Updated
An SR-22 certificate proves you meet Colorado’s minimum insurance requirements.
Colorado SR-22 insurance averages $114 per month for liability coverage and $256 per month for full coverage.
You may need SR-22 insurance in Colorado if your insurance lapses, you accumulate multiple points on your license, or you receive a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction.
SR-22 requirements in Colorado
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that proves you have the state-required liability insurance coverage. In Colorado, the minimum liability insurance requirements are:[1]
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
$15,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage
The state may require you to file an SR-22 with the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you reinstate your license after a suspension. If your coverage lapses, your insurance company will notify the DMV, which may then re-suspend your license.[2]
To reinstate your license after a suspension, you must file an Application for Reinstatement form with the Colorado Department of Revenue and pay a $95 fee. If your suspension resulted from a DUI, the fee is $120.
The table below shows Colorado’s SR-22 insurance requirements.
SR-22 Insurance | Colorado Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability limit |
|
| Filing fee | $95 ($120 for DUI) |
| Duration requirement | Nine months to three years |
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Liability policies average $114/mo. for drivers with an SR-22
How much is SR-22 insurance in Colorado?
The average cost of liability-only car insurance with an SR-22 in Colorado is $114 per month, while full coverage with an SR-22 costs $256 per month, according to Insurify data.
In comparison, Colorado drivers with a clean record pay $97 per month for liability coverage and $218 per month for full coverage.
An SR-22 requirement increases insurance premiums for Colorado drivers by around 16% for liability-only coverage and around 17% for full coverage. That’s because insurance companies consider drivers with an SR-22 requirement high risk and therefore more expensive to insure.
Your exact premium increase depends on your insurer, the severity of your violation, and your past driving history. For example, your insurance may increase more on your second or third violation than on your first.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Cost: Liability Only | Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $97 | $218 |
| With SR-22 | $114 | $256 |
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Colorado
State Farm offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance for Colorado drivers, at $65 per month for liability coverage.
The table below shows the average monthly costs for minimum liability coverage and full coverage for Colorado drivers with an SR-22.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $65 | $146 |
| Sun Coast | $72 | $251 |
| Progressive | $76 | $162 |
| The General | $76 | $235 |
| Root | $82 | $181 |
| USAA | $82 | $188 |
| Mile Auto | $86 | $216 |
| American Family | $89 | $201 |
| GEICO | $90 | $207 |
| Bristol West | $99 | $220 |
| Auto-Owners | $115 | $261 |
| Trexis | $117 | $315 |
| Mendota | $120 | $299 |
| Safeco | $124 | $224 |
| National General | $128 | $288 |
| Dairyland | $130 | $298 |
| Allstate | $136 | $278 |
| Direct Auto | $136 | $303 |
| Travelers | $162 | $366 |
| Farmers | $168 | $383 |
| Liberty Mutual | $197 | $342 |
When do you need SR-22 insurance in Colorado?
The most common reasons a driver may need SR-22 insurance in Colorado are driving without insurance, points accumulation, or a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction.
The state may suspend your license if you fail to maintain continuous coverage or accumulate too many points from reckless driving or at-fault accidents.[3] Once your license suspension ends, you’ll need to get an SR-22 certificate and submit it, along with a $95 reinstatement fee.[4]
If you’re younger than 21 and receive a DUI conviction, the state will revoke your license for one year. Once the revocation period ends, you must pay a $95 reinstatement fee and a $25 DUI restoration fee. You must maintain SR-22 insurance for one to three years.
If you’re older than 21, the SR-22 requirement depends on the incident number:[5]
For a first offense with a blood alcohol content over .08, you must maintain SR-22 insurance for at least nine months, and up to three years for a higher blood alcohol content (BAC) or if you caused an accident.
For multiple offenses, you must maintain SR-22 insurance for three years and install an ignition interlock device for at least two years.
If you refuse a chemical breath or blood test, you must maintain SR-22 insurance for one to three years.
How to get SR-22 insurance in Colorado
Getting SR-22 insurance after an incident in Colorado is relatively simple, but it involves more steps than getting standard car insurance. Follow these steps to get SR-22 insurance in Colorado:
Find an insurance company. Insurers may consider you a high-risk driver if you need an SR-22. Not all insurance companies offer SR-22 filings, so you may need to shop around to find one that does.
Request quotes. Once you know which insurance companies offer SR-22 insurance, request quotes and compare the premiums and coverage. Don’t just pick the cheapest. Make sure you compare the same coverage with each insurer.
Check that the policy meets the state-minimum requirements. Colorado requires 25/50/15 liability insurance. You can increase your limits to boost your coverage, but you can’t buy less than the mandatory limit.
Purchase the policy. Once you’ve found the best insurance company for your coverage needs and budget, buy the policy. Depending on the insurer, you may be able to buy coverage online, or you might need to go through an insurance agent.
File the SR-22. Your insurance company will provide an SR-22 form when you buy your policy. You must then file the form with the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles. You can do it online on the DMV's website or print it and mail it along with the Application for Reinstatement.
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How long does Colorado require SR-22 insurance?
The length of time a driver must maintain SR-22 insurance in Colorado depends on the type and severity of the infraction:
Six to 12 months if you’re younger than 21 with a BAC between .02 and .05 (second and third offenses only)
One to three years if you’re younger than 21 and convicted of a DUI
Nine months if you’re age 21 or older with a BAC of .08 (first offense)
Three years if you’re age 21 or older with a higher BAC, cause an accident, or have multiple DUI convictions
One to three years if you’re age 21 or older and refuse to take a chemical breath or blood test
Colorado SR-22 insurance FAQs
Below, learn more about Colorado SR-22 insurance so you can find the right coverage for you and your budget.
How much does SR-22 insurance typically cost in Colorado?
Colorado SR-22 insurance typically costs $114 per month for liability-only coverage and $256 per month for full coverage, according to Insurify data.
What happens if you fail to maintain SR-22 insurance in Colorado?
If you fail to maintain SR-22 insurance in Colorado, the state may suspend your driver’s license.
Is SR-22 insurance required for all DUI or DWAI convictions in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado requires drivers to carry SR-22 insurance for all DUI or driving while ability impaired (DWAI) convictions. The more serious the offense, the longer you’ll need to maintain an SR-22.
Sources
- Colorado General Assembly. "Mandatory Automobile Insurance in Colorado."
- Colorado Department of Revenue. "SR-22 and Insurance Information."
- Colorado Department of Revenue. "Point Suspensions."
- Colorado Department of Revenue. "Reinstating After Points, Tickets, or Child Support."
- Colorado Department of Revenue. "Suspension and Reinstatement FAQs."
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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