Cheap SR-22 Insurance in New York

Making sense of cheap SR-22 insurance can be overwhelming. If you’ve been convicted of certain driving-related infringements, or have had your driver’s license revoked or suspended, it can be difficult to know where to start in order to get your insurance back on track but getting cheap SR-22 insurance can be a step in the right direction.

If you continue living in the state where the incident occurred, applying for an SR22 is a pretty straightforward process. But if you move to New York during the period that you still need to carry an SR22, the process becomes a little more complicated.

Unlike most of the U.S. states, drivers in New York aren’t required to carry SR-22 insurance after a major traffic violation. However, every driver will need to meet New York’s minimum car and liability insurance requirements—regardless of whether or not they have committed a traffic violation.

New York’s minimum car insurance requirements are:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person.
• $50,000 for bodily injury per accident.
• $10,000 for property damage coverage per accident.

However, if you’ve moved to New York from a state that does require it, and you’re legally mandated to carry it.

For example, if the state charges you with a serious traffic violation or revokes or suspends your driver’s license in California (where SR-22 insurance is mandatory after certain traffic offenses) and you move to New York a few months later, you will need SR-22 insurance.

But it’s important to note that if you commit a serious traffic violation in New York, it will raise your auto insurance rates. Luckily, you can find cheap car insurance—we’ve got you covered!

If you’ve had to fill out an SR22 form in another state, you may find it difficult to find an insurer that will cover you in New York. This is because you’ll be seen as a high risk to insure. 

What Is SR-22 Insurance?

Although SR-22 is generally spoken about as a type of insurance, it isn’t actually an insurance policy. Instead, it’s proof that you have a liability insurance policy.

A liability insurance policy protects you from financial responsibility if a car accident causes property damage, injury, or death to a third party. Instead of paying lawyers’ fees and medical expenses out-of-pocket, your liability insurer will cover these costs.

If insurance companies consider you a high risk to insure (for example, if you’ve been convicted of a serious traffic violation), you may need to fill out an SR22 form to prove that you meet your state’s minimum auto liability insurance requirements.

Each state will have different liability insurance requirements. In general, liability insurance covers the cost of property damage or injury to a third party resulting from a car accident.

There are three different types of SR-22 insurance:

Owner SR-22 Insurance

You may need owner SR-22 insurance if:

• You’re from a state where SR-22 insurance is required.
• You’ve committed a serious traffic violation.
• You own a car with a car insurance policy.

One of the reasons you might be ordered to get SR-22 insurance is for driving without auto insurance.

In these cases, you would first need to get car insurance with liability coverage before being able to fill out an SR22 form.

If you’re required to get SR-22 insurance for a different reason and you already have car insurance coverage, you’ll need to notify your insurance provider and they will adjust your auto insurance premiums accordingly.

Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance

Let’s say you’ve received a serious traffic conviction in California, moved to New York, and no longer own a car.

You might think that because you don’t have a car, you can avoid SR-22 insurance. However, this isn’t true.

Many car insurance companies have provided non-owner SR-22 insurance for this event. Most states require that you don’t own a car or live with someone who does to be eligible for non-owner SR-22 insurance.

You can, however, borrow a friend or family member’s car (as long as they don’t live in the same household as you) and you can also rent a car.

Having non-owner SR-22 insurance allows you to avoid a lapse in your auto insurance coverage and renew your driving privileges after suspension.

Because you don’t own a car and will be driving less frequently, insurance companies take on less risk when covering you. This results in non-owner SR-22 insurance usually being much cheaper than owner SR-22 insurance.

Owner/Operator SR-22 Insurance

If you own multiple cars or are required to drive vehicles for work, you will need to carry owner/operator SR-22 insurance.

You will also need to make sure that you have the minimum liability coverage whenever you’re driving. 

Many insurance companies consider driving more vehicles to be an increased risk. This means that this is usually the most expensive type of SR-22 insurance.

While each state will have unique laws that govern when an SR-22 is needed, there are a few common instances that will often lead to having one issued:

• Receiving a DUI or a DWI. 
• Being charged with a number of serious traffic violations in a short space of time.
• Driving without car insurance.
• Being in an accident without proper car insurance.
• Not carrying your car insurance documents.
• Having outstanding unpaid child support payments.
• Your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked.

Usually, you will need to retain SR-22 insurance for three years.

If your traffic violations were severe (for example, if you were driving under the influence and caused an accident that resulted in serious injury or death), you may need to carry SR-22 insurance for more than three years or even for the duration of your lifetime.

If you aren’t sure how long you need to carry SR-22 insurance, contact your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Once you’ve had SR-22 insurance for the minimum required period, you should inform your car insurance company.

At this point, you can find out from them whether you qualify for lower insurance premiums and start shopping around for cheaper insurance.

Does New York Have an Equivalent for SR-22 Insurance?

Although New York doesn’t have an equivalent for SR-22 insurance, your insurance carrier will raise your car insurance premiums if you commit a serious traffic violation.

If you’re considered to be a high-risk driver, you can expect your insurance premiums to increase anywhere between 40% to over 100%.

Along with having your car insurance premiums increased by your insurer, committing traffic violations in New York may also put you at risk of monetary fines and imprisonment.

For example, a DUI will carry an immediate fine that ranges anywhere from $500 to $1,500 along with potentially needing to pay other penalties, and the risk of going to prison.

If you committed a traffic violation in another state where SR-22 insurance is mandatory, that would be the only event requiring SR-22 insurance in New York.

How Much Does SR-22 Cost in New York?

The cost of SR-22 insurance in New York will depend on which county you live in, so we’ve researched the price offered by insurance companies in these counties:

• Kings County.
• Queens County.
• New York County.
• Suffolk County.
• Bronx County.

In addition to your monthly insurance premiums, you’ll also need to pay a $50 reinstatement fee to get your driver’s license back if it’s been suspended due to a serious traffic violation.

If you were suspended or revoked for driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances, you will need to pay $100 to reinstate your driver’s license.

We’ve done the hard work for you to find the cheapest SR-22 insurance in New York:

• The cheapest is $244 from National General if you live in Queens County.
• The most expensive option in New York is $726.00 from Liberty Mutual if you live in Bronx County.

Not only does the cost depend on where you live in New York, but it also will depend on a number of factors, including:

• Your age.
• Your location.
• The severity and frequency of your traffic violations.
• The insured value of your vehicle.

Here’s how much SR-22 insurance in New York costs with major insurance carriers:

How Does SR-22 in New York Compare to the Other States?

All states in America, except for six, require SR-22 insurance. The only states that don’t require it are the following:

• Delaware.
• Kentucky.
• New Mexico.
• New York.
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma.

While New York doesn’t require SR-22 insurance, some insurance companies in the state do offer it.

This is done in instances where you’re required to carry it by another state and have since moved to New York.

While New York tends toward being one of the more expensive states for SR-22 insurance, it’s still cheaper than Texas which has an average premium of $408.37.

Florida offers the cheapest SR-22 insurance with an average premium of $364.65.

Here’s how the cost in New York compares to the average cost in Texas, California, and Florida:

Alternatives to SR-22 Insurance in New York

Although SR-22 insurance in New York isn’t legally required, you may need to carry a SR-22 or a different certification depending on what violation you were convicted of and which state it occurred in.

Here are some of the alternatives to SR-22 insurance in New York:

SR-21 Insurance

If you were in a car accident and did have insurance at the time, you will need to carry an SR-21 form to prove that your car was insured at the time of the accident.

While SR-22 insurance acts as proof of financial responsibility in the future, SR-21 proves that you did have insurance.

If your car crash caused property damage totaling more than $1,000 or resulted in injury or death, you must send your insurer an SR-21 form within ten days of the accident.

SR-22A Insurance

You may need an SR-22A form if you’ve repeatedly violated the terms of your SR-22 insurance. For example, if your SR-22 insurance lapsed or if you’ve committed another serious traffic violation.

SR-22A insurance is only mandated by three states in the US:

• Georgia.
• Texas.
• Missouri.

If you’ve received an SR-22A certificate in Georgia or Texas, you will need to pay six months of your car insurance premiums up-front.

FR-44 Insurance

FR-44 insurance is almost the same as SR-22 insurance, but it’s only used in Virginia and Florida and is issued only in specific circumstances where a driver has been convicted of a DUI or DWI.

Having an FR-44 certification will double the usual liability coverage requirements of the state.

SR-50 Insurance

SR-50 insurance is similar to SR-22 insurance, except that it’s only issued in Indiana. Like SR-22 insurance, it acts as proof that your car is adequately insured.

The type of insurance certification you need in New York will depend on which state it was issued in, so if you’re unsure it’s best to contact your insurance carrier or your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

FAQs about SR-22 Insurance

Does New York have SR-22 insurance?

No, New York does not have SR-22 insurance. However, if you commit serious traffic violations in New York, you may be fined.

Your car insurance provider could also increase your car insurance premiums anywhere between 40% to over 100% depending on the severity of the traffic violation. Depending on the type of traffic violation committed, your driver’s license may also be suspended or revoked.

Who in New York needs SR-22 insurance?

If you need to carry SR-22 insurance due to serious traffic violations in a state that requires it, you’ll also need to have SR-22 insurance in New York.

All states in America issue SR-22 insurance, except for six:

• Delaware.
• Kentucky.
• New Mexico.
• New York.
• North Carolina.
• Oklahoma.

Who in New York has the cheapest car insurance for SR-22?

According to our research, here are the cheapest insurance providers for SR-22 insurance in New York:

• $244 with National General if you live in Queens County.
• $263 with National General if you live in Kings County.

Remember, your SR-22 premiums will always depend on where you live, your individual profile, and your driving history.

How long do I need SR-22 insurance in New York?

Usually, drivers will be required to have SR-22 insurance in New York for three years.

If your SR-22 insurance lapses during this period and you need to renew it, you may have to start those three years over again.

In some cases, depending on the severity of the traffic violation, you may need to carry an SR-22 for a longer period.

What happens if I don’t get SR-22 Insurance in New York?

If you’re found to be driving in New York with lapsed SR-22 insurance or without SR-22 insurance, your car may be towed or impounded, you may be charged fees and penalties, and your license may be suspended or revoked.

Is there a way to get around my SR-22 in New York?

Depending on which state you were in when you were charged with a serious traffic violation, you may need to carry SR-21 insurance, SR-22A insurance, FR-44 insurance, or SR-50 insurance instead of SR-22 insurance.

If you’re legally required to carry SR-22 insurance by another state, you will need to carry it in New York for the required period.