Updated June 2026
What Is SR-22 Insurance Insurance?
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility your insurance carrier files electronically with the Tennessee Department of Safety. The state requires it after certain violations—DUI, multiple at-fault accidents, driving without insurance, or accumulating too many points. The filing itself costs $15 to $50, but the real expense is the underlying high-risk insurance policy you must maintain. Your carrier monitors your coverage continuously and notifies the state immediately if you cancel, miss a payment, or let the policy lapse.
- You were convicted of DUI and own a 2018 sedan. Tennessee requires SR-22 filing for three years. You must carry at least the state minimum liability coverage on your vehicle during this period. The filing fee is $25, but your annual premium jumps from $1,200 to $3,400 due to the violation. If you cancel coverage or miss a payment, the state suspends your license immediately and the three-year clock resets when you refile.
- You were caught driving without insurance and do not own a car. Tennessee still requires SR-22 filing to reinstate your license. You purchase a non-owner SR-22 policy, which provides liability coverage when you drive borrowed or rental vehicles. The policy costs $450 to $800 annually—far less than standard coverage because there is no vehicle to insure. The SR-22 filing fee is $15 to $25, and you must maintain the policy for the full three years even if you never drive.
- You are 18 months into your three-year SR-22 requirement and miss a premium payment. Your carrier notifies the state within 24 hours. Tennessee suspends your license immediately. To reinstate, you must pay a $50 reinstatement fee, restart coverage, and file a new SR-22. The three-year requirement resets from the date of the new filing, meaning you now have three full years remaining instead of 18 months.
Who Needs SR-22 Insurance Insurance?
You need SR-22 filing in Tennessee if the state has explicitly ordered it as a condition of license reinstatement. This typically follows DUI or DWI convictions, reckless driving charges, accumulating 12 or more points in 12 months, driving without insurance, or causing an at-fault accident while uninsured. The court order or Department of Safety notice will state the requirement clearly.
Check your suspension notice or reinstatement letter—if it lists SR-22 as a requirement, you have no alternative. If the notice does not mention SR-22, contact the Tennessee Department of Safety at 615-741-3954 to confirm before purchasing a policy. Buying SR-22 coverage when you do not need it wastes money and locks you into a three-year filing period unnecessarily.
How Much Does SR-22 Insurance Insurance Cost?
The SR-22 filing itself adds $15 to $50 to your total cost, but high-risk insurance premiums in Tennessee range from $200 to $400 per month ($2,400 to $4,800 annually) depending on violation severity and driving history.
- Type of violation—DUI violations result in premiums 2 to 3 times higher than suspended license for unpaid fines.
- Number of prior violations—a second DUI within five years can push annual premiums above $6,000.
- Coverage level—adding comprehensive and collision to meet lender requirements increases monthly costs by $80 to $150.
- Vehicle make and model—insuring a newer or high-value vehicle raises premiums because repair and replacement costs are higher.
- Age and gender—drivers under 25 with SR-22 requirements pay 30 to 50 percent more than drivers over 30 with identical records.
- Credit score—Tennessee allows insurers to factor credit-based insurance scores, and poor credit can add 20 to 40 percent to your premium.