An SR-22 certificate is a form an insurer files that proves a high-risk driver has the required liability coverage.
New Jersey doesn’t have SR-22 requirements, but high-risk drivers often face higher premiums.
High-risk driver insurance in New Jersey averages $288 per month for state-minimum coverage and $400 per month for full coverage, according to Insurify data.
SR-22 requirements in New Jersey
An SR-22 filing isn’t an insurance policy. It’s a certificate of financial responsibility (sometimes called an SR-22 certificate or SR-22 form) that an insurance company files with a state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV).[1] It verifies that a driver carries the required liability insurance coverage.
Many states require an SR-22 after serious violations, including:
Driving under the influence (DUI or DWI)
Reckless driving
Repeated speeding tickets
Driving without insurance
New Jersey doesn’t require SR-22 insurance. Instead, drivers involved in certain reportable crashes need to complete an SR-1 accident report, which includes the SR-21 insurance section.[2] If a driver doesn’t submit the required SR-1 form after a reportable accident, the state will suspend their driving and vehicle registration privileges until they meet the reporting requirements.[3]
SR-22 Insurance | New Jersey Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability limit | $35,000 bodily injury per person, $70,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage per accident |
| Filing fee | None |
| New Jersey requirements | New Jersey doesn’t require an SR-22. But drivers who cause an accident with more than $500 in property damage, injuries, or death of any one person must file a New Jersey Self-Reporting Crash (SR-1) form, which includes an SR-21 proof-of-financial-responsibility section. |
| Consequences for not filing | Suspension of driving and vehicle registration, and a $100 reinstatement fee |
Find Cheap SR-22 Insurance in New Jersey
Liability rates average $288 per month
How much is SR-22 insurance in New Jersey?
Although New Jersey doesn’t require SR-22 insurance, high-risk drivers typically pay more for car insurance. In New Jersey, minimum liability coverage costs an average of $288 per month for high-risk drivers. Full coverage costs an average of $400 per month.
By comparison, drivers with a clean record pay an average of $183 per month for liability insurance and $254 for full coverage.
Insurance companies charge higher rates because high-risk drivers are usually more likely to file claims. Your premium also depends on your driving history, the severity of the violation, and your insurer.
The table below compares the average monthly car insurance costs in New Jersey for drivers with clean records and high-risk drivers, based on Insurify data.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Cost: Liability Only | Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $183 | $254 |
| With SR-22 | $288 | $400 |
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in New Jersey
NJM offers the cheapest average rates for high-risk drivers in New Jersey. The company’s liability rates average $197 per month. Check out the table below for car insurance quotes from the cheapest insurers, based on Insurify data.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| NJM | $197 | $249 |
| CSAA | $208 | $299 |
| Plymouth Rock | $214 | $331 |
| Progressive | $279 | $410 |
| Mercury | $339 | $466 |
| GEICO | $353 | $454 |
| Liberty Mutual | $413 | $506 |
| State Farm | $460 | $581 |
| Travelers | $594 | $750 |
When do you need SR-22 insurance in New Jersey?
New Jersey doesn’t require SR-22 insurance. But it does require drivers who cause accidents to file an SR-1 New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Motor Vehicle Accident Report. The report includes an SR-21 certificate-of-insurance section.
Under New Jersey law, at-fault drivers must submit an SR-1 when they cause a crash that results in an injury, death, or more than $500 in property damage to one person. This requirement doesn’t apply if a police officer files the accident report. Drivers must submit the report within 10 days of the at-fault accident.
If you’re physically incapable of completing the report, another occupant or the vehicle owner (if different) must submit the report. Failure to complete the SR-21 section in full assumes you’re driving without insurance and results in vehicle registration and license suspension. You’ll also have to pay a $100 restoration fee to restore driving privileges.
You can also face fines, community service, license suspension, and jail time for driving uninsured.
How to get SR-22 insurance in New Jersey
New Jersey drivers don’t need to request an SR-22 form from insurers or pay an SR-22 filing fee. That said, all drivers must buy auto insurance coverage that meets New Jersey’s minimum requirements and carry proof of insurance when driving.[4]
Follow these steps to get car insurance in New Jersey:
Determine your coverage needs. Decide if you need coverage beyond New Jersey’s minimum requirements, such as higher liability limits or full coverage.
Gather driver and vehicle information. Insurers need details such as driver’s license numbers, driving history, vehicle identification number (VIN), mileage, and prior insurance information for all household drivers and vehicles.
Compare insurance companies. Get quotes from multiple New Jersey insurers to find the best coverage. Compare coverage options, available discounts, and insurance premiums.
Select and buy a policy. Choose the insurer that best meets your needs and budget. Make your first payment to activate coverage. Print or download proof of insurance to keep with you or in the vehicle.
Maintain continuous coverage. New Jersey requires drivers to keep active insurance. A lapse in coverage can result in steep penalties, including fines and suspension of driving privileges.
Compare New Jersey Car Insurance Quotes
See quotes from top insurers in minutes
How long does New Jersey require SR-22 insurance?
Since New Jersey doesn’t require SR-22 insurance, there’s no required filing period. States that require an SR-22 filing typically require drivers to maintain it for two or three years, depending on the violation, but it varies by state.[5] [6]
You may face challenges finding affordable New Jersey car insurance after serious violations because insurers may classify you as a high-risk driver. New Jersey insurers assign insurance eligibility points based on your years of driving experience and driving history. If you get more than seven points in three years, you fall into the assigned-risk market for high-risk drivers.
New Jersey SR-22 insurance FAQs
Although New Jersey doesn’t require SR-22 insurance, many states do. We answered common questions about SR-22 insurance below.
How much does SR-22 insurance cost per year in New Jersey?
While New Jersey doesn’t require SR-22 insurance, other states usually require it for high-risk drivers. Insurify data shows that high-risk drivers pay an average of $344 per month in New Jersey.
What does the SR in SR-22 stand for?
The “SR” in SR-22 refers to the safety or financial responsibility requirements that some states use to ensure high-risk drivers maintain the required liability insurance after serious violations. An SR-22 is a certificate that an insurance company files with the state to show a driver has the required liability coverage.
Does an SR-22 require a defensive driving course in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey doesn’t use SR-22s. But it does require insurers to provide discounts to drivers who complete a state-approved defensive driving course.
How do you get SR-22 insurance in New Jersey?
New Jersey doesn’t offer SR-22 insurance. Drivers must instead buy New Jersey car insurance that meets or exceeds the state’s minimum liability coverage requirements of 35/70/25.
Sources
- American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). "SR22/26."
- New Jersey Legislature. "N.J. Legislative Statutes."
- New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). "New Jersey Motor Vehicle Self-Reporting Crash Form."
- New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. "Auto Insurance Shopping Guide."
- Missouri Department of Revenue. "Mandatory Insurance FAQ."
- Arizona Department of Transportation (MVD). "Future Financial Responsibility."
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.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)