspension means new reinstatement fees and, in some states, a longer term.
You can see which insurers will file in your state on our SR-22 insurance page.
FinanceRazor may be paid when you request quotes through this link. This does not change what we report.
Rules and fees change, so confirm the amount and term on your own notice with your state DMV before you budget around them.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an SR-22 filing fee?
ValuePenguin says insurers may charge a flat fee between $15 and $50 to file the form. The state's reinstatement fee is separate and set by the DMV.
Why is SR-22 insurance so expensive if the form is cheap?
Because the premium reflects the violation that required the filing. In ValuePenguin's Texas estimate, a DUI requiring an SR-22 took its sample driver from $51 to $88 a month for minimum coverage.
Is an FR-44 more expensive than an SR-22?
It usually carries a heavier record and higher required limits. Florida's FR-44 requires $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage liability, and Virginia's are double its SR-22 limits. Higher required limits generally mean a higher premium.
Do I pay the state a fee for the SR-22 itself?
On the state pages cited here, the fees are reinstatement fees tied to your suspension, not a charge for the form. Texas, for example, requires a valid SR-22 and the $100 reinstatement fee to reinstate, plus any other fees owed.
Does the cost end when the SR-22 term ends?
The filing requirement ends, but the violation can keep affecting your premium after that, depending on your insurer and how long the violation stays on your record.
Sources
All accessed October 19, 2026.
- ValuePenguin, "SR-22 Insurance in Texas: What is It? How Much Does it Cost?," https://www.valuepenguin.com/car-insurance/sr22-texas
- Texas Department of Public Safety, "Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22)," https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/financial-responsibility-insurance-certificate-sr-22
- Texas Department of Public Safety, "Driver License Enforcement Actions (DL-176)," https://www.dps.texas.gov/internetforms/Forms/DL-176.pdf
- California DMV, "DUI First Offenders, Alcohol Involved, Non-Injury, 21 and Older," https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/uploads/2020/06/1st_Offender_Alcohol_Non-Injury.pdf
- California DMV, "Section 10: Financial Responsibility, Insurance Requirements, and Collisions," https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/financial-responsibility-insurance-requirements-and-collisions/
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, "Florida Insurance Requirements," https://www.flhsmv.gov/insurance/
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, "DUI Frequently Asked Questions," https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/dui-and-iid/dui-faqs/
- Illinois Secretary of State, "Financial Responsibility (SR-22) Insurance," https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers-license/sr-22-uninsured-crashes/finressr22.html
- Illinois Secretary of State, "Driver's License Reinstatement Fees," https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers-license/dlreinstatement.html
- Missouri Department of Revenue, "Reinstatement Requirements," https://dor.mo.gov/driver-license/revocation-reinstatement/reinstatement-requirements.html
- Nevada DMV, "Nevada Liability Insurance Requirements," https://dmv.nv.gov/insurance.htm
- Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, "Non-Compliance Suspension," https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/susp-ins-noncomply.aspx
- Utah Driver License Division, "SR22 Insurance," https://dld.utah.gov/sr22-insurance/
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, "Financial Responsibility Certifications," https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/businesses/insurance/certifications
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, "Reinstatement Fees," https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/licenses-ids/license/reinstate/reinstate-fee
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Proof of insurance (financial responsibility)," https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/susp-or-rvkd/proof-of-insurance.aspx
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "DMV fees," https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/title-plates/dmv-fees.aspx
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services, "Insurance Certification (PS35016)," https://assets.dps.mn.gov/files/dvs/DL_InsuranceCertification.pdf
- North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, "Proving Liability Insurance," https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/help/Pages/proving-insurance.aspx
- North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, "DMV Driver Handbook," https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/new-drivers/Documents/nc-driver-handbook.pdf
- Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, "SR-22 and Insurance Information," https://dmv.colorado.gov/sr-22-and-insurance-information
Fees and filing terms are set by each state and change. State figures above are from the official pages cited; premium figures are ValuePenguin's estimate for its sample driver. This is general information, not legal advice.