An SR-22 certificate proves you have active state-minimum liability insurance in Texas.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) may require your insurer to file an SR-22 if you need to reinstate your license after a suspension.
If your insurer needs to file an SR-22, it’ll likely charge a filing fee and increase your premium, which can cost 11% more than the state average premium. But the exact increase will depend on your driving history.
SR-22 requirements in Texas
An SR-22 certificate, also known as a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate, is a document that shows you have active liability insurance that meets Texas’ minimum requirements. The law requires car insurance policies to include these minimum coverages:[1]
$30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
$25,000 in property damage liability coverage
The Texas Transportation Code requires SR-22 certificates under certain circumstances. For example, your insurer may need to file an SR-22 when you reinstate your license after a suspension. You typically need to keep the SR-22 on file for two years. Your insurance company will notify the Texas DPS if your SR-22 policy lapses or you cancel your coverage.
Most auto insurance companies in Texas charge a one-time SR-22 filing fee ranging from $15 to $50.
SR-22 Insurance | Texas Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability limit | 30/60/25 |
| Filing fee | $15–$50 |
| Duration of SR-22 coverage | Two years |
| Consequence for canceled, terminated, or lapsed SR-22 coverage | Driving privilege and vehicle registration suspension $100 reinstatement fee plus submission of a valid SR-22 |
Find SR-22 Insurance in Texas
Liability policies average $123/mo.
How much is SR-22 insurance in Texas?
The average monthly cost of SR-22 insurance in Texas is $123 for liability coverage and $229 for full-coverage insurance. Texas drivers with a clean record pay an average monthly premium of $110 for liability coverage and $205 for full coverage.
Across both policy types, SR-22 insurance increases car insurance rates by an average of 11%.
The Texas DPS usually requires an SR-22 after a violation, and car insurance companies charge higher premiums to people with violations on their driving record. The exact rate increase depends on the severity of the violation, your driving history, and your insurer.
For example, Texas typically requires an SR-22 to reinstate your license after a driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction.[2] Texas drivers with a DWI on their record pay an overall average of $220 per month for car insurance, a 64% increase over drivers with a clean record.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Cost: Liability Only | Average Monthly Cost: Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Clean record | $110 | $205 |
| With SR-22 | $123 | $229 |
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Texas
Every auto insurance company calculates premiums differently, and some insurers offer lower rates to high-risk drivers than others.
The cheapest car insurance company for SR-22 insurance in Texas is State Farm. The table below ranks the cheapest SR-22 insurers in Texas and their average liability-only and full-coverage premiums.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $49 | $95 |
| Allstate | $68 | $134 |
| Mile Auto | $72 | $160 |
| Progressive | $72 | $131 |
| GEICO | $77 | $163 |
| USAA | $87 | $170 |
| First Acceptance | $97 | $237 |
| Mercury | $97 | $155 |
| The General | $101 | $224 |
| Alinsco | $102 | $199 |
| Lone Star | $105 | $245 |
| GAINSCO | $106 | $205 |
| Commonwealth Casualty | $107 | $235 |
| Bristol West | $112 | $216 |
| Clearcover | $112 | $196 |
| Covercube | $112 | $256 |
| Root | $113 | $187 |
| Dairyland | $115 | $271 |
| AssuranceAmerica | $117 | $215 |
| Mendota | $119 | $232 |
| Sun Coast | $123 | $248 |
| Direct Auto | $126 | $199 |
| Safeco | $128 | $188 |
| National General | $131 | $217 |
| Loop | $132 | $246 |
| Elephant | $133 | $207 |
| Chubb | $148 | $290 |
| Trexis One | $153 | $319 |
| 21st Century | $170 | $333 |
| Liberty Mutual | $207 | $302 |
When do you need SR-22 insurance in Texas?
Some common reasons you might need an SR-22 certificate in Texas include:
A DUI or DWI conviction: If a Texas court convicts you of driving while intoxicated, you’ll need to get an SR-22 certificate from an authorized auto insurance company.
Suspension of driving privilege after a crash: If the state DPS suspends your driver’s license after an accident, you’ll only need an SR-22 and an SR-22A if you’re resolving the suspension with a security deposit.
Second conviction for driving uninsured: If you receive a conviction for not having liability auto insurance and it’s not your first offense, you’ll need to maintain an SR-22 certificate.
Accident-related civil judgment: If someone sues you after an accident, you’ll need an SR-22 on file after the court renders the judgment. If the DPS requires a security deposit for compliance purposes, you may also need an SR-22A certificate, which is proof of prepaid liability insurance for six months.
Driver’s license reinstatement: Reinstating your driver’s license after a suspension or revocation typically requires an SR-22 certificate. This applies to a variety of situations and violations, including a lapsed SR-22, drug offenses (inside or outside of the vehicle), and driving with an invalid license.[3]
How to get SR-22 insurance in Texas
Follow the steps below to get SR-22 insurance in the Lone Star State:
Research car insurance companies. Find Texas auto insurers that specialize in car insurance for high-risk drivers and offer SR-22 insurance in the Lone Star State. If you need an SR-22 but don’t own a car, find a Texas insurer that offers non-owner SR-22 insurance.
Compare car insurance quotes. To get the lowest premium, compare customized auto insurance quotes from a handful of insurers based on your age, driving record, vehicle, and ZIP code.
Buy a policy. Ensure your car insurance policy meets state-minimum liability requirements and includes any optional coverages you might need. Pay your first premium to activate your coverage.
Contact your insurance agent. Call your agent or company and ask them to file an SR-22 form with the Texas Department of Public Safety on your behalf.
Pay the filing fee. Submit payment to your car insurance company for the one-time SR-22 filing fee.
Verify completion online. If you need to have an SR-22 on file before you can drive, check the Texas Department of Public Safety License Eligibility webpage to ensure your status shows as “eligible” before hitting the road.
Automatically renew your policy. Don’t allow your SR-22 insurance to lapse. Set your policy for automatic renewal. If you need to switch car insurance companies, make sure your new policy is active and has an SR-22 on file before you cancel the old one.
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How long does Texas require SR-22 insurance?
In Texas, you must maintain continuous coverage with an SR-22 certificate for two years. Depending on the reason for the SR-22 requirement, the two-year period begins on the date of your conviction or the date the court renders the judgment.
If you have multiple violations or convictions on your record, you might have difficulty finding car insurance and obtaining an SR-22. Even companies that serve high-risk drivers may deny you insurance coverage. If that happens, you can still obtain state-minimum coverage through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association, but you’ll likely pay a high premium.
Texas SR-22 insurance FAQs
If you still have questions about Texas SR-22 requirements, costs, or how to find the best car insurance company in Texas, check out the additional information below.
How long is an SR-22 required in Texas?
You must keep an SR-22 certificate on file with the Texas DPS for two years. If you cancel or terminate your coverage or allow it to lapse, you may need to pay a reinstatement fee and submit a new SR-22 in order to reinstate your driving privileges.
How much does SR-22 insurance cost in Texas?
Texas SR-22 insurance costs an average of $123 per month for liability coverage and $229 per month for full coverage, according to Insurify data.
What is the cheapest SR-22 insurance in Texas?
State Farm offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance in Texas, with an average premium of $49 per month for liability-only coverage.
How do you file an SR-22 with the Texas DPS?
To file an SR-22 with the Texas Department of Public Safety, contact your car insurance company or agent. Your insurer will submit the SR-22 form on your behalf.
Sources
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22)."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Alcohol-Related Offenses."
- Texas Department of Public Safety. "Driver License Enforcement Actions."
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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