Cheapest SR-22 insurance in Tennessee

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In Tennessee, the cheapest SR-22 insurance options are offered by GEICO at $1,038 per year and Nationwide at $1,171 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’s an SR-22?

An SR-22 is a certificate of responsibility (CFR) that shows you’ve purchased the required minimum liability auto coverage required by your state. If you’re categorized as a higher-risk driver due to traffic violations, a DWI/DUI conviction, or other reasons, your state or a court order may require you to get an SR-22.

You might hear about “SR-22 insurance,” but an SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy – it’s just a term sometimes used to refer to any insurance policy bought by someone who’s required to have an SR-22.

Key Takeaways

An SR-22 isn’t a separate insurance policy but a form your insurer files with the state to show you have the minimum coverage.
You might need an SR-22 in Tennessee due to DUI, reckless driving, or license suspension/revocation.
Filing an SR-22 isn’t expensive, but those with an SR-22 often pay higher premiums.

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

As mentioned before, an SR-22 isn’t an insurance policy. It’s a form your insurance company files with your state’s DMV to show that you have the required minimum coverage, even with certain driving offenses on your record. The filing fee is usually low, but insurance with an SR-22 can be expensive.

Here are few 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 are convicted of any of these violations, you might need an SR-22. After buying an insurance plan that meets your state’s requirements, ask your insurance company to send the SR-22 form to the DMV.

You usually have to keep the SR-22 for at least three years. If you don’t, your license could be suspended.

Average SR-22 car insurance cost in Tennessee

The average cost of SR-22 car insurance in Tennessee is $1,458.

This is $443 higher than in New Hampshire, which has the cheapest SR-22 insurance.

However, it’s also $2,583 less expensive than in Michigan, the most expensive state for SR-22 insurance.

The cost of SR-22 insurance depends on several factors, such as why you need the SR-22, your driving history, and where you live.

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Cheapest SR-22 insurance companies in Tennessee

Insurance rates typically increase if you have an SR-22, but not all insurance companies charge the same rates for SR-22 holders. The companies listed below offer some of the lowest rates in Tennessee.

Company	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
GEICO	$1,038	$87
Nationwide	$1,171	$98
Auto-Owners	$1,244	$104
Travelers	$1,248	$104
State Farm	$1,303	$109
Erie Insurance	$1,663	$139
Farmers	$1,679	$140
Progressive	$2,141	$178
Allstate	$2,150	$179
USAA*	$942	$79

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

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Cheap SR-22 insurance in Tennessee by city

As discussed above, where you live greatly affects how much SR-22 insurance costs. Below, you’ll find the cheapest SR-22 insurance rates in major cities across Tennessee.

City	Average annual premium
Dayton	$847
Watertown	$886
Sevierville	$894
Kingston	$899
Knoxville	$909
Hermitage	$1,007
Ashland City	$1,010
Paris	$1,045
Nashville	$1,062
Memphis	$1,082
Germantown	$1,118

SR-22 insurance requirements in Tennessee

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

$25,000 for injury or death per person
$50,000 for injury or death per accident
$25,000 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 Tennessee cost with a DUI?

Some insurance companies are much more forgiving than others if you have a DUI. Some charge a few hundred dollars more, while others charge thousands more per year.

Note: In the table below, “filing only” represents the cost of a policy including the fee to file the SR-22 – without considering the reason why someone needed an SR-22.

Company	SR-22 with 1 DUI	SR-22 Filing only
State Farm	$1,425	$1,303
GEICO	$1,871	$1,038
Travelers	$1,927	$1,248
Nationwide	$2,050	$1,171
Farmers	$2,316	$1,679
Progressive	$2,408	$2,141
Erie Insurance	$2,542	$1,663
Allstate	$2,768	$2,150
Auto-Owners	$4,117	$1,244
USAA*	$1,802	$942

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

How to get the cheapest SR-22 insurance in Tennessee

If you have an SR-22 in Tennessee, you might think you are doomed to pay inflated insurance rates. But just because you need an SR-22 doesn’t mean you’ll end up paying the highest rates.

First, shopping around is always a good idea. There can be an enormous difference in the rates you will get from different insurance companies. Some companies might even specialize in high-risk drivers and be able to offer you better SR-22 rates.

Another way to get the cheapest insurance with an SR-22 is to improve your driving record. Sure, that might be easier said than done, but it can be worth putting in the time if you want a better rate. You can get a quick win by taking a defensive driving course. Ask your insurer if they offer any of these courses and if they can help you qualify for a discount.

You can also ask about safe driving programs. These usage-based programs track your driving habits and may reward you with lower premiums for safe driving.

There are a few ways someone required to get SR-22 insurance can find the most affordable policy while still meeting all the legal requirements.

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

Shopping 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: If possible, 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 want to maintain SR-22 coverage, non-owner car insurance can be a cost-effective option as it is typically 5% to 15% cheaper than a standard policy. Keep reading for more information on non-owner insurance options.

Non-owner SR-22 insurance in Tennessee

Some states may require you to obtain an SR-22 even if you don’t own a car. This filing ensures you meet the state’s minimum liability coverage requirements, which is often necessary to reinstate your driver’s license after a suspension or revocation resulting from violations like a DUI or multiple traffic offenses.

Non-owner insurance policies are for individuals who don’t own a vehicle but must fulfill SR-22 requirements or want to maintain continuous coverage. This type of coverage provides liability protection when driving a car you don’t own and helps you meet state mandates for reinstating your license after violations such as a DUI or multiple traffic offenses.

It’s often a more affordable option than a standard policy since it only covers liability.

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

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 Tennessee?

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 Tennessee

Tennessee’s average SR-22 insurance rate is $1,458, compared to the overall average car insurance cost in Tennessee, which is $1,311. That means Tennessee’s SR-22 rate is $146 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 Tennessee.” Accessed March 2026.
Progressive Insurance. “What is an SR-22?” Accessed March 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.