Kentucky has legally mandated minimum liability insurance requirements, but it doesn’t require SR-22 certificates.
The average cost of car insurance in Kentucky for people with a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction is $150 per month for liability-only insurance and $241 per month for full coverage.
Drivers convicted of DUIs must complete an alcohol and/or substance abuse program as a condition for driver’s license reinstatement.[1]
SR-22 requirements in Kentucky
SR-22 insurance refers to a certificate of financial responsibility that some states require from drivers following a license suspension resulting from serious traffic violations, such as DUI/DWI convictions or multiple tickets. At-fault accidents and vehicle registration suspension can also trigger SR-22 requirements. The certificate proves that a driver has the car insurance the state requires.[2]
Kentucky doesn’t require an SR-22, but it does have minimum liability coverage requirements that all drivers need to carry:[3]
Coverage Type | Kentucky Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (one person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (more than one person) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
Driving without insurance in Kentucky carries steep penalties. In addition to revoking your registration, the state can impose a fine of $500–$1,000 and/or a 90-day jail sentence, according to the Kentucky Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Find Cheap Car Insurance in Kentucky
Monthly rates start at $73 for drivers with an incident
How much is SR-22 insurance in Kentucky?
Kentucky doesn’t have SR-22 insurance, but high-risk drivers with an incident on their record pay an average of $188 per month. Compare that to the Kentucky average of $157 per month.
You pay more after an incident in Kentucky because, statistically, reckless driving behavior results in more insurance claims. Although rates vary by insurer and other rating factors, more serious incidents have stronger effects. A speeding ticket, for example, is less damaging than an at-fault accident or driving under the influence. The number of incidents also affects your rate.
The table below shows how rates compare in Kentucky for people with clean driving records versus those with an incident on their record.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Cost: Liability Only | Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $120 | $193 |
| With an incident | $144 | $232 |
Expert’s insight
“Even though Kentucky doesn’t require high-risk drivers to file an SR-22, they still pay more than drivers with clean records. Insurers consider you a high-risk driver if you have a speeding ticket, an at-fault accident, or a DUI on your record. Traffic violations in Kentucky can stay on your record for five years.”
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Kentucky
Having a serious incident on your record can increase your car insurance rates, but every company weighs high-risk drivers differently.
As you’ll see in the table below, Progressive has the lowest liability rates for high-risk auto insurance in Kentucky.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $110 | $185 |
| Auto-Owners | $135 | $226 |
| National General | $142 | $244 |
| State Farm | $142 | $235 |
| GEICO | $162 | $277 |
| Direct Auto | $163 | $255 |
| Allstate | $172 | $257 |
| Safeco | $172 | $244 |
| USAA | $172 | $291 |
| Root | $203 | $320 |
| State Auto | $208 | $348 |
| The General | $214 | $496 |
| Trexis | $223 | $384 |
| Travelers | $226 | $381 |
| Bristol West | $232 | $458 |
| Dairyland | $234 | $535 |
| Liberty Mutual | $235 | $357 |
| Trexis One | $271 | $510 |
| Shelter | $368 | $616 |
When do you need SR-22 insurance in Kentucky?
Kentucky doesn’t require an SR-22 certificate. But you’ll likely need one if you move to Kentucky from a state where you have a suspension or other hold on your driver’s license if that state requires an SR-22 (or FR-44).
Kentucky law requires a resident who has seen another state withdraw, deny, suspend, cancel, or revoke their driving privileges to resolve the issue in order to be eligible for a Kentucky driver’s license.[4]
Say, for example, when you lived in Ohio, the state suspended your license due to a DUI. You move to Kentucky, but you can’t get a Kentucky driver’s license until you’ve cleared the suspension in Ohio. If clearing the suspension requires an SR-22, you’ll ask your insurance company to submit an SR-22 form to Ohio. Then you’ll show the Kentucky DMV proof that you no longer have the hold on your license.
How to get SR-22 insurance in Kentucky
An SR-22 is proof of insurance, not a type of policy. But you won’t need it to get car insurance in Kentucky, even if you have a lot of driving violations.
Here’s how to get car insurance in Kentucky:[5]
Gather your information. Get your important information ready, including driver’s license number, vehicle year, make, and model, vehicle identification number (VIN), and names and birthdates of household members who will drive your car. The insurer will get your driving history reports from the DMV.
Get multiple quotes. Compare rates and coverages from a few insurers. High-risk drivers pay higher rates, but every insurer weighs violations differently, so you may be able to secure a more affordable rate.
Pick your insurer. Complete your preferred insurer’s application, and secure your proof of insurance.
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Save up to $1,100 per year on coverage
How long does Kentucky require SR-22 insurance?
Some states require high-risk drivers to have SR-22 insurance for a certain length of time. Kentucky doesn’t, but it does have a point system that might have a similar effect on your insurance rates.
Point values range from three to six, depending on the violation, and they remain on your record for two years after your conviction date. The conviction itself stays on your driving record for five years.[6]
The most serious violations — including attempting to elude a police officer, driving 26 mph or more over the speed limit, and racing — don’t have point values, but they do require a hearing followed by possible license suspension.
Kentucky also handles DUIs outside of the point system. For a first offense within 10 years, the state can suspend your license for four to six months, depending on whether you participate in the Kentucky Ignition Interlock Program.
Additional offenses within a 10-year period result in longer suspensions. All DUI suspensions mandate completion of a 90-day (first offense) or one-year approved alcohol/substance abuse program, according to the Kentucky DMV.
Kentucky SR-22 insurance FAQs
Here’s what you need to know about high-risk auto insurance before you shop for coverage in Kentucky.
Do you need an SR-22 certificate to reinstate your license in Kentucky?
No. You don’t need an SR-22 to reinstate your license in Kentucky. You can reinstate your license if you’ve met the conditions for reinstatement, which depend on the violation, and pay a $40 reinstatement fee.
If the state suspends your license for one year or more, you’ll also have to retake the vision and written tests. After a five-year suspension, you’ll have to begin the licensing process as if you were a new driver, starting with a learner’s permit.[7]
How much does DUI insurance cost in Kentucky?
Kentucky drivers convicted of DUI pay an average of $150 per month for liability coverage and $241 per month for full coverage. The exact rate will depend on many factors, including your age, gender, ZIP code, and the car you drive.
What’s the cheapest insurance in Kentucky if you have an incident on your record?
Progressive has the cheapest insurance in Kentucky for drivers with an incident, with average liability rates of $73 per month.
Sources
- Drive.ky.gov. "DUI Penalties and Programs."
- Nolo.com. "What Is SR-22 Insurance? Requirements and Cost."
- Drive.ky.gov. "Mandatory Insurance."
- Ky.gov. "Title 601 Chapter 12 Regulation 020 • Kentucky Administrative Regulations • Legislative Research Commission."
- Kentucky Department of Insurance. "Auto & Home Insurance Guide."
- Drive.ky.gov. "Kentucky Point System."
- Drive.ky.gov. "License Reinstatement."
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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