DUI/DWI: The Offense Behind Most SR-22 Orders
- An SR-22 is a form your insurer files with the state — it is not a separate insurance policy.
- Expect a one-time filing fee (often $15–$50) plus a premium increase that reflects the underlying violation.
- You must keep the policy continuous for the state's full requirement period, usually 1–3 years.
DUI (driving under the influence) and DWI (driving while intoxicated) — terminology varies by state, the blood-alcohol thresholds and penalties vary more — are the most common trigger for SR-22 requirements. The insurance aftermath follows a predictable sequence: conviction reported to the DMV, license suspended, SR-22 (or FR-44 in Florida and Virginia) ordered for two to five years, and the violation enters rating models immediately upon conviction, not when the filing starts. The premium impact is the largest of any violation type: expect 60–100%+ increases at minimum limits, more with FR-44 coverage levels. The recovery path is also predictable: continuous compliance, shopping at every renewal (the spread between carriers on DUI records is the widest in the industry), and the rate stepping down as the conviction ages past years one, three, and five. Full guide: SR-22 after a DUI.