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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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An SR-22 is a financial responsibility certificate that proves you meet the state’s minimum car insurance requirements. California drivers may need an SR-22 after a serious traffic violation, like a DUI, reckless driving, hit-and-run, or driving without insurance.
An SR-22 requirement increases car insurance rates by an average of 17% in California, according to Compare.com data.
We’ll tell you everything you need to know about the California Proof of Insurance Certificate (SR-22) form, including how to file it, penalties you can face if you don’t, and the best companies for SR-22 insurance.
California drivers typically need to maintain SR-22 insurance coverage for three years.
SR-22 car insurance averages $201 per month in California.
You may have to pay a $24 filing fee for each policy term your insurer files an SR-22 with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
An SR-22 certifies that your liability coverage meets California’s minimum requirements. You may need SR-22 insurance to reinstate your driving privileges after having your vehicle registration or driver’s license suspended. You may need to file an SR-22 certificate if you commit any of these driving offenses:
DUI
Reckless driving
Getting into an accident without insurance
Getting too many points on your driving record
You typically need to maintain an SR-22 for three years. Each time your insurance policy renews, your car insurance company automatically files your SR-22 certification with the California DMV. If you cancel your policy or it lapses for any reason, your SR-22 requirement period restarts because you’re no longer compliant.[1]
Compare rates for high-risk drivers.
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If a court or DMV requires you to file an SR-22, you must comply to legally drive again. Let’s break down the SR-22 filing process.
If you don’t already have a liability insurance policy that meets California’s state requirements, you need to get one to file an SR-22. California requires drivers to have:
$30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability
$15,000 per accident in property damage liability
You must maintain liability insurance coverage for at least three years. You can get a non-owner SR-22 auto insurance policy if you don’t own a car. Non-owner policies provide liability coverage for vehicles you drive but don’t own, like a rental car or a friend’s vehicle.
An SR-22 can increase your insurance premium because it indicates to your insurer that you’re a high-risk driver. Shopping around for insurance quotes from multiple companies and comparing rates can help you find the most affordable coverage.
An SR-22 filing must come from an insurance company, not the driver. Most insurance companies offer SR-22 filings. Once you receive an SR-22 requirement, you must notify your insurer to initiate the filing process.
Your insurance company will complete the SR-22 form and electronically file it with the California DMV.
Most car insurance companies charge a fee to file an SR-22, usually around $25. Your insurer may add the cost to your insurance bill, or you may pay it up front. You must pay the fee each policy term for as long as you’re required to have an SR-22.
Ask your insurer to confirm your SR-22 filing at each policy renewal. You can also contact the California DMV to confirm.
You must maintain an SR-22 certificate for at least three years or however long it takes to complete your filing requirement.[2] You could face severe penalties if you don’t.
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The state can suspend or revoke your license or vehicle registration if you don’t maintain SR-22 coverage. You can also receive a citation and have your car impounded if you drive with a suspended registration.
In addition to paying for an SR-22 auto insurance policy, you’ll also pay a $14 fee to reinstate your vehicle registration and a $55 reissue fee to get your driver’s license back.[3]
Although an SR-22 requirement doesn’t directly affect your auto insurance rates, any incidents that require you to file an SR-22 will increase your premium.
The table below shows the average rates in California for drivers with an SR-22, according to Compare.com data.
Average Monthly Premium: Liability | Average Monthly Premium: Full Coverage | Average Monthly Premium: All Policies |
|---|---|---|
| $123 | $278 | $201 |
An SR-22 requirement doesn’t mean you need to settle for higher rates. Many companies offer affordable policies for high-risk drivers, so you should shop around and compare car insurance quotes.
Auto insurance rates differ from one company to the next because insurers use different risk-assessment models and underwriting criteria to determine pricing. That said, many companies offer lower-than-average premiums for drivers needing an SR-22.
Check out the chart below to see which insurance companies offer the cheapest rates in California for drivers with an SR-22 requirement, according to Compare.com data.
Company  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $105 |
| National General | $123 |
| Root | $125 |
| Sun Coast | $126 |
| Mercury | $127 |
| Anchor | $132 |
| Dairyland | $138 |
| Direct Auto | $139 |
| Allstate | $144 |
| Farmers | $149 |
| State Farm | $161 |
| Travelers | $169 |
| Bristol West | $177 |
| 21st Century | $184 |
| Nationwide | $226 |
| Chubb | $287 |
While these companies are a good starting point, your rates depend on various personal factors, including your age, ZIP code, driving habits, and vehicle type. With so many variables, you should compare quotes to get the best price for your driving profile.
Get personalized rates and find coverage you can afford.
We answered common questions from drivers about California’s SR-22 auto insurance requirements. Check them out below.
SR-22 insurance costs around $201 per month in California, according to Compare.com data. But how much you pay for auto coverage depends on personal factors like your age, driving profile, and ZIP code.
You typically need to maintain an SR-22 for three years in California. Keep in mind that if your policy cancels or lapses for any reason, the period starts over, and you could face additional fines or penalties.
Mercury, USAA, and Root offer the cheapest average rates for SR-22 insurance, according to Compare.com data. But these companies might not be the cheapest for all drivers because personal factors like age and driving record affect premiums.
The California DMV will notify you when you’ve fulfilled your SR-22 requirement. If you don’t receive notification, contact the DMV to confirm your SR-22 period has ended. Then, ask your insurer to stop filing your SR-22 with the DMV.
Yes. If you own a vehicle and need to file an SR-22 certificate, you must buy an auto insurance policy, even if you don’t have a license. But you may not need coverage if you don’t own a vehicle. You can contact the California DMV for more details.
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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