Cheapest SR-22 insurance in California

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In California, the cheapest SR-22 insurance options are offered by Progressive at $1,508 per year and GEICO at $1,646 per year. The cost of SR-22 insurance depends on your location, driving history, and insurance provider.

An SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance. It’s a certificate of financial responsibility that proves you meet your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. It’s often required after serious driving violations, such as a DUI, reckless driving, or driving without insurance. If you’ve been ordered to file an SR-22, you might be worried about the impact on your car insurance costs.

Unfortunately, having an SR-22 on your record usually leads to higher premiums, and some carriers won’t cover such drivers, so finding affordable options is essential.

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly policy or just trying to learn more about SR-22s, this guide has the information you need to get back on the road without breaking the bank.

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR) that proves you’ve bought the minimum liability auto insurance your state requires. If you’re considered a high-risk driver due to traffic violations, a DUI/DWI, or other reasons, your state or a court may require you to obtain an SR-22-a certificate filed by your insurance company that proves you carry the minimum required auto insurance coverage.

While it’s not a type of insurance, filing an SR-22 is often mandatory after serious offenses and it can lead to higher insurance premiums due to your increased risk profile.

Key Takeaways

The average cost of SR-22 car insurance in California is $2,238.
Progressive offers the most affordable SR-22 insurance policies in California at $1,508 per year.
An SR-22 isn’t a separate insurance policy; it’s a form your insurer files to the state DMV on your behalf to confirm you have the required minimum coverage.

Do I need to buy SR-22 insurance in California?

As previously mentioned, SR-22 is not an insurance policy but a form your insurance company files with your state’s DMV. This form lets the state know that even though you have certain driving offenses on your record, you have at least the minimum required insurance for your situation. The typical filing cost isn’t much – usually around $25.

Examples of offenses that might require an SR-22:

DUI, DWI, or other serious moving violations
Reckless driving
Accidents resulting in suspension or revocation
Accumulation of too many driving violation points
Driving without insurance

If you have any of these on your record, you may need an SR-22. After purchasing an insurance plan that meets your state’s requirements, ask your insurer to file the SR-22 form with the DMV.

You typically must maintain an SR-22 for at least three years. If you don’t, you could risk license suspension.

Average SR-22 car insurance cost in California

The average SR-22 car insurance cost in California is $2,238.

California’s rate is $1,223 more expensive than SR-22 insurance in the New Hampshire, the cheapest state. However, it’s also $1,803 less than in Michigan, the most expensive state for SR-22 insurance.

However, there are a lot of factors that might affect the cost of SR-22 insurance, such as the reason for the SR-22, your driving history, and the city in which you live.

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Cheapest SR-22 insurance companies in California

Insurance rates usually increase if you have an SR-22. But not all insurance companies have the same rates for people with an SR-22. The companies listed below have some of the lowest rates available in California.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Progressive	$1,508	$126
GEICO	$1,646	$137
Mercury Insurance	$1,793	$149
Auto-Owners	$2,217	$185
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$2,259	$188
Allstate	$2,285	$190
Travelers	$2,331	$194
Kemper Insurance	$2,407	$201
Nationwide	$2,488	$207
State Farm	$2,511	$209
Hartford	$2,696	$225
CSAA (AAA)	$2,722	$227
Farmers	$2,765	$230
USAA*	$1,699	$142

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

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Cheap SR-22 insurance in California by city

As mentioned earlier, where you live can also make a big difference in the cost of SR-22 insurance. Below, you’ll find the cheapest rates for SR-22 insurance for most cities in California.

City	Average annual premium
Portola	$1,059
Temecula	$1,260
San Diego	$1,376
San Jose	$1,380
Hayward	$1,434
Fresno	$1,441
Sausalito	$1,488
Irvine	$1,488
Anaheim	$1,497
Vallejo	$1,529
Colma	$1,569
Sacramento	$1,584
San Francisco	$1,600
Long Beach	$1,624
Oakland	$1,628
Los Angeles	$2,039

SR-22 insurance requirements in California

The California DMV mandates all drivers in California to have the following minimum car insurance coverage:

$30,000 for injury or death per person
$60,000 for injury or death per accident
$15,000 for property damage per accident

These are only the minimum requirements. Experts suggest getting more coverage than the mandated coverage levels. While it might increase your premium, the extra coverage can be very helpful if you’re in a costly at-fault accident.

How much does SR-22 in California cost with a DUI?

Insurance companies differ in the premiums they charge for drivers with a DUI.

Note: In the table below, “filing only” refers to the cost of a policy, including the SR-22 filing fee, without factoring in the reason you need the SR-22.

Company	SR-22 with 1 DUI	SR-22 Filing only
Mercury Insurance	$2,945	$1,793
Progressive	$3,584	$1,508
Auto-Owners	$4,014	$2,217
GEICO	$4,064	$1,646
Travelers	$4,844	$2,331
Farmers	$4,864	$2,765
Kemper Insurance	$5,174	$2,407
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$6,668	$2,259
Nationwide	$6,923	$2,488
State Farm	$8,657	$2,511
Allstate	$9,082	$2,285
CSAA (AAA)	$9,812	$2,722
Hartford	$10,665	$2,696
USAA*	$4,745	$1,699

*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.

How to get the cheapest SR-22 insurance in California

If you need an SR-22 in California, your insurance premiums might be very high. However, there are ways to save on car insurance, whether you need an SR-22 or not.

First, it’s a good idea to shop around. Different insurance companies can offer very different rates. Some companies specialize in high-risk drivers and may give you better SR-22 rates.

Another way to lower your insurance costs with an SR-22 is to improve your driving record. It might take some effort, but it’s worth it if you want better rates. A simple step is taking a defensive driving course, which can result in having points removed from your record. Check with your insurer to see if completing such a class could get you a discount. You can also look into usage-based insurance. These programs use technology to monitor your driving habits in exchange for (potentially) lower rates.

Sebastian Hov, CEO of 18 Insurance, an insurance agency based in Sacramento, California, recommends the following:

Shop around. Different insurance companies offer varying rates for SR-22 insurance. It’s crucial to compare quotes from multiple providers to find the best option.
Pay upfront. Paying your premium in full rather than in monthly installments can sometimes result in lower overall costs.
Opt for non-owner insurance. If you don’t own a vehicle but need to maintain SR-22 coverage, non-owner car insurance can be 5% to 15% cheaper than a standard policy.

Non-owner SR-22 insurance in California

Some states might require you to get an SR-22 even if you don’t own a car. This proves you have the minimum liability insurance your state requires, which is often needed to get your driver’s license back after a suspension or revocation for violations like a DUI or multiple traffic offenses.

Non-owner insurance policies are for people who don’t own a car but still drive and need to meet SR-22 requirements or maintain coverage. This type of insurance provides liability protection when driving someone else’s car and helps you meet state requirements to get your license back after violations like a DUI or multiple traffic offenses.

It’s generally a cheaper option than a standard car insurance policy since it only covers liability.

Read more about how non-owners car insurance works in California

Who needs SR-22 insurance?

Remember that an SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy. Instead, it’s a certificate that shows your state’s DMV that you have at least the minimum insurance coverage required.

For instance, if you have a DUI on your record, the state will require you to prove that you have enough insurance to be financially responsible.

Keep in mind that not all driving offenses require an SR-22. You will be notified if you require an SR-22. If you aren’t sure if you need one, ask your local DMV or an attorney who has experience with traffic laws.

How long do you need SR-22 insurance in California?

You typically need to maintain an SR-22 for three years.

In some cases, the time you need to maintain an SR-22 could be longer or shorter. The length of the SR-22 period will depend on your driving history and how serious the offense is.

The bottom line on SR-22 in California

California’s average SR-22 insurance rate is $2,238, compared to the overall average car insurance cost in California, which is $2,206. That means California’s SR-22 rate is $32 more per year.

But remember that there are a lot of factors that can affect insurance premiums.

What our expert says

Q: How can you save on SR-22 insurance?

Sebastian HovCEO, 18 Insurance.

“Shop around: Different insurance companies offer varying rates for SR-22 insurance. It’s crucial to compare quotes from multiple providers to find the best option.”

Resources and Methodology

Sources:

Shouse Law Group. “SR22 California.” Accessed April 2026.
Progressive Insurance. “What is an SR-22?” Accessed April 2026.

Methodology

Insure.com gathered rates from Quadrant Information Services for all states, including Washington, D.C. The rates are based on a sample driving profile of a 40-year-old male and female who drives a Honda Accord LX and opts for a full-coverage policy with coverage limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible across most ZIP codes. We analyzed 5,000,736 insurance quotes from 27 companies.

Bob Haegele

Contributing Researcher

Bob Haegele is a personal finance writer. He covers car insurance, health insurance and life insurance. While working in the corporate world he started a personal finance blog. He later left his corporate job and began freelance writing full-time. Since then, he has made it his mission to help people master their money. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes Advisor, Bankrate, FinanceBuzz and others.