What happens if you can’t afford SR-22 insurance?
When you can't afford SR-22 insurance, you cancel your auto insurance policy, make payment arrangements, ask about discounts, or shop around for another SR-22 policy. The average SR-22 auto insurance rate is $230/mo, but there's a way to secure cheaper rates. Compare multiple companies and shop around to the best quotes when you can't afford SR-22 insurance.
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Dani Best
Licensed Insurance Producer
Dani Best has been a licensed insurance producer for nearly 10 years. Dani began her insurance career in a sales role with State Farm in 2014. During her time in sales, she graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology from Capella University and is currently earning her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Since 2014, Dani has held and maintains licenses in Life, Disability, Property, and Casualt...
Licensed Insurance Producer
UPDATED: Feb 24, 2024
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Feb 24, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Ask your auto insurance company if you qualify for any discounts to lower monthly premiums.
- A good or excellent credit score could decrease your SR-22 insurance by at least 5 percent.
- Standard auto insurance rates are $121 per month.
- SR-22 car insurance costs $230 per month on average.
SR-22 insurance is required if you’re a high-risk driver, but what happens if you can’t afford SR-22 insurance? There are many things you can do before you buy SR-22 insurance.
Our guide explains what to do if you can’t afford SR-22 insurance, how you can access cheap SR-22 insurance, and how much it costs per state.
If you can’t afford SR-22 insurance at your current company, enter your ZIP code in the free comparison tool above to find SR-22 insurance quotes today. Or continue reading the article for more information on how you can discover cost-efficient SR-22 insurance.
What happens if you can’t afford SR-22 insurance?
SR-22 insurance is much more expensive than standard car insurance. If you have SR-22 auto insurance, you could pay up to 90% more for auto insurance on average.
If you can’t afford the SR-22 insurance rates, you should contact your auto insurance provider and let them know the premiums are too expensive. You may be eligible for discounts that can lower your monthly rate.
Sometimes, you might be in a desperate situation. Try to arrange payments while you shop around for a cheaper policy. Canceling your policy should be the last thing that you do.
Secure a more affordable policy before you move on to prevent a lapse in car insurance coverage.
What is SR-22 insurance?
SR-22 insurance is a certification proving that you have the minimum car insurance requirements as a high-risk-driver.
You can get SR-22 insurance from auto insurance companies, but some companies may deny you a policy. If you can’t get SR-22 insurance through a company after 60 days of trying to get car insurance, return to the DMV and ask them to appoint a car insurance provider to you.
When you have SR-22 insurance, keep your balance current to maintain your driver’s license. Once you miss a payment, your driving privileges will be suspended.
Why do I need SR-22 insurance?
Drivers who are convicted of DUI, reckless driving, or have too many traffic violations will need SR-22 insurance. To get your driver’s license reinstated, you’ll need to pay DMV fees and get SR-22 insurance from a company.
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How much does SR-22 insurance cost a month?
We mentioned how SR-22 insurance rates are 90% more than standard auto insurance earlier. However, it’s only an average. So what does SR-22 insurance look like by state?
Let’s look at the average monthly rates of standard car insurance and non-standard car insurance (SR-22) of each state in the United States. Type in your state in the top right-hand corner for a concentrated view of your state.
States with the Lowest SR-22 Insurance Costs| State | Annual SR-22 Car Insurance Rate | Annual 2018 Car Insurance Expenditure | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $1,331 | $686.25 | $644.75 |
| Indiana | $1,561 | $767.72 | $793.28 |
| Virginia | $1,693 | $853.78 | $839.22 |
| Ohio | $1,700 | $794.91 | $905.09 |
Read more: SR-22 Bond Ohio
Maine has the cheapest monthly SR-22 insurance, but Maryland has the most affordable percent increase. Overall, Indiana is the best state for SR-22 insurance costs.
Three Ways to Save if You Can’t Afford SR-22 Insurance
There’s a way around expensive SR-22 insurance. Whatever you do, don’t cancel your auto insurance policy. Instead, check out these three methods to saving money on SR-22 car insurance.
Auto Insurance Discounts
If SR-22 insurance is too expensive, make sure you have all the discounts your auto insurance company can provide you. A high-risk driving status does not disqualify you for discounts.
Maintain a Good Credit Score
You might be a high-risk driver, but if you maintain a good credit history, you can drop your SR-22 insurance by at least five percent.
Why does this matter? According to Experian, car insurance companies see policyholders with good and excellent credit scores as less likely to file a claim. The lower your chances are of filing a claim, the more money the auto insurance company can save.
Drive Less
Auto insurance companies will give you an additional discount if you decide to drive less. Driving less will decrease your risk of getting into an accident.
You can take a more radical approach and decide not to drive a vehicle at all. Ridesharing and public transportation have become more efficient in recent years, so you can avoid driving altogether.
What happens if you can’t afford SR-22 insurance?: The Bottom Line
There’s always a road around expensive auto insurance rates. SR-22 insurance cost is high, but you can take advantage of discounts to get cheaper rates. If you’re in a position to get another vehicle, downgrade to the previous model year.
A high-risk driving status may increase your rates, but you still qualify for affordable car insurance.
Start comparing multiple companies in your area by entering your ZIP code in our free online quote tool if you can’t find affordable SR-22 insurance.
Compare quotes from the top car insurance companies and save!
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Dani Best
Licensed Insurance Producer
Dani Best has been a licensed insurance producer for nearly 10 years. Dani began her insurance career in a sales role with State Farm in 2014. During her time in sales, she graduated with her Bachelors in Psychology from Capella University and is currently earning her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. Since 2014, Dani has held and maintains licenses in Life, Disability, Property, and Casualt...
Licensed Insurance Producer
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.