Cheapest SR-22 Car Insurance in California

Farmers provides California's cheapest SR-22 insurance at $1,678 for minimum coverage and $4,827 for full coverage. The minimum rate is $1,053 below the state average of $2,732, or about 39% cheaper, notable savings in one of the nation's most expensive insurance markets.

Progressive, the most expensive on our list, costs $2,129 for minimum coverage, still 43% below the state average but $451 more than Farmers. California's highly regulated market still shows price variation worth comparing.

The table below lists the five companies providing the most affordable SR-22 coverage options in California.

* Rates represent a 40-year-old male driver with a DUI, good credit and a 2012 Toyota Camry LE.

GEICO most frequently ranks as the low-cost leader across categories. The least expensive group is Drivers With Other Violations, at $892 for minimum coverage SR-22 insurance with GEICO, while the most expensive is Young Drivers With a Suspension, at $2,054 with GEICO. The $1,162 spread reflects how youth and suspension history combine dramatically in California's market.

Your SR-22 rate ultimately reflects the severity of your violation and the insurer's evaluation of your risk profile.

* 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.

Travis Afb posts the lowest minimum coverage SR-22 at $1,204 (GEICO), while Woodland Hills averages $2,739 (GEICO). The $1,535 gap, or roughly 127% higher, aligns with Los Angeles area congestion, claim frequency, and repair costs.

Traffic intensity, repair costs, and theft risk explain much of the city-level SR-22 variance across California.

* Rates represent a 40-year-old male driver with a DUI, good credit and a 2012 Toyota Camry LE.

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.

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.

California drivers need to understand various insurance laws and regulations beyond just filing an SR-22 to meet the state's minimum coverage requirements.

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.

Below are frequently asked questions about SR-22 certifications 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.