Editorial shortlist

Best SR-22 Car Insurance

By YesWeSure EditorialReviewed October 23, 2026Editorial standardsReport an errorSources

This page ranks the carriers that write SR-22 (and FR-44 where applicable) at a competitive rate. For the step-by-step mechanics of an SR-22 filing (what it is, how it is submitted, duration, lapse consequences) see our coverage explainer at coverage/sr-22. For what to do between the DUI conviction and the SR-22 request see after-dui. For the 3-year cost math see cost/after-dui.

Our shortlist

Carrier	Featured for	Why it fits	Caveat
Dairyland	IA-channel SR-22 or FR-44 shopper	Sentry-owned non-standard specialist. SR-22 filing included at no additional product fee. Same-day FR-44 electronic filing in Florida and Virginia (per Dairyland product page). Rated A+ Superior via Sentry Group (verify current rating at bind time).	Independent-agent distribution only.
The General	DTC bind-today SR-22 shopper	2-minute quote-and-bind; SR-22 delivered within hours; 47-state footprint (per The General product page). Rated A+ Superior AM Best (verify current rating at bind time).	Direct-to-consumer only; narrower discount menu than mainstream carriers.
Progressive	One-event SR-22 shopper with clean-otherwise record	Standard-market SR-22 posture: writes the business at non-standard rates but with the broader coverage menu of a mainstream carrier. Rated A+ Superior AM Best (verify current rating at bind time).	Multiple incidents on the record will drive Progressive to decline or quote high; pure specialists may beat it in that case.
Bristol West	Non-owner SR-22 shopper	Farmers Group non-standard specialist. ~41-state footprint; non-owner SR-22 is a named product (per Bristol West product page). Rated A (Excellent) FSR AM Best (verify current rating at bind time).	FSR one tier below Sentry-owned peers.
Kemper	SR-22 shopper in California, Florida, or Texas	Non-standard specialty writer concentrated in CA, FL and TX. Infinity Spanish-language distribution channel (per Kemper product pages).	Current rating actions and outlook may vary; verify at AM Best or at bind time.
National General	SR-22 shopper wanting Allstate-corporate backing	Allstate-owned mixed-tier writer on the Integon underwriting platform. SR-22 and FR-44 availability (per National General product page).	NAIC complaint-index can run above the median in some states; check the current NAIC complaint lookup for your state before binding.

How to decide between them

DTC bind urgency: The General or Progressive. SR-22 delivered to the DMV within hours.
IA channel preferred: Dairyland or Bristol West.
Non-owner SR-22: Bristol West (named product), Dairyland, GEICO (in some states).
Non-owner FR-44 in Florida or Virginia: Dairyland offers same-day filing.
CA/FL/TX concentration: Kemper via Infinity for Spanish-language distribution.

What SR-22 actually costs you

An SR-22 is NOT a type of insurance. It is a filing your insurer makes with your state DMV certifying that your policy meets the state's minimum liability limits. Three cost components make up the total you pay:

The filing fee itself. Typically $15 to $25 per filing, charged once. Set by the carrier, not the state. Some carriers waive it when the SR-22 is attached at new business.
The event-driven surcharge. The large cost component is NOT the SR-22. It is the surcharge for whatever triggered the SR-22 requirement (DUI, multiple at-fault accidents, lapse). For a first DUI, most carriers surcharge 50 to 100 percent above the clean-record baseline for 3 years. For a coverage lapse, 20 to 40 percent is typical. The surcharge drops off on the standard surcharge schedule (3 years for most violations in most states) even while the SR-22 filing continues.
The non-standard premium band. If no mainstream carrier will write you, you end up on a non-standard carrier platform (Dairyland, The General, Bristol West, Kemper). These books are priced for the risk pool, not for individual risk signals, so expect a 30 to 60 percent premium above a comparable standard-market rate even after the trigger surcharges normalize.

This matters at renewal: your SR-22 might remain in force for 3 years but your path to a lower rate often opens at year 2, when at-fault surcharges begin to roll off and standard-market carriers will requote. See cost after a DUI for the 3-year math; see best for high-risk for the broader non-standard shortlist.

Common SR-22 shopping mistakes

Shopping only one carrier. SR-22 rate dispersion across the non-standard specialists is wider than in the standard market because each carrier underwrites the risk pool differently. Quote at least 3 of the 6 shortlisted carriers; the spread can be material on identical risk inputs.
Letting the policy lapse mid-filing. A lapse during the SR-22 period usually resets the DMV clock in most states and extends the filing requirement. If you cannot pay in full, set up EFT auto-pay BEFORE the first bill cycle.
Buying bare-minimum liability only. SR-22 covers the state's minimum requirement, not what you actually need. A single at-fault accident during the SR-22 period can wipe out your assets if you carry 25/50/25 and the other driver's medical bills exceed that. Target 100/300/100 and match UM/UIM to your BI limit.
Forgetting the SR-22 at renewal. Some carriers drop the SR-22 filing automatically at renewal if you have not explicitly renewed it. Confirm the filing is active 30 days before the SR-22 expiration date on the DMV side, not just the policy declaration.
Dropping full coverage too early. If the vehicle is financed, the lienholder requires full coverage regardless of SR-22 status. Even on an owned car, dropping comp/collision during a surcharge period means paying the surcharge on a liability-only premium (the carrier does not refund you a share of the surcharge because you reduced coverage).

Frequently asked questions

Which carriers file SR-22 the fastest?

The General, Progressive, and Dairyland typically file within 24 hours of bind, often within minutes for DTC direct carriers. Bristol West and Kemper file within 24 to 48 hours through independent agents. If you need to reinstate a suspended license by a specific date, give yourself a 72-hour buffer between quote and expected DMV confirmation.

Can I keep my current carrier if I need SR-22?

Depends on the carrier. Progressive files SR-22 for existing policyholders in most states. State Farm, Allstate, and USAA will typically file for an existing good-standing customer but routinely decline new-business SR-22. GEICO's posture varies by state. Call the carrier (not the app) before you cancel, because moving to a non-standard specialist when your existing carrier would have filed is money left on the table.

What's the difference between SR-22 and FR-44?

SR-22 certifies that your policy meets your state's minimum liability. FR-44 certifies it meets a HIGHER limit (typically 2x minimum), used in Florida and Virginia only, triggered by a DUI or similar serious conviction. FR-44 is strictly a Florida / Virginia DUI thing; everywhere else it is SR-22.

Will SR-22 affect my credit?

The filing itself does not touch your credit report. However, the carrier will pull your credit (where state law allows) as part of underwriting, which is a soft inquiry that does not affect your score. In California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts credit cannot be used as a rating factor; Michigan restricts how carriers can use it.

Can I shop around during the SR-22 period?

Yes, and you should. Shop at the 2-year anniversary of your last incident. Many standard-market carriers (Progressive, Travelers, select regional writers) will offer competitive SR-22 rates once at-fault surcharges begin to roll off, independent of the SR-22 duration.

Do I need SR-22 if I don't own a car?

If the DMV requires an SR-22 filing to reinstate your license, yes, even without a car. A non-owner SR-22 policy insures your license to drive other people's vehicles. Dairyland and Bristol West are the primary non-owner SR-22 writers; typical pricing is 30 to 60 percent lower than an owner SR-22 because there is no vehicle to insure for comp/collision. See non-owner coverage.

Sources

Dairyland SR-22 and FR-44 product pages: dairylandinsurance.com/auto-insurance/sr-22.
Progressive SR-22 product information: progressive.com/answers/sr-22-insurance-cost.
Florida FR-44 statute (DUI financial-responsibility filing): FL Stat. 324.023. flsenate.gov.
Virginia FR-44 statute: VA Code § 46.2-472. law.lis.virginia.gov.
AM Best Financial Strength Rating definitions and lookup: web.ambest.com/ratings-services. Specific carrier rating actions and outlooks change frequently; verify the current rating action at bind time.
NAIC Consumer Complaint lookup: content.naic.org/cis_consumer_information.

YesWeSure maintains no proprietary rating database. Rating-letter claims (A+ Superior, A Excellent) are from AM Best's public rating definitions; specific carrier rating actions and outlook revisions change frequently and are not fact-checked by publication date on this page. Carrier product details (SR-22 filing speed, state footprint, named non-owner product) are sourced from each carrier's own public product page as of October 23, 2026.