An SR-22 certificate, also called future financial responsibility in Arizona, is proof that you have at least the minimum amount of liability coverage the state requires.
Arizona drivers with an SR-22 pay an average of $121 per month for liability-only coverage and $216 for full coverage.
You’ll need SR-22 insurance in Arizona if the state convicts you of certain drug-, alcohol-, and insurance-related offenses or you have a non-payment or default judgment.
SR-22 requirements in Arizona
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility — also called future financial responsibility — that your auto insurer files with the state on your behalf.
As the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicles Division (MVD) notes on its website, the Department of Transportation (ADOT) might require an SR-22 as proof that you meet the minimum requirements for liability insurance when you reinstate a driver’s license that the state revoked for certain serious violations.
You’ll need to maintain continuous insurance coverage in Arizona and have your insurer file SR-22 forms with the MVD for the full period the state requires. If your insurance coverage lapses, the insurer will notify the state, and the state will revoke your license.
Here’s an at-a-glance look at Arizona’s SR-22 requirements.[1] [2]
SR-22 Insurance | Arizona Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability limit |
|
| Filing fee | Varies per insurer |
| Minimum time to maintain SR-22 |
|
| Reinstatement fees after lapsed SR-22 coverage | $10 suspension fee plus fee for new SR-22 filing |
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How much is SR-22 insurance in Arizona?
Arizona drivers with an SR-22 pay an average of $121 per month for liability-only coverage and $216 for full coverage. Rates for drivers with clean records average just $91 and $163 for liability-only coverage and full coverage, respectively.
SR-22 insurance costs more because of the risky driving that led to the license suspension or revocation. Drivers who commit those offenses are more likely to file insurance claims, so insurers charge them higher premiums. How much more varies by overall driving history, insurer, and the severity of the infractions. Driving under the influence (DUI) and reckless driving, for example, might trigger higher rates than a speeding ticket.[3]
In the table below, you can see how much Arizona drivers with a clean record pay for coverage versus drivers with an SR-22.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Cost: Liability Only | Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $91 | $163 |
| With SR-22 | $121 | $216 |
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Arizona
Just Pay-Per-Mile has Arizona’s cheapest insurance for drivers with an SR-22. Its liability-only premiums average $65 per month.
Here’s a closer look at what insurers charge for SR-22 insurance in Arizona.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-Owners | $65 | $111 |
| Just Pay-Per-Mile | $65 | $131 |
| Mile Auto | $78 | $145 |
| State Farm | $80 | $138 |
| Progressive | $84 | $141 |
| Sun Coast | $85 | $151 |
| Novo Flex | $89 | $133 |
| USAA | $89 | $155 |
| Aspire General | $90 | $184 |
| Certainly | $91 | $252 |
| Novo Next | $94 | $126 |
| The General | $98 | $255 |
| Mercury | $99 | $178 |
| Novo | $102 | $167 |
| Allstate | $109 | $187 |
| GEICO | $109 | $186 |
| Just Unlimited | $109 | $231 |
| Safeco | $110 | $164 |
| Hiroad | $111 | $211 |
| Direct Auto | $114 | $224 |
| Bristol West | $115 | $223 |
| National General | $121 | $241 |
| Dairyland | $123 | $300 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $129 | $247 |
| Clearcover | $129 | $232 |
| Trexis | $129 | $276 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $130 | $284 |
| GAINSCO | $131 | $305 |
| Travelers | $138 | $239 |
| Covercube | $147 | $316 |
| Country Financial | $155 | $271 |
| American Family | $156 | $272 |
| The Hartford | $160 | $278 |
| Farmers | $162 | $280 |
| Root | $183 | $278 |
| Liberty Mutual | $184 | $248 |
When do you need SR-22 insurance in Arizona?
An SR-22 certificate is mandatory to reinstate your license after the ADOT suspends or revokes it under certain conditions, including:
Alcohol/drug violations
DUI convictions
Refusing alcohol or drug test
Driving without insurance or failure to show proof of insurance
Having a default judgment (not paying a court-ordered debt after a car accident)
Under Arizona law, if another state revokes or suspends your driver’s license and requires an SR-22 for license reinstatement, you’ll have to satisfy that state’s requirements before Arizona will grant you a license.[4]
High-risk drivers who don’t own a car can get non-owner SR-22 insurance.
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How to get SR-22 insurance in Arizona
If you need an SR-22 insurance certificate for your car, or a certificate for non-owner SR-22 insurance in Arizona, you’ll have to ask an insurance company to file it for you.
Here’s how the process works:
Shop for quotes. Shop around for insurance companies that accept high-risk drivers. Compare rates, taking into account multi-policy discounts and other possible breaks on your premiums.
Meet the minimum-coverage requirement. Verify that the policies you compare offer at least the minimum required coverage. The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions requires all drivers to carry 25/50/15.
Purchase the policy. Purchase the best policy for your situation that has the coverage you want.
File the SR-22. Ask the insurance company to file an SR-22 certificate with the Arizona MVD.
The insurance company might charge you a filing fee. Ask what the timeline is and how to verify that the state accepts the certificate.
Arizona has an additional way for drivers to establish proof of financial responsibility: You can make a $40,000 deposit with the Office of the State Treasurer. The office will provide you with a certificate of deposit, which you’ll email to the MVD.
How long does Arizona require SR-22 insurance?
How long you need SR-22 insurance depends on the reason the state suspended or revoked your license.
The SR-22 requirement lasts three years following conviction for drug- or alcohol-related violations, including DUI conviction and refusal to take a drug/alcohol test, and for insurance law violations. If you have a default judgment, you’ll have to carry an SR-22 during the trial and for two years after it ends, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Remember that Arizona’s SR-22 rules require continuous insurance coverage. An insurance lapse could force you to start the process from the beginning.
Arizona SR-22 insurance FAQs
A thorough understanding of Arizona’s SR-22 requirements will help you avoid delays in reinstating your driver’s license. Here’s what you need to know.
How much does SR-22 insurance cost in Arizona?
On average, Arizona drivers with an SR-22 pay $168 per month, according to Insurify data. Filing an SR-22 might also require a fee, but that depends on your insurer.
What is the process for filing an SR-22 in Arizona?
You’ll first purchase insurance from an Arizona-licensed auto insurance company. Make sure the company insures high-risk drivers and will file an SR-22. Then ask the insurer to file the SR-22 with the Arizona MVD.
How long is an SR-22 required in Arizona?
Arizona requires drivers to carry SR-22s for three continuous years. If you have a default judgment, you’ll have to carry an SR-22 through the trial and for two full years afterward. If you have a coverage lapse, you’ll have to start over your term.
What happens if your SR-22 insurance lapses in Arizona?
Arizona law requires continuous coverage, so if your insurance lapses while you have an SR-22 certificate, your insurance company will notify the MVD, and the MVD will revoke your license. You’ll have to restart your SR-22 term and pay a couple of fees for license suspension and a new SR-22.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Transportation. "Future Financial Responsibility (SR-22)."
- Arizona Department of Transportation. "Insurance Information and Requirements."
- Arizona Department of Transportation. "Points Assessment."
- Arizona Department of Transportation. "Revocation Application."
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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