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12+ years writing about insurance and personal finance
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Updated October 30, 2024
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If you’re an Idaho driver with a suspended license because of a serious traffic violation, you may legally need to file an SR-22 form in order to reinstate your license. Though people often refer to this as SR-22 insurance, an SR-22 filing is just a document your insurance company files with the state to prove you carry the minimum state-mandated auto insurance coverage.
Here’s what you need to know about getting car insurance with an SR-22 to get back on the road.
An SR-22 form serves as proof of financial responsibility to the state of Idaho that helps drivers with a past serious traffic infraction reinstate a suspended license.[1]
Idaho requires drivers to keep an SR-22 form on file for one year for a first offense and three years for subsequent offenses.
The reinstatement fee for drivers with an SR-22 in Idaho varies from $25 to $285, depending on the severity of the offense.[2]
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Idaho
If you have a serious driving incident on your record that requires you to file an SR-22, you’ll likely pay a higher auto insurance premium because insurers consider drivers who need SR-22 forms as high-risk drivers.
But the exact cost of your auto insurance coverage with an SR-22 will depend on several factors. Cost factors include your insurance company, ZIP code, marital status, age, other demographic information, and the severity of the driving violation that led to the suspension of your driver’s license.[3]
The following insurers offer the cheapest car insurance in Idaho for SR-22 drivers:
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
National General | $67 | $127 |
Dairyland | $70 | $159 |
Liberty Mutual | $72 | $154 |
Progressive | $72 | $117 |
Safeco | $78 | $128 |
Direct Auto | $80 | $148 |
Bristol West | $103 | $251 |
Foremost | $110 | $213 |
The General | $132 | $252 |
What is SR-22 insurance in Idaho?
An SR-22 certificate isn’t a type of insurance policy. Rather, it’s a certificate of financial responsibility filed with the Idaho Transportation Department by your insurer. The SR-22 filing offers legal proof that you have coverage from an auto insurance policy that meets the minimum insurance requirements mandated by Idaho law.
Idaho’s Department of Motor Vehicles will only require you to file an SR-22 after you’ve been convicted of a serious driving offense that led to a license suspension. To reinstate your driving privileges, you must file an SR-22 after completing the suspension period. You will also have to pay a reinstatement fee, which varies depending on the type and severity of the violation that led to the suspension.[1]
Difference between SR-22 and FR-44
Though you may also hear about FR-44 forms in addition to SR-22s, these are two different forms. Idaho doesn’t require FR-44 certificates. The only two states that require high-risk drivers to file FR-44 forms are Florida and Virginia.
FR-44 forms are typically for high-risk drivers convicted of a serious offense, like driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, or reckless driving that causes the death of another person. Drivers required to file an FR-44 have a legal obligation to carry more coverage than their state’s minimum auto insurance.
When you need SR-22 insurance
Idaho drivers must file SR-22 forms in a few different scenarios. For example, you’ll likely need an SR-22 if you were unable to provide proof of auto insurance or have a suspended license following a conviction for a serious traffic violation.
The SR-22 document proves to the state that you have vehicle liability insurance. You must maintain proof of SR-22 insurance for one year after a first offense and for three years for any subsequent offenses in Idaho.[4]
The following convictions can lead to an SR-22 requirement in Idaho:
DUI
Eluding police
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death
Driving without insurance
Reckless driving
Manslaughter
Using a motor vehicle to commit a felony
Aggravated DUI in a commercial vehicle
How to get SR-22 insurance in Idaho
If Idaho has suspended your driver’s license because of a serious traffic violation on your driving record, your insurer will need to submit an SR-22 form on your behalf to reinstate your license. Here’s how the process works:
Contact your insurance company. If you lose your driving privileges for something other than lack of insurance coverage, you’ll need to notify your insurer about the traffic offense. When you call, you can request an SR-22 and ask your insurance agent how the conviction and suspension will affect your premiums. If you have insurance with a traditional auto insurance company, your insurer may drop your coverage or increase your premiums upon renewal.
Purchase or update your auto insurance policy. In some cases, your current insurance company may not offer SR-22 coverage. It’s also possible that your current insurer may drop your coverage because of the conviction. If you can’t update your policy with your current insurance company, you’ll need to contact several companies and get an auto insurance quote from each one. When you purchase your policy, make sure you tell the insurers that you need to file an SR-22.
Pay your filing and reinstatement fees. Your insurer may charge you a small fee for SR-22 filing. The state of Idaho also charges a fee to drivers submitting an SR-22 to reinstate their driving privileges. The fee varies depending on the nature of the violation that led to your license suspension:
$25 reinstatement fee for more minor offenses like failing to maintain a required SR-22, excessive points, and failure to pay child support
$85 fee for offenses like driving without insurance, leaving the scene of an accident, eluding police, and reckless driving
$245 fee for an out-of-state DUI conviction
$285 reinstatement fee for a DUI conviction in Idaho
Ask your insurer to file on your behalf. The insurance company providing your auto coverage will file the SR-22 paperwork to the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles.
Maintain the SR-22. Idaho requires drivers with an SR-22 to keep the form on file for between one to three years without lapse.
How long Idaho requires SR-22 insurance
If you need to file an SR-22 in Idaho, you must maintain the insurance and keep the SR-22 form on file for one year for the first offense and for three years for any subsequent offenses.
How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in Idaho
Idaho drivers required to file an SR-22 will likely pay higher auto insurance premiums while the SR-22 filing is in place. Because insurers may still regard SR-22 drivers as high risk, these drivers can face higher premiums even after they’ve fulfilled the Idaho state requirement for an SR-22. That said, you can use a few strategies to decrease the effects of the SR-22 on your insurance costs.
After you file an SR-22 in Idaho, here are some ways to improve your driving record and potentially lower your insurance rates.
Meet minimum car insurance coverage requirements
In Idaho, every driver must carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, with a maximum coverage of $50,000 per accident, as well as $15,000 in property damage coverage. Maintaining this minimum coverage without any lapses for the duration of your SR-22 requirement will help keep your premiums from increasing further.
Complete a defensive driving course
Idaho allows drivers to reduce the number of points on their licenses by taking a defensive driving course as often as once every three years.[5] While defensive driving classes won’t remove convictions from your driving history, the skills you learn in such a course may help improve your driving record and lower your future insurance costs.
Request discounts
Many auto insurers offer a number of discounts that can help you lower your rate. Contact your insurance company for additional information about how you can get the lowest rate for your situation.
Bundle insurance policies
Consider bundling your car insurance policy with another policy if you need multiple insurance products, such as home and auto insurance. Many insurance companies offer bundling discounts, which can help you save on both policies.
Idaho SR-22 insurance FAQs
The following information can help answer your remaining questions about finding affordable SR-22 coverage in Idaho.
How do you know if you need SR-22?
The Idaho DMV will send a notice to the last known address on your driving record to inform you. Drivers convicted of certain serious traffic offenses in Idaho will have their driver’s license suspended. If you have a suspended license in Idaho, you must file an SR-22 to reinstate your driving privileges.
Are there any fees with SR-22 insurance?
It’s possible. Your auto insurance company may charge a small filing fee, though it depends. Idaho doesn’t charge a specific SR-22 fee or penalty. That said, you’ll have to pay a fee to reinstate your driver’s license. This fee varies depending on the severity of the offense that led to your suspension, ranging from $25 to $285.
How much do car insurance rates increase after filing SR-22?
It depends. How much your premiums increase after an SR-22 varies on your specific situation, including what violation led to your suspension, your driving record, your location, and which insurance company you use. You’ll likely have higher rates after filing an SR-22 compared to standard car insurance rates.
How long do you have to hold an SR-22 in Idaho?
Idaho requires drivers to maintain an SR-22 filing for one year for a first offense and for three years for any subsequent offenses.
How do you get rid of an SR-22 in Idaho?
You can’t decrease your SR-22 requirement in Idaho. Once the appropriate amount of time passes and if you follow all the steps the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles requires, you can ask your insurer to remove the SR-22 from your policy.
What happens to your SR-22 in Idaho if you move?
Relocating to a new state doesn’t negate a current Idaho SR-22 form. Generally, you have to apply for an SR-22 in your new state of residence and will need to complete local requirements.
Related articles
More cities in Idaho
Sources
- Idaho Transportation Department. "Be Sure to Insure!."
- Idaho Transportation Department Driver Services. "Reinstatement Application."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- Idaho Transportation Department. "SR-22 and Reinstatement Information."
- Idaho Transportation Department. "A Guide to Understanding Driver Records."
Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson.
Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger's, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.
She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in