How long do you have to hold an SR-22 in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts doesn’t set a time period for holding an SR-22 form. Instead, the timeline is based on the rules in the state in which you lost your driving privileges. In most states, the form needs to stay on file for at least three years. But the timeline can vary.

How do you get rid of an SR-22 in Massachusetts?

You can have an SR-22 certificate removed by making a request to your insurance company. Once you aren’t required to carry this form, your insurer can rescind it from the DMV.

What happens to your SR-22 in Massachusetts if you move?

If you decide to move out of Massachusetts, you’ll need to make sure your SR-22 is transferred to your new state. Not doing so can cause significant fines and penalties that could lead to your license being fully suspended. Simply notifying your insurance company of your move is often the best course of action.

Do you need an SR-22 in Massachusetts if you don’t have a car?

If you intend to drive anyone’s vehicle, then yes, you’ll still need to obtain an SR-22. The type of form you obtain will be slightly different since you don’t have a car. For example, a non-owner policy is the best option for showing proof of coverage when getting your license reinstated.

Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Massachusetts (2023)

What is SR-22 insurance?
SR-22 insurance cost
Cheapest companies
Rates by city
SR-22 and driving record
FAQs

What is SR-22 insurance?
SR-22 insurance cost
Cheapest companies
Rates by city
SR-22 and driving record
FAQs

If you have a suspended license, you may suddenly hear the terms “SR-22” or “FR-44.”

However, SR-22 and FR-44 aren’t types of insurance. Instead, these forms are designed to provide proof of adequate insurance after a serious driving offense. In many states, you’ll need to file an SR-22 or FR-44 form to get your license reinstated after a suspension of driving privileges.

The state of Massachusetts doesn’t usually require an SR-22 form from its drivers. But if your license is suspended in another state, you may be required to file this form from the applicable state agency to get back on the road.

Quick Facts

Massachusetts usually doesn’t require drivers to file an SR-22 or an FR-44 form.
In some states, you’ll need to file an SR-22 or FR-44 form to prove your financial responsibility after license suspension.
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) requires a letter of reinstatement from the state that suspended your license before you can get back on the road.

Find Cheap Car Insurance in Massachusetts

Liability rates start at $95 per month for drivers with a DUI

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Based on 3,806+ reviews

4.8/5

What is SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts, and when do you need it?

If you’re found guilty of a DUI, the state may suspend your license. And in some states, SR-22 and FR-44 insurance might be a requirement to legally get back on the road.

An SR-22 insurance form is a document that certifies you have a car insurance policy that meets the minimum bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance coverage requirements for license reinstatement.^[1] An FR-44 form is used in some states to accomplish the same goal, proving that you’ve purchased the necessary amount of car insurance.

The state of Massachusetts doesn’t require SR-22 or FR-44 insurance. But if you’ve committed a serious violation in a state that requires an SR-22 form or FR-44 form, you might be required to get an SR-22 form from that state’s applicable agency to have your license reinstated.

How to get SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts

Filing an SR-22 insurance form in Massachusetts isn’t the normal course of action. But if you had your license suspended by another state after a serious violation, you’ll likely need to file SR-22 or FR-44 paperwork in the relevant state to get back on the road.

Most states have an SR-22 requirement. For example, New Hampshire has an SR-22 Certificate of Insurance requirement, which provides proof of insurance to the DMV.^[2]

After your license is suspended, based on your driving violation in another state, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will uphold the suspension. The RMV won’t lift the suspension until your right to operate a vehicle on public roadways has been restored in the other state.^[3] In many states, this restoration of rights requires filing an SR-22 or FR-44 form with the appropriate DMV.

Important Information

You can procure an SR-22 or FR-44 document from your insurance company. The insurer may also file the document directly with the state’s DMV. After the form has been filed, and you meet any other state requirements, your license should be reinstated.

When your license has been cleared by the state that suspended it in the first place, you must then provide proof to the Massachusetts RMV.^[3] You may need to provide a letter of reinstatement from the other state and a certified driving history from the state where the offense occurred.

You may also need to pay a $100 reinstatement fee.

How long is SR-22 insurance required in Massachusetts?

The period you must carry an SR-22 or FR-44 form varies based on the state where the violation happened.

In most states, the form needs to stay on file for at least three years. But the timeline can vary based on the state and the seriousness of your driving violation.

How much is SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts?

The average cost for SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts is $134 per month for a liability-only policy.

The actual premium you’ll pay varies based on several factors. These include your ZIP code, driving record, and the type of insurance coverage you want.

Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts

Midvale Home & Auto, Safeco, and Liberty Mutual offer some of the cheapest rates for SR-22 insurance in Massachusetts. The table below shows the average monthly liability-only quotes for drivers who need SR-22 insurance.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, November 30 at 11:00 AM PST.

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Liability Only	Average Quote: Full Coverage
Midvale Home & Auto	99	163
Safeco	121	235
Liberty Mutual	151	250

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Shop for Car Insurance in Massachusetts

Check quotes from 70+ top insurance companies

Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.

Based on 3,806+ reviews

4.8/5

Cheapest insurance companies in Massachusetts with SR-22 by city

When auto insurance companies determine your premiums, where you live can have a big effect.

In general, drivers in bigger cities with more traffic congestion and higher crime rates face higher insurance costs than drivers who live in smaller cities. This is true in Massachusetts as well, with drivers in the state’s biggest city finding higher car insurance rates.

The following table includes the average monthly quotes for liability-only policies for drivers seeking SR-22 insurance in cities around the state.

City	Insurance Company	Average Monthly Quote
Springfield	Midvale Home & Auto	$95
Worcester	Travelers	$104
Boston	Travelers	$105

How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in Massachusetts

If you’re required to get SR-22 insurance, you likely have some serious violations on your driving record.

Insurers view drivers with incidents like driving under the influence citations and at-fault accidents as indicators of high-risk behavior. Insurance companies compensate for this higher level of risk by charging these drivers higher insurance premiums.

The good news is you don’t have to overpay for car insurance. You can potentially lower your insurance costs with the following strategies:

Shop around. Every car insurance company has a different method of determining rates. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers can help you find the best rate for your situation.
Drive safely. While you can’t change the past, you can commit to safer driving habits going forward. If you avoid future moving violations, your car insurance premiums may become more affordable in the future.
Look for a discount. Many insurance companies offer some discount opportunities, and it never hurts to ask. For example, you might score a discount based on a group affiliation, bundling policies, taking an approved driver safety course, driving fewer miles, and more.
Raise your deductible. A higher deductible usually translates into lower insurance premiums. If your budget can swing the higher deductible, you could lock in savings.
Choose minimum coverage. While a liability-only policy doesn’t offer the most financial protection, it’s usually the cheapest coverage you can find. But if you need more financial help after an accident, opting for less coverage might not be a good idea.

Massachusetts SR-22 insurance FAQs

If you have questions about SR-22 filing requirements in Massachusetts, check out the answers here.

How long do you have to hold an SR-22 in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts doesn’t set a time period for holding an SR-22 form. Instead, the timeline is based on the rules in the state in which you lost your driving privileges. In most states, the form needs to stay on file for at least three years. But the timeline can vary.
How do you get rid of an SR-22 in Massachusetts?
You can have an SR-22 certificate removed by making a request to your insurance company. Once you aren’t required to carry this form, your insurer can rescind it from the DMV.
What happens to your SR-22 in Massachusetts if you move?
If you decide to move out of Massachusetts, you’ll need to make sure your SR-22 is transferred to your new state. Not doing so can cause significant fines and penalties that could lead to your license being fully suspended. Simply notifying your insurance company of your move is often the best course of action.
Do you need an SR-22 in Massachusetts if you don’t have a car?
If you intend to drive anyone’s vehicle, then yes, you’ll still need to obtain an SR-22. The type of form you obtain will be slightly different since you don’t have a car. For example, a non-owner policy is the best option for showing proof of coverage when getting your license reinstated.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 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 50+ 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

Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:

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.

More cities in Massachusetts

More states

Sources

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "Florida Insurance Requirements." Accessed October 12, 2023
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. "Insurance Requirements/SR-22." Accessed October 12, 2023
Mass.gov. "Out of state suspensions and revocations." Accessed October 12, 2023

Sarah SharkeyInsurance Writer

Sarah Sharkey is a personal finance writer who enjoys helping people make savvy financial decisions. She covered insurance and personal finance topics. You can find her work on Business Insider, Money Under 30, Rocket Mortgage, Bankrate, and more. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Learn More

Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor

Chris SchaferSenior Editor

15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

Read Editorial Guidelines

View Full Bio

Featured in