Cheapest SR-22 insurance in California

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GEICO offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance in California at $2,084 per year. Mercury Insurance is another affordable option at $2,808 per year. What you pay will depend on your driving record, your location, and the insurer you choose.

SR-22 isn’t an insurance policy on its own. It’s a form your insurer files with the state to show you have the minimum required coverage, commonly needed after a DUI, reckless driving, or a lapse in insurance. Drivers who need an SR-22 are treated as higher risk, so premiums are usually higher than average.

The SR-22 filing period lasts around three years, though your state and the specifics of your violation will determine the exact timeline. Expect your rates to go up right away, but consistent clean driving from here on out is what will gradually bring them back down. While you’re in that window, comparing quotes across insurers can help make sure you’re getting the best rate available to you.

How to keep your costs down during your SR-22 period

Compare quotes from at least three insurers before deciding on one. Rates after an SR-22 vary more than you’d expect – the first offer you get won’t be the most affordable one.
Find out how long the surcharge will apply. Some insurers revisit your rate after three years, others after five. How long you carry the increase can matter just as much as the rate itself.
Stay violation-free. A clean driving record from this point forward is the most effective tool you have for lowering your premium over time.
Keep your coverage active. A lapse while your SR-22 is on file can reset your entire filing period and make you look like an even greater risk to future insurers.
Keeping a clean driving record and comparing quotes at renewal can help lower your rates over time.

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a form your insurance company files with the state to prove you have the minimum car insurance coverage required to drive legally. You may need one after serious driving violations such as a DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while intoxicated), reckless driving or driving without insurance.

An SR-22 is not a type of insurance. It’s a document your insurance company files with the state to verify you’re carrying the legally required coverage. Since drivers who need an SR-22 are flagged as higher risk, premiums tend to climb, and some insurers may turn you away entirely.

How does SR-22 insurance work in California?

The average cost of SR-22 insurance in California is $3,476 per year
For the most affordable SR-22 coverage in California, GEICO comes in at $2,084 annually
An SR-22 is a document filed with the state that verifies you carry the minimum required car insurance coverage

When do you need an SR-22 in California?

You may need an SR-22 in California after a serious driving violation or if your license has been suspended or revoked. It’s your insurer’s way of confirming to the DMV that you’re meeting the state’s minimum coverage requirements.

Common reasons you might need one include:

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’re convicted of one of these offenses, you’ll need to buy a qualifying insurance policy and ask your insurer to file the SR-22 form with the DMV on your behalf.

What happens if you don’t maintain SR-22 coverage?

Most drivers need to keep an SR-22 on file for about three years, depending on state requirements and the reason for the filing. During that time, your insurance coverage must remain active without any lapses. If your policy is canceled or expires, your insurer will notify the DMV, which can lead to penalties like license suspension, reinstatement fees or an extension of your SR-22 requirement

In many states, any gap in coverage restarts the three-year filing period from scratch – so a lapse halfway through means starting the clock over entirely. It also works against you when you go to re-insure, as a coverage gap signals greater risk to insurers, which can push your premiums higher and narrow the number of carriers willing to take you on.

How much does SR-22 insurance cost in California?

Drivers in California pay an average of $3,476 per year for SR-22 insurance. That’s $1,720 more than Vermont, the cheapest state for SR-22 coverage, and $2,610 less than Michigan, the most expensive.

Your rate will vary based on the violation behind the SR-22, your driving history and your ZIP code.

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Cheapest SR-22 insurance companies in California

GEICO offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance in California at $2,084 per year. While SR-22 insurance is usually more expensive than standard coverage, rates can vary significantly between insurers.

The companies below offer some of the cheapest SR-22 insurance rates in California.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
GEICO	$2,084	$174
Mercury Insurance	$2,808	$234
Progressive	$3,036	$253
Nationwide	$4,177	$348
State Farm	$4,236	$353
Farmers	$4,504	$375

Which cities have the cheapest SR-22 insurance in California?

Where you live within California plays a significant role in what you’ll pay for SR-22 coverage. Drivers in urban areas usually face higher premiums due to heavier traffic, higher theft rates, and a greater frequency of claims. Those in smaller towns or suburban areas generally pay less.

Here are the cheapest SR-22 rates across major cities in California.

City	Average annual premium
Anaheim	$3,707
Bakersfield	$3,603
Fresno	$3,471
Long Beach	$3,855
Los Angeles	$4,422
Oakland	$4,061
Sacramento	$3,860
San Diego	$3,403
San Francisco	$4,011
San Jose	$3,446

Will my SR-22 costs go down over time?

Your rates may drop after the SR-22 requirement ends, but they likely won’t return to pre-violation levels right away
The underlying violation can stay on your driving record for 3 to 5 years, or longer for serious offenses like a DUI
Once your SR-22 period ends, contact your insurer and provide DMV confirmation if required
Keeping a clean driving record and comparing quotes at renewal can help lower your rates over time

What are the minimum SR-22 insurance requirements in California?

To legally drive in California, the DMV requires you to carry at least:

$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 the legal minimums. Carrying more coverage costs a bit more each month, but it can save you a lot if you’re ever in a serious at-fault accident.

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

Drivers with a DUI usually pay significantly higher SR-22 insurance rates, though costs vary widely by insurer. The table below compares annual SR-22 rates for drivers with a DUI in California.

This table shows two different costs:

SR-22 with one DUI – what you’d likely pay per year if you’re filing an SR-22 because of a DUI conviction. This includes the higher rate insurers charge after a DUI.
SR-22 filing only – your regular premium plus just the SR-22 filing fee, with no DUI. If your SR-22 is for something other than a DUI, look at this column to estimate what the filing alone adds to your cost.

Company	SR-22 with 1 DUI	SR-22 filing Only
Allstate	$16,248	NA
Auto Club Enterprises (AAA)	$11,273	NA
CSAA Insurance (AAA)	$10,379	NA
Farmers	$7,988	$4,504
GEICO	$5,196	$2,084
Mercury Insurance	$4,994	$2,808
Nationwide	$12,035	$4,177
Progressive	$7,269	$3,036
State Farm	$14,764	$4,236

How to get the cheapest SR-22 insurance in California

Filing an SR-22 itself costs very little, usually a one-time fee between $25 and $50. What drives up the real expense is the high-risk label insurers assign to drivers who require one. That’s also where you have the most opportunity to save. Getting quotes from multiple insurers, keeping your record clean, and selecting an appropriate level of coverage can all work in your favor. Premiums for high-risk drivers differ more than you might expect from one insurer to the next, making comparison shopping one of the smartest moves you can make.

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

Shop around. SR-22 rates vary significantly between insurance companies. Comparing quotes from several providers is the best way to find a good deal.
Pay upfront. Paying your full annual premium at once can be cheaper overall than spreading payments across monthly installments.
Opt for non-owner insurance. If you need SR-22 coverage but don’t own a car, a non-owner policy generally runs 5% to 15% less than a standard policy.

Compare high-risk insurers

Some insurers specialize in high-risk drivers and may offer much lower SR-22 rates than standard carriers. Getting quotes from multiple companies is often the fastest way to save.

Can you get an SR-22 without owning a car?

Drivers who need an SR-22 but don’t own a vehicle can file one through non-owner SR-22 insurance. It provides the minimum required liability coverage when you drive someone else’s car and lets you reinstate your license after violations like a DUI or multiple traffic offenses. Because it doesn’t cover a vehicle of your own, it’s usually cheaper than a standard car insurance policy.

This situation is more common than it sounds. Many drivers lose their license after a violation and still have to prove they’re insured to get it back, even when they don’t own a car. Non-owner SR-22 insurance is what makes that possible.

Is SR-22 insurance expensive in California?

SR-22 insurance in California typically costs more than standard coverage. Because the requirement usually follows a serious violation like a DUI, reckless driving, or lapsing on insurance, insurers classify these drivers as higher risk and price premiums accordingly.

That said, rates end up looking very different between insurers, and shopping around can make a real difference to what you end up paying. A few other ways to keep costs down:

Cut your mileage if you can. Leaning on public transportation or carpooling may drop you into pay-per-mile or low-mileage territory.
Claim every discount you qualify for. Common ones include bundling policies, automatic payments, and completing a defensive driving course.
Keep your record clean from here on out. This is the single most effective thing you can do. A DUI can stay on your record for up to 10 years in many states, and a clean stretch during that time is what actually moves your rates down.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get SR-22 insurance without owning a car?

Yes. Non-owner SR-22 insurance is available for drivers who don’t own a vehicle but still need to meet state insurance requirements. It provides liability coverage when driving someone else’s car and is usually cheaper than a standard policy.

What happens if your SR-22 insurance lapses?

If your SR-22 coverage lapses or your policy is canceled, your insurance company will notify the state DMV. This can lead to penalties such as license suspension, reinstatement fees or an extension of your SR-22 requirement period.

Can you switch insurance companies while you have an SR-22?

Yes, you can change insurers while maintaining an SR-22. However, your new insurance company must file a new SR-22 with the state before your old policy is canceled to avoid a lapse in coverage.

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 August 2026.
Progressive Insurance. “What is an SR-22?” Accessed August 2026.

Methodology

Insure.com gathered rates from Quadrant Information Services for all 51 states, including Washington, D.C., across two distinct driver scenarios to analyze auto insurance rates across the U.S.

Your zip rate is based on a sample driving profile of a 40-year-old male and female with a good insurance score and no violations, driving a Honda Accord LX with a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual mileage. Drivers opt for a full-coverage policy with coverage limits of 100/300/100 and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible. We analyzed 65,756,440 insurance quotes from 195 companies (73 company groups) across 29,159 cities and 34,595 ZIP codes. The national average annual premium is $2,578.

After a violation, the data reflects the same base driving profile – a 40-year-old male and female driving a Honda Accord LX with a 12-mile commute and 10,000 annual mileage, opting for a full-coverage policy with 100/300/100 limits and a $500 comprehensive and collision deductible; but for drivers with a violation on their record and an SR-22 filing requirement. For these rates, we analyzed 95,071,152 insurance quotes from 131 companies (41 company groups).

Read more about our research standards and methodology.

Alisha Ambre

Alisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.