GEICO provides the cheapest SR-22 insurance in California at $146 monthly for minimum coverage and $309 for full coverage, about 37% below the state's average rates. However, these rates represent only 40-year-old drivers with a DUI on record, and Mercury, Progressive, Farmers and Auto-Owners might offer more affordable rates for your profile.
Cheapest SR-22 Car Insurance in California
Updated: September 5, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Farmers provides the most affordable SR-22 insurance in California, with minimum coverage premiums averaging $140 per month or $1,678 per year for drivers requiring this filing.
California car insurance costs with an SR-22 filing average $249 monthly for minimum coverage and $507 per month for full coverage.
California requires SR-22 insurance to cover $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident for injuries, plus $5,000 for property damage if your license is suspended.
Cheapest SR-22 Car Insurance in California
| Farmers | $140 | $402 | -24% |
| GEICO | $146 | $309 | -37% |
| Auto-Owners | $169 | $396 | -21% |
| Mercury | $175 | $338 | -28% |
| Progressive | $177 | $346 | -27% |
* Rates represent a 40-year-old male driver with a DUI, good credit and a 2012 Toyota Camry LE.
Cheapest SR-22 Car Insurance in California by Category
GEICO stands out as the clear leader for SR-22 insurance in California, winning all seven categories we analyzed. Their rates remain consistently affordable across different driver profiles, with monthly premiums ranging from $74 to $171.
| Most Drivers Needing a SR-22 | GEICO | $146 | $309 |
| Young Drivers With a Suspension | GEICO | $171 | $357 |
| Senior Drivers With a Suspension | GEICO | $144 | $300 |
| Drivers With Multiple Speeding Tickets | GEICO | $137 | $293 |
| Drivers With Racing Violation | GEICO | $143 | $303 |
| Drivers With Hit-And-Run Accident | GEICO | $144 | $306 |
| Drivers With Other Violations | GEICO | $74 | $164 |
* Rates for most drivers are represented by a 40-year-old male driver with a DUI, good credit and a 2012 Toyota Camry LE. All other profiles are modifications of these factors. Young drivers are represented by 25-year-olds, and seniors are represented by 65-year-olds; all other violations represent those with suspensions that are not due to driving violations.
Cheapest Personalized SR-22 Car Insurance in California
Our analysis covers general winners for base profiles and common categories, but finding the cheapest provider depends on your specific situation. The table below ranks the five most affordable providers based on your age, gender, coverage needs, credit and driving history.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Select
Age:25
Select
Gender:Female
Select
Coverage Level:100/300/100 Comp/Coll $1000 Deductible
Select
Credit Score:Good
Select
Driving Record: 2 speeding tickets (11-15 MPH over limit)
| GEICO | $338 | $4,059 | -31% |
| AAA | $352 | $4,218 | -28% |
| Progressive | $357 | $4,287 | -27% |
| Farmers | $458 | $5,498 | -6% |
| State Farm | $473 | $5,681 | -3% |
Cheapest SR-22 Car Insurance in California by City
GEICO offers the most affordable SR-22 car insurance in California cities, with rates starting at $124 monthly in some areas. Our research found varying rates across major Golden State cities, which we detail below.
| Anaheim | Progressive | $168 |
| Antioch | GEICO | $130 |
| Apple Valley | GEICO | $141 |
| Bakersfield | GEICO | $124 |
| Berkeley | GEICO | $111 |
| Bloomington | Progressive | $150 |
| Burbank | GEICO | $216 |
| Carlsbad | GEICO | $135 |
| Chula Vista | GEICO | $106 |
| Clovis | GEICO | $132 |
| Concord | GEICO | $124 |
| Corona | GEICO | $135 |
| Costa Mesa | GEICO | $150 |
| Daly City | GEICO | $129 |
| Downey | GEICO | $170 |
| Eastvale | Progressive | $145 |
| El Cajon | GEICO | $150 |
| El Cerrito | GEICO | $114 |
| El Monte | GEICO | $175 |
| Elk Grove | GEICO | $126 |
| Escondido | GEICO | $133 |
| Eureka | GEICO | $112 |
| Fairfield | GEICO | $111 |
| Fillmore | Progressive | $153 |
| Fontana | GEICO | $146 |
| Fremont | GEICO | $126 |
| Fresno | GEICO | $129 |
| Fullerton | GEICO | $166 |
| Garden Grove | GEICO | $157 |
| Glendale | Auto-Owners | $221 |
| Granada Hills | GEICO | $226 |
| Hayward | GEICO | $137 |
| Highland | GEICO | $143 |
| Huntington Beach | GEICO | $161 |
| Inglewood | Progressive | $186 |
| Irvine | Mercury | $169 |
| Jurupa Valley | GEICO | $141 |
| Lancaster | GEICO | $170 |
| Long Beach | GEICO | $173 |
| Los Angeles | Progressive | $190 |
| Mira Loma | Progressive | $160 |
| Modesto | GEICO | $146 |
| Moreno Valley | GEICO | $139 |
| Murrieta | GEICO | $137 |
| Newhall | GEICO | $170 |
| North Hollywood | Auto-Owners | $218 |
| Norwalk | Progressive | $163 |
| Oakland | GEICO | $120 |
| Oceanside | GEICO | $126 |
| Ontario | Progressive | $157 |
| Orange | GEICO | $146 |
| Oxnard | GEICO | $153 |
| Palmdale | GEICO | $170 |
| Pasadena | GEICO | $169 |
| Pescadero | GEICO | $110 |
| Petaluma | GEICO | $127 |
| Pomona | Progressive | $169 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | GEICO | $136 |
| Rialto | GEICO | $161 |
| Richmond | GEICO | $133 |
| Riverside | GEICO | $136 |
| Roseville | GEICO | $150 |
| Sacramento | GEICO | $145 |
| Salinas | GEICO | $113 |
| San Bernardino | GEICO | $138 |
| San Diego | GEICO | $124 |
| San Francisco | GEICO | $128 |
| San Jose | GEICO | $116 |
| San Mateo | GEICO | $128 |
| Santa Ana | GEICO | $138 |
| Santa Clara | GEICO | $123 |
| Santa Maria | GEICO | $113 |
| Santa Rosa | GEICO | $119 |
| Simi Valley | Mercury | $180 |
| South El Monte | GEICO | $172 |
| Stockton | GEICO | $148 |
| Sunnyvale | GEICO | $120 |
| Temecula | GEICO | $140 |
| Thousand Oaks | GEICO | $163 |
| Torrance | GEICO | $151 |
| Travis Afb | GEICO | $100 |
| Valencia | GEICO | $176 |
| Vallejo | GEICO | $124 |
| Venice | GEICO | $171 |
| Ventura | GEICO | $141 |
| Victorville | GEICO | $158 |
| Visalia | GEICO | $120 |
| Vista | GEICO | $126 |
| West Covina | GEICO | $155 |
| Westlake Village | GEICO | $155 |
| Woodland Hills | GEICO | $228 |
* Rates represent a 40-year-old male driver with a DUI, good credit and a 2012 Toyota Camry LE.
Best Cheap SR-22 Car Insurance Companies in California
Auto-Owners is the best car insurance provider for SR-22 filing because it offers the strongest balance of affordable rates, excellent customer service and useful coverage options, earning it the highest overall MoneyGeek score. Consider Progressive, Mercury, Farmers and GEICO in your search as well.
| Auto-Owners | 4.62 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Progressive | 4.58 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Mercury | 4.38 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Farmers | 4.36 | 4 | 11 | 1 |
| GEICO | 4.36 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
Auto-Owners
Best Overall for SR-22 Insurance in California
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
3.8/5Customer Experience
3.4/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Full Coverage Cost
$396For 100/300/100 liability and $1,000 deductible comprehensive and collision coverage for drivers with an SR-22Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Cost
$169For minimum state coverage for drivers filing an SR-22Best For
Customer Experience
How Much Is SR-22 Car Insurance in California?
SR-22 car insurance in California costs an average of $2,993 yearly for minimum coverage and $6,082 annually for full coverage policies. California ranks as the 37th most affordable for minimum coverage and 38th for full coverage. Monthly rates vary significantly based on driver profiles, ranging from $123 to $665.
| Minimum Coverage | $249 | $2,993 | 42% |
| Full Coverage | $507 | $6,082 | 52% |
*Average rates shown represent a 40-year-old male driver with a DUI, good credit and a 2012 Toyota Camry LE.
Average SR-22 Car Insurance Cost by California City
Based on our California SR-22 insurance analysis, Visalia offers the lowest rates at $215 per month, while Woodland Hills has the highest premiums at $382 monthly. You can review costs for major cities in the state for both full and minimum required coverage policies.
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Select
Coverage Type:Minimum Coverage
| Anaheim | $284 | $3,413 |
| Antioch | $227 | $2,724 |
| Apple Valley | $238 | $2,851 |
| Bakersfield | $229 | $2,749 |
| Berkeley | $226 | $2,707 |
| Bloomington | $245 | $2,944 |
| Burbank | $346 | $4,150 |
| Carlsbad | $226 | $2,716 |
| Chula Vista | $207 | $2,481 |
| Clovis | $223 | $2,675 |
| Concord | $220 | $2,638 |
| Corona | $253 | $3,040 |
| Costa Mesa | $255 | $3,058 |
| Daly City | $238 | $2,856 |
| Downey | $289 | $3,467 |
| Eastvale | $252 | $3,023 |
| El Cajon | $241 | $2,887 |
| El Cerrito | $218 | $2,614 |
| Elk Grove | $242 | $2,902 |
| El Monte | $308 | $3,698 |
| Escondido | $228 | $2,733 |
| Eureka | $188 | $2,251 |
| Fairfield | $211 | $2,531 |
| Fillmore | $234 | $2,807 |
| Fontana | $258 | $3,092 |
| Fremont | $213 | $2,554 |
| Fresno | $230 | $2,759 |
| Fullerton | $283 | $3,396 |
| Garden Grove | $308 | $3,697 |
| Glendale | $404 | $4,845 |
| Granada Hills | $363 | $4,357 |
| Hayward | $221 | $2,656 |
| Highland | $240 | $2,885 |
| Huntington Beach | $264 | $3,164 |
| Inglewood | $323 | $3,872 |
| Irvine | $268 | $3,214 |
| Jurupa Valley | $240 | $2,883 |
| Lancaster | $288 | $3,452 |
| Long Beach | $276 | $3,314 |
| Los Angeles | $313 | $3,753 |
| Mira Loma | $247 | $2,960 |
| Modesto | $242 | $2,907 |
| Moreno Valley | $248 | $2,976 |
| Murrieta | $243 | $2,918 |
| Newhall | $286 | $3,436 |
| North Hollywood | $417 | $4,998 |
| Norwalk | $276 | $3,314 |
| Oakland | $234 | $2,804 |
| Oceanside | $234 | $2,803 |
| Ontario | $262 | $3,142 |
| Orange | $250 | $2,995 |
| Oxnard | $246 | $2,948 |
| Palmdale | $290 | $3,476 |
| Pasadena | $304 | $3,643 |
| Pescadero | $192 | $2,310 |
| Petaluma | $202 | $2,428 |
| Pomona | $271 | $3,258 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | $247 | $2,966 |
| Rialto | $258 | $3,099 |
| Richmond | $239 | $2,869 |
| Riverside | $248 | $2,978 |
| Roseville | $232 | $2,781 |
| Sacramento | $245 | $2,941 |
| Salinas | $197 | $2,369 |
| San Bernardino | $260 | $3,122 |
| San Diego | $220 | $2,636 |
| San Francisco | $239 | $2,872 |
| San Jose | $215 | $2,585 |
| San Mateo | $208 | $2,495 |
| Santa Ana | $267 | $3,202 |
| Santa Clara | $212 | $2,548 |
| Santa Maria | $193 | $2,311 |
| Santa Rosa | $212 | $2,545 |
| Simi Valley | $275 | $3,303 |
| South El Monte | $287 | $3,444 |
| Stockton | $240 | $2,880 |
| Sunnyvale | $212 | $2,550 |
| Temecula | $236 | $2,834 |
| Thousand Oaks | $277 | $3,323 |
| Torrance | $263 | $3,161 |
| Travis Afb | $207 | $2,489 |
| Valencia | $278 | $3,335 |
| Vallejo | $223 | $2,674 |
| Venice | $333 | $3,997 |
| Ventura | $231 | $2,770 |
| Victorville | $266 | $3,196 |
| Visalia | $215 | $2,574 |
| Vista | $232 | $2,782 |
| West Covina | $279 | $3,349 |
| Westlake Village | $276 | $3,312 |
| Woodland Hills | $382 | $4,589 |
* Rates shown are for a 40-year-old male driver with a DUI, good credit and a 2012 Toyota Camry LE.
California SR-22 Insurance Requirements
An SR-22, also called an SR-22 bond or certificate of financial responsibility, isn't insurance but a form your insurer files to confirm you meet California's Financial Responsibility law for license reinstatement. To comply with California laws, you must carry these minimum liability limits:
- $15,000 personal injury liability per person
- $30,000 personal injury liability per accident
- $5,000 property damage liability per accident
In the state, SR-22 certificates are usually required for three years. The duration can extend beyond three years based on the violation type and if there is noncompliance with requirements or repeated offenses.
TYPES OF SR-22 FILINGS
SR-22 insurance filings in California come in different forms. A standard SR-22 Owners Certificate only provides coverage when driving your own vehicle. In contrast, non-owner SR-22 insurance in California, known as an SR-22 Operators Certificate, protects you while driving other people's vehicles.
California offers a comprehensive option called the SR-22 Operators-Owner Certificate. This combined filing protects whether you're driving your own or someone else's vehicle.
Other California SR-22 Insurance Laws and Regulations
California drivers need to understand various insurance laws and regulations beyond just filing an SR-22 to meet the state's minimum coverage requirements.
- First offense: requires three years of SR-22 coverage.
- Second offense within five years: leads to a five-year license suspension with continued SR-22 requirement.
- Third offense within five years: results in indefinite license suspension with mandatory SR-22 coverage.
SR-22 Filing and Reinstatement Fees
SR-22 filing fees in California range from $25 to $35, while license reinstatement fees cost between $55 and $125, based on your violation type. California offers payment plans if your total fees exceed $250.
Coverage Lapses and Cancellations
If your SR-22 insurance lapses or gets canceled, your insurance company must notify the California DMV right away. Your license will be suspended again until you file a new SR-22 and pay additional reinstatement fees.
SR-22 Requirement Length
California requires SR-22 insurance for three years in most cases, but this can extend to 10 years for serious violations involving injuries, death, or major property damage.
For non-driving violations:
SR-22 Filing Process
To get SR-22 insurance in California, contact an insurance company licensed in the state and purchase a policy that meets California's minimum requirements. Your insurance company files the SR-22 electronically with the California DMV, typically processing within 72 hours.
WHAT TO DO IF PROVIDERS DENY YOU COVERAGE
California drivers who can't get standard auto insurance due to an SR-22 requirement have access to coverage through the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP). This state-backed program guarantees insurance coverage for eligible drivers who have been rejected by at least three insurance companies. The program works by assigning high-risk drivers to insurance companies that participate in the state's assigned risk pool, ensuring that even drivers with serious violations can maintain legal coverage.
Cheap SR-22 Insurance in California: Bottom Line
In California, drivers with severe violations must file an SR-22 to prove they have minimum coverage. This requirement lasts 3 to 10 years, depending on the offense. While an SR-22 costs more, cheap car insurance options are available for these drivers.
SR-22 Insurance California: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about SR-22 certifications in California:
What are the cheapest SR-22 car insurance options in California?
Farmers provides California's cheapest SR-22 car insurance at $140 per month for minimum coverage. GEICO and Mercury follow as the next most affordable options.
How much does filing an SR-22 increase car insurance rates in California?
Filing an SR-22 increases car insurance rates in California by 52% compared to drivers with clean records.
How long do you need to have an SR-22 in California?
In California, you must maintain an SR-22 and continuous insurance coverage for three years. Letting coverage lapse restarts the SR-22 period and can trigger additional penalties.
How We Decided the Best and Cheapest SR-22 Insurance in California
MoneyGeek analyzed hundreds of thousands of quotes across California to determine the average cost of car insurance premiums for drivers with various profiles that would likely need an SR-22. All data was sourced from Quadrant Information Services and extrapolated by our team to give you personalized recommendations for your specific profile.
California SR-22 Driver Profile
We collected data for a sample driver with the following attributes and modified it to other common profiles for those needing an SR-22:
- 40-year-old male
- Driving record with a DUI
- 2012 Toyota Camry LE
- 12,000 miles driven annually
- Suspended license
- Single
- No claims history
Coverage Levels and Deductibles
We gathered quotes for minimum coverage policies to help drivers find the cheapest SR-22 insurance for their coverage needs. Quotes were based on California's minimum coverage requirements, with the following limits:
- $15,000 personal injury liability per person
- $30,000 personal injury liability per accident
- $5,000 property damage liability per accident
We based our analysis for full coverage quotes that include comprehensive and collision protection on these coverage amounts with a $1,000 deductible:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $100,000 property damage liability per accident
Our Best SR-22 Company Rating Methodology
We rated all companies based on the following rating scale:
- Affordability (60% of score): We analyze premium costs by gathering quotes across multiple driver profiles and comparing pricing against regional competitors. This substantial weight reflects the primary concern most consumers have when selecting insurance coverage.
- Customer experience (30% of score): Our customer service evaluation includes Google reviews, J.D. Power scores, AM Best financial ratings, and consumer feedback from Reddit discussions. We check these different sources to see how companies really perform for their customers.
- Coverage options (10% of score): We evaluate the breadth and depth of available coverage types, examining both the quantity of options and the distinctiveness of specialized benefits or unique features each provider offers.
Learn more about MoneyGeek's car insurance methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.