- What is non-owner SR-22 insurance?
- Who should get non-owner SR-22 insurance and why?
- When is an SR-22 required?
- How does non-owner SR-22 car insurance work?
- What does non-owner SR-22 insurance cover?
- What is not covered under a non-owner insurance policy?
- How much does non-owner SR-22 insurance cost?
- How to get non-owner SR-22 insurance
- Which companies sell non-owner SR-22 auto insurance?
- Who has the cheapest non-owner SR-22 insurance?
- What can I do to avoid needing SR-22 non-owner insurance?
- How to cancel a non-owner SR-22?
- FAQs: Getting SR-22 insurance without a car
EXPERT REVIEWED
by Laura Longero
If you’re considered a higher-risk driver due to traffic violations, getting a DWI/DUI or other reasons, you may be required to get an SR-22 certificate. This is a form, also referred to as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, is filed with your state’s division of motor vehicles and confirms you are meeting your state’s minimum auto liability requirements.
If you're required to carry an SR-22 but don't own a vehicle, you need to buy a non-owner car insurance policy. While it may sound counterintuitive, you can get auto insurance when an SR-22 certificate is required, even if you don't own a car or drive a vehicle regularly.
Curious how non-owner insurance works? Want to learn how to get non-owner SR-222 insurance? Seeking the cheapest non-owner SR-22 insurance? Read on for more information and advice from the experts.
- SR-22 is the form you file to verify financial responsibility, and a non-owner policy is the type of insurance you may need if you don't own a car.
- States can mandate non-car owners to obtain car insurance and carry an SR-22 to verify financial responsibility.
- Non-owner SR-22 insurance covers bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
- The non-owner policy doesn't offer the physical damage coverages of a collision or comprehensive policy.
What is non-owner SR-22 insurance?
An SR-22 form is a car insurance company’s guarantee that a driver is carrying the insurance coverage that their state requires.
Typically, the need for a non-owner policy arises because:
- The state mandates a person to obtain an auto insurance policy, but that individual doesn't have a car.
- Someone who doesn't own a car wants car insurance coverage when they occasionally operate non-owned vehicles, such as a rental car.
Car insurance companies offer non-owner policies because the industry is aware that there are certain situations where a person may need to carry auto insurance but doesn't have a vehicle to place on the policy.
If you have been convicted of a DUI or other serious traffic violation, a state regulatory entity often requires an insurer to certify that you can pay future auto accident claims (up to the certain mandated limits) by means of an SR-22 form being filed.
Who should get non-owner SR-22 insurance and why?
Note that an SR-22 safety responsibility certificate is not in itself an insurance policy. If you are obligated to file for an SR-22 certificate in your state but don’t own a vehicle, you’ll need to obtain a non-owner SR 22 automobile insurance policy.
A non-owners policy is only for drivers who occasionally borrow a vehicle – not for vehicle owners or for drivers who have quick access to a vehicle.
When is an SR-22 required?
According to Andrew Head, Certified Financial Planner and professor at Western Kentucky University, "the SR-22 is a certificate of insurance."
Some of the reasons your state may require an SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility include, but aren't limited to, the following:
- Failure to carry liability insurance on your vehicle
- A conviction for driving without insurance
- Driving uninsured and being involved in a motor vehicle accident
- DUI, DWI or other major alcohol offense convictions
- Serious moving violation (such as reckless driving) convictions
- Accumulating too many DMV points
- Being termed a habitual traffic offender
- Needing to apply for a hardship or probationary permit (while license is suspended)
- Reinstating your license after a suspension or revocation
Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute in St. Johns, Florida, says that three states – Georgia, Missouri and Texas – separately issue what’s called an SR-22A certificate, which is different from an SR-22 certificate.
Being required to file an SR-22A could adversely impact your auto insurance rates depending on why you need the certificate, although your premium likely won’t jump as high as it would if you need an SR-22 certificate.
Check out our detailed guide on What is SR-22 Insurance and How Much Does it Cost?
How does non-owner SR-22 car insurance work?
Technically, there is no such thing as "non-owner SR-22 insurance."
An SR-22 is the form you file to verify financial responsibility, and a non-owner policy is the type of insurance you may need if you don't own a car. Still, the result is that you have insurance and state-mandated forms to comply with the laws for such a situation.
States can mandate non-car owners to obtain car insurance and carry an SR-22 to verify financial responsibility. That's because state agencies are aware that it's possible for these individuals to be negligent and harm other people and their property while driving, even if they don't own the car they're operating.
“Be aware that not owning a vehicle may make it more difficult to obtain an SR-22 certificate,” Friedlander says.
“You will need to furnish proof of insurance to earn the certificate. If you don’t own a vehicle, you should apply for a non-owners auto insurance policy before filing for an SR-22 certificate.”
What does non-owner SR-22 insurance cover?
Some believe this policy type is the magic bullet of coverage; it's not. A non-owner policy only covers liability up to the limits purchased, and this coverage is usually secondary to that of the auto insurance policy of the actual car owner. So, if you borrow a friend's car to drive, the car owner's policy will be primary.
A non-owner policy will typically include:
- Bodily injury liability
- Property damage liability
Depending upon the state in which you live and the car insurance company you're using, you may also be able to include on the policy other types of car insurance coverage, including:
- Medical payments
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury
- Underinsured motorist bodily injury
What is not covered under a non-owner insurance policy?
A non-owner policy doesn't offer the physical damage coverages of collision or comprehensive policies, so if you drive a car and damage it, that won’t be covered by your non-owner policy.
Each state is different, but, as a general rule, a non-owner car insurance policy won't cover you for a vehicle registered to you or your household or a vehicle provided for your regular and frequent use. So, don't purchase a non-owner policy if any of these scenarios apply.
Non-owner policy inclusions and exclusions can differ from state to state, so make sure you’re familiar with your state’s SR22 non-owner requirements.
“Non-owner insurance does not include personal injury protection coverage in Florida,” says Rick Estrella.
How much does non-owner SR-22 insurance cost?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, being required to have an SR-22 certificate can increase your average annual auto insurance premiums by a minimum of 50% to a maximum of 400% above your current rate, based on the severity of the infraction and the risk assessment by your insurer.
Consider that the current average rate for a non-owner car insurance policy is $474 a year, while the average cost of a non-owners policy with an SR-22 for one DUI conviction is $1,752, based on a rate analysis by CarInsurance.com.
However, if you are filing an SR-22 for a traffic conviction other than a DUI – for instance, a license suspension or driving uninsured – it may be less. An SR-22 filing will also change your status from that of a preferred customer to a non-standard risk customer.
| State | Avg. Annual Premium | Max. Annual Premium | Min. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | $239 | $987 | $86 |
| AL | $368 | $1,573 | $43 |
| AR | $235 | $663 | $42 |
| AZ | $388 | $1,472 | $62 |
| CA | $323 | $1,012 | $88 |
| CO | $337 | $1,153 | $45 |
| CT | $511 | $1,620 | $134 |
| DC | $477 | $1,015 | $155 |
| DE | $732 | $3,192 | $147 |
| FL | $800 | $3,967 | $176 |
| GA | $377 | $1,840 | $47 |
| HI | $407 | $663 | $116 |
| IA | $196 | $489 | $61 |
| ID | $190 | $434 | $20 |
| IL | $391 | $3,127 | $53 |
| IN | $267 | $735 | $30 |
| KS | $287 | $735 | $57 |
| KY | $541 | $3,356 | $1 |
| LA | $367 | $1,252 | $148 |
| MA | $421 | $1,471 | $102 |
| MD | $358 | $1,732 | $84 |
| ME | $235 | $615 | $61 |
| MI | $574 | $5,662 | $71 |
| MN | $263 | $752 | $49 |
| MO | $315 | $1,464 | $111 |
| MS | $351 | $889 | $79 |
| MT | $298 | $1,104 | $70 |
| NC | $926 | $2,837 | $207 |
| ND | $228 | $589 | $67 |
| NE | $247 | $1,071 | $52 |
| NH | $303 | $771 | $96 |
| NJ | $1,029 | $3,267 | $238 |
| NM | $308 | $910 | $106 |
| NV | $426 | $1,443 | $74 |
| NY | $594 | $5,623 | $95 |
| OH | $232 | $848 | $26 |
| OK | $222 | $958 | $66 |
| OR | $504 | $1,522 | $170 |
| PA | $337 | $3,222 | $30 |
| RI | $578 | $1,878 | $146 |
| SC | $445 | $1,808 | $93 |
| SD | $174 | $569 | $30 |
| TN | $303 | $1,162 | $35 |
| TX | $413 | $1,312 | $117 |
| UT | $450 | $1,442 | $71 |
| VA | $337 | $992 | $103 |
| VT | $292 | $709 | $79 |
| WA | $394 | $1,809 | $96 |
| WI | $247 | $1,206 | $80 |
| WV | $296 | $882 | $114 |
| WY | $215 | $524 | $84 |
How to get non-owner SR-22 insurance
The best way to get cheap SR-22 non-owner insurance quotes is to do what you would to find a low-cost standard policy – compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies.
“Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around,” Friedlander says.
“Get at least three price quotes from national and regional carriers. You can obtain multiple quotes via online comparison tools, on the phone directly from insurers, or through a local insurance agent that represents a single company or multiple insurers.”
If you are buying a new auto insurance policy, be sure to ask if the company files SR-22 forms before you spend time getting a quote. Even though you’ll pay more for coverage attached to an SR-22, you can still save by comparison shopping.
Which companies sell non-owner SR-22 auto insurance?
The following companies sell non-owners policies, both with and without an SR-22. So, this is an excellent list to start with:
- State Farm
- Dairyland
- The General
- Safe Auto
- Direct
- Infinity
- Allstate
- Progressive
- Geico
Who has the cheapest non-owner SR-22 insurance?
Here are some of the lowest annual rates we found from the insurance companies surveyed:
- Geico: $311
- State Farm: $408
- Progressive: $576
- Allstate: $638
What can I do to avoid needing SR-22 non-owner insurance?
According to Certified Financial Planner and professor Andrew Head, there are some simple ways to avoid needing an SR-22.
"Recognize first that the requirement of an SR-22 is no trivial thing; the state requires this 'super verification' of coverage because you have been deemed very high risk. This most often involved driving in a way that puts other people's lives in jeopardy,” Head says.
While an SR-22 may be required for a driver who was being safe but just didn't have auto insurance, it is essential to realize that this, too, is reckless. Even the safest drivers among us are prone to mistakes, and even little ones can result in devastating consequences to others.
Andrew Head offers some advice: Maintain adequate auto insurance coverage and drive responsibly. But if you are already in this situation, use it as an opportunity for a second chance at responsible driving.
“Simply choosing to drive at all always poses a risk to others – doing so without insurance can mean adding possibly ruinous financial hardship to an innocent person already reeling from an injury,” he says.
“Think of an SR-22 as a second chance instead of a punishment. The state is allowing you to drive, despite a past mistake."
In other words, to avoid being in a situation that will require SR-22 insurance, take your responsibility as a driver very seriously.
How to cancel a non-owner SR-22?
If at any time during your policy period, you purchase a car, then you'll need to alert your car insurance carrier immediately so that you can cancel your non-owner auto insurance policy and get a standard auto insurance policy.
“You simply replace your non-owners auto insurance policy with a regular auto insurance policy that has your SR-22 certificate attached,” Estrella says.
Be careful here: If you fail to inform your auto insurer of the change and you're in an accident, coverage under the non-owner policy may be denied.
The process for canceling the SR-22 certificate itself varies by state.
“We recommend you contact your state’s department of motor vehicles to confirm the process in your state,” Friedlander says. “In many states, you can get an SR-22 removed from your driving record after three years by notifying your auto insurer, which will cancel the SR-22 filing with your state.
However, if you cancel early, penalties can include getting your driver’s license being suspended.”
Also Read on How to cancel SR-22?
“An SR-22A certificate is primarily for low-level driving offenders, such as those who fail to carry their state’s minimum liability coverage,” says Friedlander.
“Your insurer issues an SR-22A certificate and files it with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, just like an SR-22.”