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Cheap California SR22 Insurance: Rates & Costs Compared

We’ve Uncovered the Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies & Rates in California

First, for those that do not know already:  If you’re in trouble in California because of being uninsured in a wreck or getting a DUI, you might be required to prove you have car insurance with a form called an SR-22. An SR-22 is a certificate, known as a California Insurance Proof Certificate, that your insurer files with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. While some people call it “SR-22 insurance,” this isn’t an insurance policy — it’s your insurer’s guarantee that you have at least minimum coverage insurance.

If you just want to get the lowest quote from the companies we discuss, complete the form above! Otherwise read on as we analyze the lowest priced SR-22 in CA based on cities, lowest priced companies by cities, lowest overall, etc…

In General, How Much does SR-22 Cost in California & Do Discounts Even Work?

Inevitably, needing an SR22 policy will affect insurance rates significantly, so it pays to research and shop around more than most. The cost of an SR22 varies between insurance companies. An individual can expect to spend an average of $300 to $800, depending on factors such as personal driving history, age, driving experience, marital status, and place of residence.

The certificate itself is not the only cost. SR22 insurance clients also inevitably pay higher premiums for their minimum liability coverage. This is due to the fact that they are now considered high-risk drivers. Some insurance companies even require high-risk drivers to pay for the entire coverage period at one time. Additionally, a driver requiring an SR22 can lose their good driver discount.

California actually prohibits DUI offenders from benefitting from a good driver discount for ten years after a conviction.

Another fee associated with the SR22 is the filing fee. Individual insurance companies will charge between $25 and $50 to properly file an SR22 with the DMV. Further, if a driver has complied with all SR22 requirements, the DMV can charge more than $125 to reissue a driver’s license and reinstate driving privileges.

Whether or not your current insurer will file an SR-22 for you, one of the simplest ways to make sure you’re getting the most affordable SR-22 coverage is to compare quotes from multiple companies.

Lowest Average SR22 Insurance Rates in CA, by Company

Overall SR22 Average Rate by Company

Cost per year Cost per year
Mercury $948
Progressive $1,070
GEICO $1,244
Esurance $1,331
Travelers $1,374
Farmers $1,449
CSAA $1,746
Allied $1,928
AAA $1,987
Allstate $2,221
StateFarm $2,274
Hartford $2,839
Metlife $4,221

Companies with Lowest Cost: Full Coverage

Company SR22 Full Coverage (average)
Bristol West $175.00
Progressive Insurance $202.00
Farmers $188.00
GAINSCO $205.00
Liberty Mutual $216.00
The General $212.00
National General $201.00
Mendota Ins. Company $168.00
AssuranceAmerica $203.00
Acceptance RTR $200.00

There are other numerous insurance agents/brokers in CA that simply resell services from other carriers such as:  BreatheEasy, Cost-U-Less, Freeway, Serenity, The General, Select, Peninsula, Vista West, and Paul Nelson.  

Cheapest CA SR22 Insurance Company by City

City Price
Downey Liberty Mutual
San Mateo Progressive
San Francisco Farmers
Hayward Geico
Temecula Farmers
Salinas The General
Huntington Beach Progressive
El Cajon Dairyland*
Sacramento Progressive
Glendale Geico
Sunnyvale Progressive
Concord The General
Thousand Oaks Geico
Murrieta Progressive
Santa Rosa The General
Costa Mesa Progressive
Burbank Dairyland*
San Bernardino The General
Victorville Geico
Modesto National General
Torrance The General
Rialto Liberty Mutual
Lancaster Progressive
Santa Clara The General
Santa Clarita Progressive
Simi Valley Progressive
Antioch Progressive
Clovis Geico
Fremont Progressive
Arden-Arcade Progressive
Fullerton Bristol West
Corona The General
Escondido National General
Vallejo Bristol West
Stockton The General
Inglewood Geico
El Monte Geico
Palmdale Liberty Mutual
Irvine The General
Moreno Valley Progressive
Pasadena Progressive
Jurupa Valley The General
Bakersfield Progressive
West Covina Geico
Daly City National General
Fairfield Farmers
East Los Angeles Geico
Roseville Progressive
Visalia Liberty Mutual
Anaheim Progressive
Chula Vista The General

Cheapest CA SR-22 Insurance Companies, by City

City Price
Downey Liberty Mutual
San Mateo Progressive
San Francisco Farmers
Hayward Geico
Temecula Farmers
Salinas The General
Huntington Beach Progressive
El Cajon Dairyland*
Sacramento Progressive
Glendale Geico
Sunnyvale Progressive
Concord The General
Thousand Oaks Geico
Murrieta Progressive
Santa Rosa The General
Costa Mesa Progressive
Burbank Dairyland*
San Bernardino The General
Victorville Geico
Modesto National General
Torrance The General
Rialto Liberty Mutual
Lancaster Progressive
Santa Clara The General
Santa Clarita Progressive
Simi Valley Progressive
Antioch Progressive
Clovis Geico
Fremont Progressive
Arden-Arcade Progressive
Fullerton Bristol West
Corona The General
Escondido National General
Vallejo Bristol West
Stockton The General
Inglewood Geico
El Monte Geico
Palmdale Liberty Mutual
Irvine The General
Moreno Valley Progressive
Pasadena Progressive
Jurupa Valley The General
Bakersfield Progressive
West Covina Geico
Daly City National General
Fairfield Farmers
East Los Angeles Geico
Roseville Progressive
Visalia Liberty Mutual
Anaheim Progressive
Chula Vista The General

Overall Average SR22 Insurance Cost by City: Liability Only

City Price
Daly City $92.00
Garden Grove $91.00
Carlsbad $92.00
Santa Maria $100.00
Clovis $100.00
San Mateo $98.00
El Monte $97.00
Downey $101.00
Temecula $97.00
Richmond $106.00
Santa Rosa $108.00
Arden-Arcade $96.00
Concord $88.00
Oakland $109.00
Modesto $97.00
El Cajon $86.00
Berkeley $97.00
Burbank $99.00
Vallejo $107.00
Bakersfield $105.00
Inglewood $108.00
Sunnyvale $107.00
Vista $87.00
Fontana $94.00
Stockton $102.00
Corona $101.00
Fresno $90.00
Los Angeles $105.00
Jurupa Valley $109.00
Fullerton $103.00
Fremont $91.00
Glendale $91.00
Oxnard $104.00
Simi Valley $90.00
Victorville $94.00
Murrieta $105.00
Escondido $91.00
Antioch $88.00
Riverside $105.00
Santa Clarita $98.00
Long Beach $91.00
San Francisco $92.00
Orange $89.00
West Covina $93.00
San Diego $88.00
Oceanside $108.00
Ontario $108.00
Rancho Cucamonga $97.00
Hayward $103.00
East Los Angeles $90.00
San Jose $102.00
Rialto $105.00
Sacramento $110.00
Roseville $102.00
Moreno Valley $100.00
Huntington Beach $109.00
Salinas $107.00
Anaheim $93.00
Chula Vista $86.00

How Much More Expensive is CA SR22 Insurance vs. Regular Insurance?

Cost per year Cost per year Cost per year w/ SR-22 and DUI
Mercury $508 $841
Geico $369 $992
UAIC $526 $1,126
CSAA $438 $1,505
Farmers $741 $1,512
Inter-insurance $471 $1,621
Allstate $713 $2,398
State Farm $732 $2,741

How Much Are Actual CA SR22 Filing Fees (Company Averages)?

Company Filling Amount
Progressive Insurance $25.00
The General $25.00
National General $25.00
Geico $25.00
Mendota Ins. Company $25.00
Acceptance RTR $25.00
Farmers $15-$30
Dairyland Free

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Regardless of your driving history, we’re here to help. Ready to get started? Sit back, relax,
and discover an easier way to get the coverage you need.

Or, if you have questions about what SR-22 is, when it’s needed, what causes it, keep reading.

SR22 Insurance Facts – All Questions Answered

What is SR-22 insurance in California?

While often referred to as “SR-22 insurance,” SR-22 is not a type of insurance policy. Instead, this is a form filed by your insurer showing you meet your state’s minimum liability coverage requirements. Drivers who commit a serious traffic violation, such as a DUI or reckless driving, are usually required to file an SR-22 form, and insurance after a DUI can be very expensive. California requires auto insurance companies to file SR-22 forms electronically for you, but you should be sure to check with your specific provider about their policies.

An SR22 is a certificate of insurance. Your auto insurance company files it with the California Department of Motor Vehicles in order to confirm that you meet the state’s minimum requirements for auto insurance liability coverage.

Once your California driver’s license has been suspended or revoked either because you lost your DMV DUI hearing or because you didn’t request one, or because you got convicted of DUI in court, an SR22 is necessary to reinstate your driving privilege. It is also necessary in order to continue driving with an ignition interlock device (IID) installed. It is an acceptable “proof” of liability car insurance for any DMV action that requires you to provide proof of financial responsibility.

Some examples of situations where the California DMV may require you to file an SR22 include:

  • Reinstating your driving privilege following a DUI or wet-reckless2 suspension/revocation
  • Being involved in an accident when you were uninsured
  • Reinstating your driving privilege after the DMV suspended/revoked it because it declared you a negligent operator (you may be declared a negligent operator if you obtain too many points on your driving record within a specific timeframe)
  • Any one of these events requires you to keep an SR 22 on file with the California DMV generally for a period of three years.

If the DMV requires you to maintain a California SR22, your policy must cover any cars that are registered in your name and/or all cars that you routinely drive.

If, following your DUI conviction, you will no longer drive, you don’t need to file an SR22. If you intend to drive, but do not own a car or otherwise have regular and frequent access to a family car, for example, you would apply for a non-owner’s SR22 liability policy. A non-owner’s policy covers you anytime you are given permission to drive another person’s car.

When Would Someone Need SR22 Insurance in California?

People who have been convicted of a vehicular-related crime are most often those that will be required to carry SR22 insurance. These crimes include, but are not limited to:

  • Reckless driving
  • License suspension for failure to pay fines
  • Driving on a suspended license
  • Previous incarceration
  • Accumulating too many tickets / excessive points on your driver’s license
  • Multiple traffic offenses (Excessive points violations)
  • At fault accident with no insurance
  • Driving without insurance or while under-insured, failing to maintain mandatory insurance coverage required by state law
  • Driving while Suspended/revocation
  • DUI (Driving under the influence of Drugs or Alcohol)
  • DWI (Driving while intoxicated)
  • Suspension of license due to child support

SR22 insurance is also required in the State of California while driving with an ignition interlock device installed in the driver’s car.

What is Non-Owner Insurance and How Does it Work in California?

We have a separate article covering non-owner in CA.

Difference Between the SR1P and SR-22 in California

If you drive a vehicle with fewer than four wheels, such as a motorcycle or moped, you may need to file an SR1P form in California, instead of an SR-22 and proof of liability insurance. SR1Ps are usually required if you’ve had your license suspended after driving without insurance or after being convicted of risky driving behavior.

How Long Do I Have to Maintain SR22 Coverage in California?

An SR22 policy must remain in force for at least three years after a driver receives a DUI license suspension or other qualifying violation. You don’t need to refile each year if your insurance company doesn’t decide to drop you after issuing an SR22. You also do not need to resubmit if you don’t cancel your policy during the three years. Your plan will stay on file with the California DMV until it is no longer necessary for you to maintain this type of coverage.

The amount of time a driver must maintain an SR22 policy in California depends on your driving conviction. In most cases, drivers convicted of a DUI will need to keep their SR22 policy for three years. However, there are some cases where you may need to keep an SR22 policy for as long as ten years or more. This is usually for drivers facing severe violations such as reckless driving. Even with the longer term, drivers should still maintain consistent, uninterrupted coverage the entire time.

What if I Fail to Obtain or Maintain my SR22 Coverage?

According to the California DMV, failure to either obtain or properly maintain SR22 insurance for the full three years will result in automatic suspension of your driver’s license. You will not be able to renew your license if it expires while suspended. If you are caught driving on a suspended license, you will be subject to immediate arrest and potential criminal charges.

If you drop or cancel your insurance policy, your car insurance company will need to report those details to the California DMV. If that occurs, you will need to get another SR22 policy from a different company. Doing so will help you to avoid another driver’s license suspension. It is essential for all drivers with an SR22 policy to maintain their coverage for the three years. Doing so will make having your license reinstated by the DMV once that period is over much easier for you.

An insurance provider may report anyone who fails to make a payment or has a lapse in their SR22 coverage. The company could inform the DMV that you no longer have coverage by filing an SR26 form. This is another instance where you could be faced with an additional driver’s license suspension if you do not refile your SR22.

What is an SR26 Form?

Also known as the Safety Responsibility-26, the SR26 is a form that is only filed by insurance companies who issue California SR22 policies. This document lets the DMV known that a driver’s SR22 policy is no longer valid. It essentially cancels out the SR22 filed as required by the court.

An insurance company will file an SR26 once the driver has served their full sentence and no longer need SR22 insurance. Alternatively, insurance companies will also submit an SR26 if the driver cancels their insurance, or if they fail to make a payment.

Anyone who operates a motor vehicle with less than four wheels may need to file an SR1P form. That includes those who drive a moped or motorcycle, for example. Instead of filing an SR22 and showing proof of liability insurance in California, they will use this alternative form. An SR19 is often required if a driver has had their license suspended after driving without insurance or if they were convicted of potentially unsafe driving behavior.

Can I Relocate With My Current Insurance Policy?

Yes, you can. Relocating to another state will not relieve you of the need to carry an SR22, or it’s equivalent. Your new state of residence may or may not require you to file. However, the State of California will require  you to provide proof that you are carrying at least the minimum coverage amounts.

The same is true if you move from another state into California while under an SR22 filing requirement. You may not need to file for a new SR22. But you will need to ensure you maintain the minimum insurance coverage required by your old state and that you are submitting the necessary paperwork with that state.

You must have a new SR22 policy in place in the state you are relocating to before you cancel your California SR22 policy. Failure to do so will be seen as a lapse in your insurance coverage, and that could result in a license suspension.

Minimum Coverages Amounts Required by Law:

  • $15,000 bodily injury per person per incident
  • $30,000 bodily injury for all injured per incident
  • $5,000 property damage per incident

What do these mean? For example, if you cause more than $5k in property damage, be prepared to pay for the rest out of pocket. Therefore, cheaper insurance is not always better when you account for risk.

Need SR22 Insurance in California? Buy One Here Today!

SR-22 Insurance specializes in providing affordable high-risk car insurance including SR-22. We provide you with affordable SR-22 coverage by shopping around for you. We work with the top insurance companies in the country to compare SR-22 rates to make sure we get the best rates and coverage.

We operate in all 50 states.

No matter where you live, we can help you find great SR22 insurance.

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