SR-22 Insurance in North Carolina: Cost, Requirements, and Cheapest Companies

The average cost of SR-22 coverage in North Carolina is $80 per month for a liability-only policy and $133 for full coverage.

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Jessica Martel
Written byJessica Martel
Jessica Martel
Jessica MartelInsurance Writer
  • 7+ years in personal finance writing

  • Certified Financial Education Instructor

Jessica is a freelance writer, professional researcher, and mother of two rambunctious little boys. Her work has appeared in Time’s Stamped personal finance marketplace, Consumer Affairs, Forbes Advisor, Money Under 30 and more.

Jessica specializes in personal finance, women and money, and financial literacy. Jessica is fascinated by the psychology of money and what drives people to make important financial decisions. As an Insurify contributor since July 2023, she’s written hundreds of articles aimed at helping readers make informed decisions about insurance.

She holds a Masters of Science degree in Cognitive Research Psychology, and is a National Financial Educators Council Certified Financial Education Instructor.

MacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
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MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.

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Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor
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Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

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Quick Facts
  • An SR-22 certificate (called a DL-123 in North Carolina) provides proof that you carry the required liability coverage.

  • The overall average cost of insurance for North Carolina drivers with a DL-123 is $106 per month.

  • You may need a DL-123 when applying for your first North Carolina license, moving from out of state, or to reinstate a suspended or revoked license.

SR-22 requirements in North Carolina

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility. It’s a way of proving that you meet the minimum insurance requirements in most U.S. states.

North Carolina has a similar, state-specific form called the DL-123. It verifies that you meet North Carolina’s minimum insurance requirements, which include $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, $50,000 in property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage equal to your bodily injury liability limits.[1]

You can get a DL-123 from a licensed insurance agent or insurance company in North Carolina.[2] The DL-123 is only valid for 30 days once issued.[3]

If you need a DL-123 to reinstate your license after a suspension or revocation due to driving while intoxicated (DWI), you’ll have to pay a license reinstatement fee of $167.75. Non-DWI restoration fees are $83.50. 

You’ll also have to pay a service fee of $50 unless you surrendered your license to the court or mailed it to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles before your suspension date.[4]

DL-123 Insurance
North Carolina Requirement
Minimum liability limit50/100/50
Valid for30 days
Reinstatement fee (DWI)$167.75
Reinstatement fee (non-DWI)$83.50

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How much is SR-22 insurance in North Carolina?

The average car insurance cost for North Carolina drivers with a DL-123 is $80 per month for a liability-only policy and $133 for full coverage, according to Insurify data. These rates are typically higher than for North Carolina drivers with a clean record.

New drivers in North Carolina often need a DL-123 form, as do drivers who want to reinstate their license after a suspension or revocation.

For example, if law enforcement catches you driving while impaired (DWI) or you commit another serious traffic violation, you might need a DL-123 to reinstate your license. Your premiums will likely be higher because insurers see you as a high-risk driver.

The reason you require a DL-123, your driving history, and the insurer you choose can all affect the cost of coverage.

The following table shows the average monthly liability-only and full-coverage costs for North Carolina drivers with a clean record compared to drivers who need a DL-123.

Driver Profile
Average Monthly Cost: Liability Only
Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage
Clean record$69$115
With DL-123$80$133
Disclaimer: Table data is based on real-time North Carolina quotes from Insurify’s network of 500+ insurance partners. Actual rates may vary depending on the policyholder’s individual profile and coverage needs.

Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in North Carolina

The cheapest company in North Carolina for drivers who need a DL-123 form is Erie, with an average monthly liability rate of $65. 

To help you find the cheapest insurance with a DL-123 requirement in North Carolina, we’ve compiled a list of quotes from multiple insurance companies in the table below.

The below rates in North Carolina are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, July 9 at 5:00 PM PDT. 
Insurance Company
Liability Only
Full Coverage
Erie$65$111
Progressive$70$103
GEICO$74$126
Direct Auto$75$103
National General$75$103
Liberty Mutual$76$122
Safeco$78$133
Travelers$81$140
Dairyland$87$182
Allstate$88$151
State Farm$106$180
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time North Carolina car insurance quotes from Insurify's 500+ partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual car insurance quotes in North Carolina may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

When do you need SR-22 insurance in North Carolina?

You might need a DL-123 form in North Carolina for several reasons, including:

  • Applying for a driver’s license: If you’re applying for your license for the first time in North Carolina or moving to North Carolina from out of state, you’ll need to file a DL-123. This proves that you have the insurance required to drive in the state.

  • License suspension: If you have a suspended or revoked license after a DWI conviction, you may need to file a DL-123 to have your license reinstated.

  • Court order: You may require a DL-123 to prove that you have minimum liability coverage as part of a court order.

How to get SR-22 insurance in North Carolina

To get a DL-123 form in North Carolina, follow these steps:

  1. Compare insurance companies. Compare multiple quotes from North Carolina insurance companies to find a policy that’s right for you.

  2. Purchase coverage. Once you’ve chosen an insurer, purchase the policy.

  3. Request a DL-123 form. The insurer will complete this form for you. You can submit it electronically to North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or you can get a printed copy to bring to the DMV.

  4. Review your information. The DL-123 form should include your name, the effective date of your policy, an expiration date, and the issue date of your policy.

  5. Use the DL-123 within 30 days. The form is only valid for 30 days after an insurer issues it.

  6. Bring your form to the DMV. When you apply for a North Carolina driver’s license, or if you need to restore your license after a DWI, bring your DL-123 to your DMV appointment.

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How long does North Carolina require SR-22 insurance?

Because most drivers in North Carolina won’t require an SR-22 form, there’s no standard amount of time that a driver must maintain one. To provide proof of minimum insurance coverage, North Carolina drivers use the DL-123 form issued by a licensed insurance agent or company. A DL-123 form is valid for 30 days after an insurer issues it.

If you require an SR-22 form due to something that happened in another state, you’ll need to confirm the requirements for that state.

How long you have to maintain an SR-22 depends on several factors, including the type of violation or offense and whether you’re able to maintain continuous coverage. Letting your coverage lapse may reset the timeline.

North Carolina SR-22 insurance FAQs

If you still have questions about how the DL-123 form works in North Carolina, check out the following information.

  • Does North Carolina have SR-22 insurance?

    North Carolina doesn’t require an SR-22 form. Instead, the state uses a similar document called Form DL-123. This form is for drivers who need to reinstate their license after a serious offense, like a DWI. New drivers or drivers moving to North Carolina from out of state can also use this form to show proof of insurance.

  • How does an SR-22 affect your insurance in North Carolina?

    The SR-22 form is a certificate your insurer files with your state as proof of coverage. It’s the reason why you need the form that affects your insurance premiums rather than the form itself. For example, if you need the form to reinstate your license after a DWI conviction, insurers may see you as a higher-risk driver, which can lead to higher premiums.

  • Do you need an SR-22 in North Carolina?

    Most drivers won’t need an SR-22 in North Carolina. If you need to provide proof of insurance, North Carolina uses Form DL-123. 

    Some drivers might need an SR-22 form in North Carolina as a requirement from another state. For example, if a driver had their license suspended due to driving under the influence (DUI) in another state, that driver will typically need to maintain an SR-22 filing even if they move to North Carolina.

  • Will an SR-22 raise your insurance premiums in North Carolina?

    It’s possible. An SR-22 can raise your insurance premiums in North Carolina, depending on the reason you need it. If you require an SR-22 to reinstate your license after a revocation or suspension caused by a serious violation, your insurer might see you as a higher risk and raise your insurance premiums.

Sources

  1. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. "Liability Insurance."
  2. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. "Proving Liability Insurance."
  3. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. "Financial Responsibility."
  4. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. "Reinstating Driver License."

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
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.

Jessica Martel
Written byJessica MartelInsurance Writer
Jessica Martel
Jessica MartelInsurance Writer
  • 7+ years in personal finance writing

  • Certified Financial Education Instructor

Jessica is a freelance writer, professional researcher, and mother of two rambunctious little boys. Her work has appeared in Time’s Stamped personal finance marketplace, Consumer Affairs, Forbes Advisor, Money Under 30 and more.

Jessica specializes in personal finance, women and money, and financial literacy. Jessica is fascinated by the psychology of money and what drives people to make important financial decisions. As an Insurify contributor since July 2023, she’s written hundreds of articles aimed at helping readers make informed decisions about insurance.

She holds a Masters of Science degree in Cognitive Research Psychology, and is a National Financial Educators Council Certified Financial Education Instructor.

MacKenzie Korris
Edited byMacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
MacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie KorrisLicensed P&C Agent, Insurance Copy Editor
  • Licensed property and casualty insurance agent

  • 10+ years editing experience

  • NPN: 21630969

MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri.

Katie Powers
Reviewed byKatie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor
Photo of an Insurify author
Katie PowersLicensed P&C Agent, Senior Insurance Editor
  • Licensed auto and home insurance agent

  • 4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing

  • NPN: 20564519

Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.

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