Guide to SR-22s in California

If you’re getting SR-22 insurance in California, expect to pay about 93 percent more than you would as a low-risk driver, although this increase ranges from 6 to 155 percent depending on the insurance provider. On average, SR-22 car insurance in California costs $1,304 annually. See below for specific companies’ averages.

Your insurance provider will file an SR-22 for you and send it to the DMV once your license or registration is reinstated. Then the state will know you have the minimum amount of insurance it requires, so you’ll be able to drive legally again.

Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance

But what if you don’t own a car? Unfortunately, you’ll still have to prove you have the minimum car insurance in California. However, to save money, you should get non-owner insurance.

Non-owner car insurance is coverage for someone who drives another person’s vehicle. It includes only liability coverage, which is what the state requires, making it much cheaper than regular, full-coverage policies. On average, non-owner car insurance with an SR-22 in California costs $959.

In California, an SR-22 is also known as a California Proof of Insurance Certificate — which is proof of financial responsibility.¹ While it’s not insurance itself, it’s a certificate that says you have the state’s required coverage.

When You’ll Need One

You’ll need an SR-22 if your license or registration was suspended, which could have happened due to any of the following convictions.

• Unpaid judgment for a car accident
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Unreported accident that resulted in death, property damage of over $1,000, or bodily injury
• Too many points on your driving record
• Driving without insurance or being involved in an accident without insurance
• Reckless driving
• Not paying child support²

How to Get an SR-22

Here’s how to get an SR-22 filed, according to Los Angeles County’s Department of Consumer & Business Affairs.

1. Ask your insurance company to file an SR-22 for you.
2. Your agent will send the SR-22 to the DMV.
3. You’ll pay a fee to the DMV via the following mailing address:
   • Office of the Director
   • Department of Motor Vehicles
   • 2415 1st Ave., Mail Station F101
   • Sacramento, CA 95818-2606
4. Once the DMV receives your fee and the SR-22, it will reissue your license and reinstate your driving privileges.⁴

Cost

You’ll have to pay your insurance company about $25 to file your SR-22, although it can range from $15 to $40. This is a one-time fee, however, and is separate from the DMV charge.

How Long to Maintain

You’ll maintain your SR-22 for three years, typically. However, with more serious violations, such as reckless driving, you may need to uphold your SR-22 for 10 years.

It’s hard to find cheap car insurance in California, even with a clean driving record, but finding it with an SR-22 is even harder. Here are our best money-saving tips.

1. Choose a provider that caters to high-risk drivers: Look at companies that offer insurance for high-risk drivers specifically. You could pay less with a high-risk insurer than with a more general company like State Farm.
2. Get pay-per-mile insurance: If you drive minimally, save money by using pay-per-mile insurance. You’ll pay a base rate and then a small per-mile fee for the miles you drive. That said, as of the most recent data available, California had the fifth-highest average commute time in the country in 2021 — 28 minutes. For 40 percent of the population, their commutes were 30 minutes or more. However, if you’re one of the 23 percent with a commute less than 15 minutes long or if you work from home, pay-per-mile insurance could save you money.⁵
3. Buy minimum coverage: Getting liability coverage only will result in lower premiums, but keep in mind that it only applies to the injuries and property damages of people outside your car, not you or your passengers.
4. Drive safely: To prevent your insurance rates from rising even higher, drive safely. You can even unlock more discounts if you use a usage-based program like Allstate Drivewise, which tracks your braking, phone use while driving, and other behaviors through the Drivewise mobile app and awards discounts for safe driving.
5. Join the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP): If you’re unable to find insurance you can afford, you can use CAARP as a last resort. This is a state program that will connect you with a provider that will cover you despite your high-risk level.⁶ You can apply online, through the mail, via email, or over the phone.⁷

California’s minimum insurance requirements are as follows.

• Bodily injury per person: $15,000
• Bodily injury per accident: $30,000
• Property damage per accident: $5,000

Car insurance in California is expensive, especially with an SR-22. But with some careful research, you can likely find a provider you can afford, and if you can’t, there’s always the state program for high-risk drivers.

Just remember that although minimum coverage is the cheapest option, it could cost you more out of pocket if you cause an accident or have losses above the at-fault party’s limits. In this case, we recommend full coverage car insurance.