SR-22 Insurance in California: Cost, Requirements, and Cheapest Companies
Car insurance with an SR-22 requirement costs an average of $166 per month in California.
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Mark FriedlanderSenior Director, Media Relations, Insurance Information Institute
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Updated
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Quick Facts
An SR-22 certificate proves you meet California’s minimum car insurance requirements.
SR-22 insurance costs an average of $109 per month for liability coverage and $225 for full coverage.
You may need an SR-22 in California if you have a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) or reckless driving, or if a police officer catches you driving without insurance.
SR-22 requirements in California
An SR-22 certificate proves that you have the legally required minimum insurance coverage in California.[1] Your insurer may need to file an SR-22 with the state of California on your behalf if you have a DUI conviction, a police officer catches you driving without a license, or you have too many moving violations on your driving record.
California requires drivers to have $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident of personal injury liability coverage, and $15,000 of property damage liability coverage. If you don’t meet the state’s minimum requirements, the state DMV can revoke your vehicle registration.
Your insurer files an SR-22 with the state on your behalf. You usually have to pay a $25–$50 filing fee. The table below shows what you need to know about SR-22s in California.
SR-22 Insurance  | California Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability limit | Bodily injury liability of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident Property damage liability of $15,000 |
| Filing fee | $25–$50 |
| Time required | 3–5 years |
How much is SR-22 insurance in California?
An SR-22 requirement usually increases your car insurance rates because it shows you’re a risky driver. In California, liability-only car insurance with an SR-22 requirement averages $109 per month, compared to $96 for drivers with a clean record.
Full coverage averages $225 per month, but drivers with a clean record pay only $199.
The exact effect of an SR-22 on your insurance premiums varies by driver, the severity of the violation, your driving record, and your insurance company. The table below breaks down average car insurance rates for different drivers in California.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Cost: Liability Only | Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $96 | $199 |
| With SR-22 | $109 | $225 |
Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time California quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.
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Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in California
USAA is the cheapest company for SR-22 insurance in California. The company’s liability rates average $74 per month. Aspire General and GEICO also offer affordable SR-22 coverage.
The table below shows average SR-22 insurance quotes in California, according to Insurify data.
The below rates in California are estimated rates current as of: Sunday, June 7 at 5:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $74 | $163 |
| Aspire General | $78 | $137 |
| GEICO | $80 | $162 |
| Sun Coast | $81 | $188 |
| Mercury | $83 | $158 |
| National General | $83 | $219 |
| Dairyland | $90 | $212 |
| Root | $98 | $153 |
| Allstate | $101 | $224 |
| Direct Auto | $101 | $248 |
| Farmers | $104 | $231 |
| Anchor | $107 | $204 |
| State Farm | $113 | $250 |
| Bristol West | $114 | $241 |
| Kemper Special | $117 | $181 |
| Travelers | $119 | $262 |
| Kemper Rsvp | $128 | $184 |
| 21st Century | $129 | $286 |
| Nationwide | $159 | $352 |
| Chubb | $201 | $445 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time California car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in California may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
When do you need SR-22 insurance in California?
California often requires drivers with serious offenses, like DUI convictions or driving uninsured, to file an SR-22 certificate. You may also need an SR-22 after repeated traffic violations or at-fault accidents.
The state could suspend your license for four years if the police catch you driving without a driver’s license. But an SR-22 can shorten your license suspension to one year, provided you maintain the certificate for the remaining period.[2]
How to get SR-22 insurance in California
Getting SR-22 insurance in California isn’t too difficult. But it requires a few extra steps compared to a traditional insurance policy.
Follow the steps below to get an SR-22 in California:
Find an insurance company. Not all car insurers in California offer SR-22 filings, so you’ll need to shop around to find one that does.
Purchase your auto insurance policy. Once you choose an insurer, purchase the minimum amount of liability coverage that the state of California requires.
Request your SR-22 from your insurer. Your insurer files the SR-22 with the state on your behalf. Once you have a policy, ask your insurer to file the SR-22 with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Pay the filing fee. You’ll need to pay a fee to file your SR-22. The fee typically ranges from $25 to $50.
Maintain insurance for the required period. Stay up to date on your car insurance payments and maintain the state-required minimum liability coverage for your entire SR-22 period. You typically need an SR-22 for three to five years.
Remember that the state DMV can revoke your registration for driving your vehicle without insurance. Always make sure you have adequate coverage before getting behind the wheel.
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How long does California require SR-22 insurance?
California drivers usually need to maintain SR-22 car insurance coverage for at least three years. But in more severe cases, you may need an SR-22 for up to five years. For instance, one DUI conviction typically requires you to maintain an SR-22 for three years. But it could jump to five years if you have multiple DUI convictions.
Not all car insurance companies in California offer SR-22 filings, so you may need to switch insurers if your current company doesn’t offer them.
California SR-22 insurance FAQs
SR-22 insurance can be complicated. To help, we answered some common questions about SR-22 insurance in California.
How much does SR-22 insurance cost in California?
California drivers pay an average of $109 per month for liability-only insurance with an SR-22 certificate. Full-coverage car insurance with an SR-22 averages $225 per month. How much you pay for car insurance depends on various factors, like your ZIP code, age, and the car you drive.
How long do you need SR-22 insurance in California?
It depends on the severity of the violation. California drivers typically need to maintain an SR-22 certificate with their insurance policy for three to five years.
How do you get SR-22 insurance in California?
To get SR-22 insurance in California, you first need to buy a minimum liability policy with an insurance company that offers SR-22 filings. Then request that your insurer file an SR-22 with the California DMV on your behalf.
Can you get SR-22 insurance in California without owning a car?
Yes. You can get SR-22 insurance in California without owning a car. A non-owner car insurance policy covers you if you don’t own a vehicle or regularly drive someone else’s. Not all companies offer non-owner coverage and SR-22 filings, so make sure an insurer offers both before buying a policy.
Sources
- California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements."
- California Department of Motor Vehicles. "Driving Test Sites."
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 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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Aly J. YaleHome and Auto Insurance Writer, Real Estate Expert
National Association of Real Estate Editors member
Bylines include Forbes, Bankrate, and CBS News
Featured in
John LeachLicensed P&C Agent, Chief Copy Editor
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Mark FriedlanderSenior Director, Media Relations, Insurance Information Institute
Media relations director for Insurance Information Institute
20+ years in insurance and communications
Impartial, independent expert