By

Fausto Bucheli Jr

Updated

June 8, 2022

Edited By

John Davey
Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Arizona

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • What Is SR-22 Insurance?
  • Who Needs SR-22 Insurance?
  • Types of SR-22 Insurance in Arizona
  • How to Get an SR-22 in Arizona
  • How Will an SR-22 Affect Your Insurance in Arizona?
  • What Is the Cost of SR-22 Insurance in Arizona?
  • How Does an SR-22 Impact Your Insurance in Arizona?
  • Alternatives to SR-22 Insurance in Arizona
  • FAQs about SR-22 Insurance in Arizona

While you’re driving, making a mistake or letting your attention wander can be costly.

If your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked after an at-fault accident, DUI conviction, or another serious traffic violation, you might not know where to begin to have it reinstated.

While it’s a fairly straightforward process, it does take some know-how. Luckily, as insurance experts, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to help Arizona drivers get their licenses reinstated and get back out on the roads.

If your license suspension or revocation had any associated fines, penalties, or court orders associated with your driving violation, you will need to address those before you can begin the reinstatement process.

Depending on the severity of your infringement, this may mean paying a fine, doing community service, taking part in a court-ordered program, or completing a jail sentence.

After addressing any outstanding issues, the next step you’ll need to take for your driver’s license to be reinstated is obtaining SR-22 insurance.

This is a simple part of the process—all you need to do is ask your regular car insurance company to file an SR-22 form on your behalf.

Although it’s simple, it can be expensive. It may even turn out to be the most expensive step of the process.

This is due to the fact that car insurance companies may raise your auto insurance rates because they have flagged you as a higher risk to insure.

Key Point: High-Risk Drivers

Insurance carriers use the term ‘high risk’ to describe drivers who are likely to claim from their auto insurance policy. Some factors that may lead to you being flagged as a high-risk driver include:

  • Needing to get an SR-22 insurance policy.
  • DUI violation.
  • Poor credit score.
  • Unpaid child support payments.
  • Unpaid insurance policy premiums.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about getting SR-22 insurance in Arizona.

To help you find the cheapest rate, we’ve also compared quotes from auto insurance companies in these five Arizona counties:

  • Maricopa County.
  • Pima County.
  • Pinal County.
  • Yavapai County.
  • Yuma County.

What Is SR-22 Insurance?

SR-22 insurance is officially called “Safety and Responsibility Insurance”, although you may also see it referred to as “Financial Responsibility Insurance”.

Although the term contains the word “insurance”, it isn’t a standalone insurance policy.

Rather, it’s an addition to your regular car insurance policy that proves you are meeting the minimum auto liability coverage that Arizona requires.

Key Point: Minimum Auto Liability Coverage

Getting into a car accident can be costly. Beyond vehicle repair or replacement fees, you may also have to pay for repairs to property, medical bills, and lawyer’s fees if you’ve caused damage, death, or injury to a third party or their property.

Each U.S. state has different minimum liability insurance requirements, and these three aspects are always included:

  • Bodily injury coverage per person.
  • Bodily injury coverage per accident.
  • Property damage liability.

Arizona’s minimum auto liability requirements are:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability for one person.
  • $50,000 bodily injury for two or more people.
  • $15,000 property damage liability.

That means all Arizona drivers—including those that have a clean driving record—need to have a minimum total of $90,000 in liability insurance.

This amount remains the same even if you need to obtain SR-22 insurance. SR-22 insurance simply proves you have this coverage.

It shows that you are able to meet the future financial responsibility requirements if you cause injury, death, or damage to a third party or their property.

Who Needs SR-22 Insurance?

Only Arizona drivers who have had their license revoked or suspended and want to get it reinstated will need to apply for SR-22 insurance.

The following violations may cause the Arizona MVD to suspend or revoke your license:

  • Driving with a suspended license.
  • Being in an at-fault accident.
  • Accumulating too many points on your driving record.
  • Being charged with multiple traffic violations.
  • Driving without a full coverage policy.
  • Speeding.
  • Reckless driving.
  • A DWI or DUI conviction.

If you’ve been caught driving without meeting the auto liability minimum coverage as set out by the Arizona Department of Transportation, your driver’s license will be suspended.

The amount of time your license will be suspended for is as follows:

  • First offense: Three months’ license and plate suspension.
  • Second offense: Six months’ license and plate suspension.
  • Third offense: One year’s license and plate suspension.
  • Involvement in an accident without liability coverage: One year’s license and plate suspension.

If you were convicted of a DUI offense, your driver’s license can be suspended for anywhere between 90 days and two years.

Arizona state law mandates that you will have to carry SR-22 insurance for three years, although this might be longer depending on your individual circumstances.

Types of SR-22 Insurance in Arizona

When you ask your insurance company to apply for an SR-22 on your behalf, they will ask you what kind of SR-22 insurance you need.

This is because there are three different types of SR-22 insurance:

Non-owner SR-22 insurance

Non-owner insurance is for people who:

  • Don’t own a car.
  • Don’t plan to purchase a car.
  • Don’t live in the same house as someone who owns a car.
  • Want to drive on irregular occasions (e.g. driving a rental or borrowing a friend’s car).

Owner SR-22 insurance

Owner insurance is for people who:

  • Already own a car.
  • Plan to purchase a car.
  • Live in the same house as someone who does own a car.

Owner/operator SR-22 insurance

Owner/operator insurance is for people who:

  • Own more than one car.
  • Drive multiple cars that they do not own (e.g. for work).

How to Get an SR-22 in Arizona

While obtaining SR-22 insurance is a straightforward process, finding a car insurance company that is willing to provide SR-22 coverage may be difficult.

This is because some Arizona insurance companies do not cover high-risk drivers.

The first step you should take is to check whether your current auto insurance provider offers SR-22 insurance.

If they do, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should remain with them. The cost of SR-22 insurance can vary greatly, so it’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple car insurers or seek the services of a licensed insurance agent.

If you can’t find a car insurance company that is willing to provide SR-22 coverage, you can contact the Arizona Automobile Insurance Plan for assistance.

Key Point: Arizona Automobile Insurance Plan

The Arizona Automobile Insurance Plan is the last resort for high-risk drivers who cannot get insurance through regular car insurance companies.

It’s usually much more expensive than traditional car insurance because it denotes that you’re a very high-risk driver to insure.

If you find a car insurance company that is able to offer you SR-22 insurance, this is the process that will follow:

  • Your insurer will file your SR-22 with the Arizona MVD.
  • Your SR-22 will be issued within 30 days.
  • You will be sent an SR-22 certificate by mail.
  • You can then begin the process of reinstating your driver’s license.

You will need to carry your SR-22 certificate with you every time you drive.

Driving without auto liability insurance is a civil traffic violation, and if you’re found to be driving without SR-22 insurance you may be subject to the following:

  • A fine between $500 and $1,000.
  • Your registration and license plates may be suspended for between three months to two years.
  • Court fees.

If you are in a car accident while driving with a suspended or revoked license, you will be subject to further fees and fines.

You also will not be able to claim for medical costs or the costs for damage.

If you caused injury or damage to another person or their property, you will be held financially liable to pay for repairs, replacement, and medical costs.

How Much Does SR-22 Insurance Cost in Arizona?

Here are some of the costs you can expect to pay when applying for your SR-22 certificate:

  • Increased auto insurance rates.
  • A once-off filing fee between $25 and $50 to your insurer.
  • A once-off filing fee between $15 and $25 to the Arizona MVD.
  • Paying any related fines and fees for the traffic violation.
  • A driver’s license reinstatement fee of between $10 and $25.

Key Point: Auto Insurance Rates

When you sign up for car insurance, you and your insurer will agree to an auto insurance rate that you will pay monthly in exchange for coverage. Your auto insurance rates are affected by these factors:

  • Your age.
  • Your driving record.
  • Your location.
  • Your credit.
  • The value of your car.

When you apply for SR-22 insurance, you can expect your auto insurance rates to increase significantly. This is not because of the SR-22 certificate itself.

Rather, it’s because your car insurer will access your file with the Arizona MVD.

Here, they will be able to see the nature of the traffic violation that caused your license to be suspended or revoked.

The severity of your infringement will determine how much they increase your auto insurance rates.

You should compare quotes from multiple insurers to ensure you’re getting the best price.

To help you find the cheapest rate on your SR-22 insurance, we looked at the rates offered by Arizona insurance companies in these counties:

  • Maricopa County.
  • Pima County.
  • Pinal County.
  • Yavapai County.
  • Yuma County.

The cheapest SR-22 insurance provider in Arizona is Bristol West with average monthly rates of $210.60. The second cheapest option is Infinity with average monthly rates of $247.60.

ProviderMaricopa CountyPima CountyPinal CountyYavapai CountyYuma CountyAverage
Infinity$220.00$257.00$235.00$262.00$264.00$247.60
Bristol West$227.00$235.00$202.00$188.00$201.00$210.60
Liberty Mutual$294.00$299.00$276.00$211.00$296.00$275.20
AssuranceAmerica$451.00$434.00$333.00$267.00$247.00$346.40

How Does an SR-22 Impact Your Insurance in Arizona

We looked at the auto insurance rates offered by various insurers for good drivers, to compare them to the rates they offer to drivers who have been convicted of driving-related offenses.

This is how much drivers in Arizona with a clean driving record can expect to pay for car insurance:

ProviderMaricopa CountyPima CountyPinal CountyYavapai CountyYuma CountyAverage
MileAuto$63.00$64.00$58.00$57.00$54.00$59.20
Clearcover$106.00$85.00$89.00$93.33
Certainly$119.00$120.00$112.00$85.00$118.00$110.80
Main Street America$138.00$154.00$128.00$128.00$122.00$134.00
Liberty Mutual$139.00$145.00$133.00$107.00$145.00$133.80
Travelers$165.00$169.00$146.00$142.00$143.00$153.00

Here’s how much drivers in Arizona can expect to pay if they are considered a high-risk driver:

ProviderMaricopa CountyPima CountyPinal CountyYavapai CountyYuma CountyAverage
Stonegate$192.00$223.00$177.00$161.00$141.00$178.80
Bristol West$204.00$217.00$190.00$176.00$190.00$195.40
AssuranceAmerica$381.00$371.00$289.00$234.00$217.00$298.40
Commonwealth$394.00$435.00$362.00$334.00$307.00$366.40
The General$495.63$498.65$461.29$408.53$464.81$465.78
Progressive$388.32$161.15$139.41$135.06$139.45$192.68

Based on this research, you can expect your car insurance rates to increase by anywhere from $39.68 to $119.60.

Alternatives to SR-22 Insurance in Arizona

SR-21 insurance

SR-21 insurance is a certificate that proves you were insured at the time of an accident. If you were in an accident, you will need to contact your insurer and ask them to issue an SR-21 certificate.

SR-22A insurance

If you repeatedly violate the terms of your SR-22 insurance or allow it to lapse, you may be required to carry SR-22A insurance.

This document shows insurers that you are extremely high-risk to insure, and they will raise your premiums accordingly.

Some of the violations that may lead to an SR-22 include:

  • Allowing your SR-22 insurance to lapse.
  • Being convicted of a DUI.
  • Speeding.
  • Reckless driving.
  • Getting too many points on your driving record.

There are only three states in the U.S. that may require you to carry SR-22A insurance:

  • Georgia.
  • Missouri.
  • Texas.

FR-44 insurance

Some states issue FR-44 insurance instead of SR-22 insurance if your traffic violation involved driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Only two states in the U.S. use FR-44 insurance:

  • Florida.
  • Virginia.

If you move from Arizona to Florida or Virginia while you are still carrying SR-22 insurance, you will need to inform your insurer once you are in the state. They may convert it to FR-44 insurance.

SR-50 insurance

SR-50 is the Indiana equivalent of SR-22 insurance.

If you carry SR-22 insurance in Arizona and then move to Indiana, you will need to tell your new insurer so they can convert your SR-22 insurance into SR-50 insurance.

FAQs about SR-22 Insurance in Arizona

Does Arizona have SR-22 insurance?

Yes. You may need to carry SR-22 insurance in Arizona if your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked after committing one of the following traffic violations:

  • Driving with a suspended license.
  • Being in an at-fault accident.
  • Accumulating too many points on your driving record.
  • Being charged with multiple traffic violations.
  • Driving without a full coverage policy.
  • Speeding.
  • Reckless driving.
  • A DWI or DUI conviction.

How long is an SR-22 required in Arizona?

You will have to keep your SR-22 insurance for three years. In some circumstances, the Arizona MVD may require you to carry SR-22 insurance for a longer period.

Why do I need an SR-22 in Arizona?

Arizona’s minimum auto liability requirements are:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability for one person.
  • $50,000 bodily injury for two or more people.
  • $15,000 property damage liability.

That means all Arizona drivers—including those that have a clean driving record—need to have a minimum total of $90,000 in liability insurance.

This amount remains the same even if you need to obtain SR-22 insurance. SR-22 insurance simply proves you have this coverage.

It shows that you are able to meet the future financial responsibility requirements if you cause injury, death, or damage to a third party or their property.

How do I get SR-22 insurance in Arizona?

You won’t be able to file for SR-22 insurance yourself in Arizona. Rather, your car insurance company will need to file it with the Arizona MVD on your behalf. Here are the steps you will need to follow:

  • Pay any related fines or fees.
  • Complete a court-ordered program, community service, or jail time if you have been ordered to do so.
  • Contact your car insurance company and tell them you need SR-22 insurance.
  • Your insurer will file your SR-22 with the Arizona MVD.
  • Your SR-22 will be issued within 30 days.
  • You will be sent an SR-22 certificate by mail.
  • You can then begin the process of reinstating your driver’s license.

What is the cheapest SR-22 insurance in Arizona?

The cheapest SR-22 insurance provider in Arizona is Bristol West with average monthly rates of $210.60. The second cheapest option is Infinity with average monthly rates of $247.60.

The total cost of your SR-22 insurance will depend on a range of factors, including:

  • Your age.
  • Your driving history.
  • Which Arizona county you live in.
  • The total value of your car.
  • Your credit record.

Can I drive someone else’s car in Arizona?

You may drive another person’s car if you have one of these types of SR-22 insurance:

  • Non-owner SR-22 insurance.
  • Owner SR-22 insurance.
  • Owner/operator SR-22 insurance.

If you don’t have SR-22 insurance, you cannot legally drive another person’s car in Arizona.