6+ years writing about insurance, travel, and personal finances
Contributor to brands like Credible
In addition to insurance, Nick specializes in writing about business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. He’s been featured in myriad web publications, including Fox Business.
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15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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Updated November 22, 2024
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Table of contents
SR-22 insurance isn’t an insurance policy; it’s a certificate that shows a driver meets the minimum required auto insurance in their state. Only drivers who’ve had their driver’s licenses suspended or revoked may need to carry SR-22 certificates. If it’s a requirement for you, it’s important that you know how to secure it, how long it lasts, and what happens if you don’t have proof of insurance on file.
An insurance lapse can reset the Louisiana SR-22 period.
Some car insurance companies don’t process SR-22 forms.
SR-22 insurance has a three-year minimum filing period in Louisiana.
Cheapest companies for SR-22 insurance in Louisiana
Rates for drivers with SR-22 insurance in Louisiana depend on coverage levels, the severity of your license suspension, and individual factors. The following companies have the lowest liability-only and full-coverage rates for Louisiana SR-22 motorists.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $76 | $130 |
USAA | $96 | $164 |
National General | $109 | $218 |
Allstate | $124 | $212 |
GEICO | $124 | $213 |
Root | $136 | $232 |
Direct Auto | $137 | $253 |
Progressive | $148 | $252 |
Clearcover | $190 | $304 |
The General | $206 | $415 |
Liberty Mutual | $217 | $326 |
Bristol West | $250 | $496 |
Safeco | $263 | $341 |
What is SR-22 insurance in Louisiana?
SR-22 insurance isn’t a type of insurance. It’s a form that the state of Louisiana requires drivers to present to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles to certify that the policyholder maintains the minimum level of liability coverage. The court orders certain high-risk drivers to file for SR-22 insurance with their car insurance company, but not every company offers this form.
SR-22 forms act as proof that the driver meets Louisiana’s minimum liability coverage:
$15,000 for bodily injury per person
$30,000 for bodily injury per accident
$25,000 for property damage[1]
An SR-22 isn’t a type of insurance, and Louisiana drivers may purchase any additional coverage limits or options, as long as they meet the minimum liability limits.
SR-22 insurance is important because it ensures that a high-risk driver has the liability insurance necessary to cover injuries or damages they may cause in the future.
Difference between SR-22 and FR-44
Not all states have SR-22 certificate requirements. Some states have no requirements at all, while Florida and Virginia require FR-44 forms. FR-44s are also certifications of financial responsibility and share similarities with SR-22s.
Both forms have the same approximate costs, both are court ordered, and both require a three-year minimum. An FR-44 will also likely raise premiums.
One difference is that Florida only requires FR-44s for drivers with alcohol-related convictions.[2] Another difference is that an FR-44 proves that you have higher requirements than the state minimums. If you move from Louisiana to Florida or Virginia, you may have to file for an FR-44 in those states in addition to filing for an out-of-state SR-22 for Louisiana.
When you need SR-22 insurance
Drivers in Louisiana who require SR-22 insurance typically also require a hardship license or have been convicted of the following criminal offenses:
Revoked or suspended license
Resisting arrest
Refusal to cooperate
DWI convictions
Underage DUI conviction
Driving without satisfactory insurance
Multiple at-fault accidents or violations
Repeat traffic violations, like reckless driving, within a short time frame
Not paying court-ordered child support or other unsatisfied judgments
How to get SR-22 insurance in Louisiana
Getting an SR-22 financial responsibility insurance form in Louisiana isn’t difficult. The court will formally notify you if you need to obtain it. Once you’re notified, follow these steps to secure SR-22 insurance in Louisiana:
Contact your insurance company and ask if they file SR-22 forms for policyholders.
If your insurer doesn’t facilitate certificates of financial responsibility or chooses not to renew your policy based on the cause of your SR-22, find an auto insurance company that does.
Pay a fee to your insurance company to cover the SR-22 filing expense.
Your insurance company will then file the SR-22 form with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.
You need to maintain your SR-22 insurance for the length of the court-assigned period. This means making on-time payments and maintaining the minimum liability car insurance coverage so your policy doesn’t lapse.
When you’ve consistently maintained the SR-22 filing requirement for the specific period ordered by the court, you need to call your insurance agent and ask them to remove it from your policy.
How long Louisiana requires SR-22 insurance
Drivers in Louisiana must maintain SR-22 insurance for a minimum of three years, on average. Most states require a three-year minimum, though the exact length of your SR-22 depends on the circumstances of your driving offense.
For example, a first-time driver required to carry SR-22 insurance may have it removed after three years. A driver with recurring DUI/DWI convictions, multiple serious traffic violations, or multiple at-fault accidents may have a longer SR-22 requirement period. Keep in mind that your period may reset if your coverage lapses or if you fail to maintain your SR-22.
One of the biggest barriers a driver may face when getting an SR-22 in Louisiana is finding an insurance company that accepts high-risk drivers. Not all insurance companies facilitate SR-22 filings, which means you’ll need to shop around.
How SR-22 insurance affects driving record and future rates in Louisiana
SR-22 insurance is a consequence of dangerous driving habits.[3] You need to notify your car insurance company and ask them to file an SR-22 on your behalf; when you do, they’ll likely increase your rates.
Expect a higher rate increase than you would receive for smaller violations, like getting a traffic ticket. Just as an at-fault accident or speeding ticket influences your rates as long as it’s on your driving record, your SR-22 will affect your rates until it expires.
If you want to lower your rates in the meantime, try the following tips.
1. Increase your deductible
Higher deductibles reduce the amount an insurance company pays when you file a claim, which may lead to a lower monthly premium.
2. Bundle with another insurance product
Some insurance companies offer discounted rates when you purchase two or more policies. Although you might not get a significant reduction on car insurance, you can secure an affordable price overall via reduced homeowners insurance, life insurance, or pet insurance rates.
3. Ask about discounts
Insurance companies offer one-time and ongoing discounts, such as for receiving paperless communication, driving a vehicle with the latest safety features, and paying your full policy premium in a lump sum.
4. Reduce your coverage
An SR-22 requires you to maintain a certain level of liability coverage, but it doesn’t require you to carry optional coverages, such as comprehensive and collision. Reduce or remove these coverages from your policy to lower your rates.
5. Shop around
Car insurance companies offer competitive rates, even for drivers with non-owner SR-22 car insurance. Look to car insurance companies that specialize in high-risk drivers, and compare rates.
Louisiana SR-22 insurance FAQs
If it’s your first time holding an SR-22 in Louisiana, you should know what your responsibilities are and how long you need to maintain the form. Learn more about SR-22 coverage in Louisiana below.
How do you know if you need an SR-22?
An SR-22 requirement doesn’t come as a surprise. A court order or the Louisiana OMV will formally notify you that you must file an SR-22 form with your insurance company and maintain the minimum insurance coverage mandated for a specific duration. If you’re unsure if you require an SR-22 after a conviction like a DUI/DWI, reach out to your insurance company or the Office of Motor Vehicles.
Are there any fees with SR-22 insurance?
SR-22 insurance increases your expenses, though the form itself isn’t expensive. Most SR-22 forms cost $15–$25 to file. Rates vary depending on what the state and your insurance company charge. The major costs associated with SR-22 filings are related to insurance premium increases.
How much do car insurance rates increase after filing an SR-22?
Insurance rates typically rise after filing an SR-22, but the exact cost depends on a variety of factors. Just like your driving history influences your initial premium rate, the severity of the conviction, your recent driving record, and your insurance history affect your increase.
How long do you have to hold an SR-22 in Louisiana?
If you’re assigned an SR-22 in Louisiana, the minimum holding time is three years. Many states share this three-year minimum, although some require a shorter or longer period. Individual SR-22 time periods depend on the seriousness of the conviction and how long the Louisiana OMV enforces the SR-22 requirement.
How do you get rid of an SR-22 in Louisiana?
Either a judge, the state, or the Office of Motor Vehicles determines the length of time required to maintain an SR-22 in Louisiana. You can’t remove the SR-22 from your license until this period expires. Once it does, you need to contact your insurance company and ask them to remove the form for you.
What happens to your SR-22 in Louisiana if you move?
Most states require convicted drivers to have an SR-22 or FR-44 form. You’ll still need to maintain your SR-22 filing in Louisiana as an out-of-state filing. You must also ask your car insurance company to send the SR-22 from Louisiana to the department of motor vehicles in your new state so you can secure an additional SR-22 or FR-44 form.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Sources
- Louisiana Department of Insurance. "Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance."
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "FR (4) Cases – Increased BIL/PDL limits for DUI Cases."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs."
Nick Dauk is a freelance writer specializing in business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. His work has been featured in Fox Business, BBC, The Edge, Business Insider, and Bisnow. Nick is a first-generation college graduate, having majored in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Central Florida. His eclectic coursework, combined with previous managerial roles in the retail and broadcast television industries, have helped him develop an interdisciplinary approach to writing.
For nearly a decade, Nick has created content for mom-and-pop businesses and global corporations. As a travel writer, his global adventures have also been featured on Inside Hook, Houston Chronicle, Culture Trip, and Matador. When he's not traveling, Nick can be found in Orlando spending time with his wife and toddler.
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
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