If you've been told you need SR-22 — or you've heard the term FR-44 from a friend — you may be wondering what the difference is. Short answer: California uses SR-22. FR-44 doesn't exist here. Here's the long answer.
If you got a DUI in California and you're researching what comes next, you'll see two terms thrown around: SR-22 and FR-44. They sound similar, they serve a similar purpose, but they are not the same thing — and one of them does not apply in California at all.
Both are certificates of financial responsibility — proof that you carry the minimum required insurance — filed with the state DMV by your insurance carrier. They are not insurance themselves. They are a filing.
An SR-22 is a form your insurance company files electronically with the California DMV verifying that you meet California's minimum auto liability requirements. It's not a type of insurance; it's a certificate that your insurance meets the state's bar.
You'll be required to maintain an SR-22 for 3 years from the date the DMV reinstates your license after a DUI in California. Some other triggers (multiple at-fault uninsured accidents, repeat moving violations) can also require an SR-22, with similar 3-year terms.
California's minimum liability for an SR-22 is the standard state minimum: 15/30/5 ($15,000 bodily injury per person, $30,000 per accident, $5,000 property damage). Most insurance carriers strongly recommend higher limits because the SR-22 itself doesn't change the underlying claim risk.
An FR-44 is similar in function — proof of financial responsibility filed with the state — but only Florida and Virginia use it. The key difference is that FR-44 requires double the standard state minimum liability coverage. The states that use it want a stricter financial backstop on high-risk drivers.
If you got a DUI in Florida or Virginia and need to drive in California, you'd need an SR-22 in California — your Florida FR-44 wouldn't transfer.
This is where it gets messy. If you had a DUI in another state, lived through your filing requirement there, and then moved to California, you may still need to maintain SR-22 here for the remainder of your filing period. The state where the DUI happened typically has jurisdiction.
The reverse is also true: if you got a DUI in California, you owe SR-22 here for 3 years even if you move out of state during that period. California will suspend your driving privilege in California if you let the SR-22 lapse, even though you no longer live here.
If you're in this situation, call us at 209-670-1556. We can write SR-22 policies that satisfy California's requirements, and we know how the multi-state filing situation works.
For a first-offense DUI in California:
For repeat offenders or wet reckless convictions, the period and starting rate may be different. Talk to us for your specific situation.
The SR-22 filing fee itself is small — typically $15-25 charged once at filing. The cost that matters is the insurance premium increase that comes with being classified as a high-risk driver.
Typical premium ranges for a California driver with a fresh DUI requiring SR-22:
These vary widely based on your zip code, vehicle, age, and prior history. We routinely save Stockton, San Jose, and San Rafael drivers $50-$200/month versus what they were quoted at Freeway, Fiesta, or other big-chain agencies — partly because we shop multiple carriers, partly because we don't add a broker fee to the bill.
No. We write non-owner SR-22 policies that satisfy the filing requirement without a vehicle. This is the cheapest way to maintain your filing if you don't drive regularly.
Yes. Walk into our office with valid ID and any DMV paperwork from your case. We file electronically with the DMV in under an hour, often within 30 minutes.
Your insurance carrier is legally required to notify the California DMV when an SR-22 policy is canceled. The DMV then re-suspends your license. To restart, you'll need to file a new SR-22 — and the 3-year clock resets to day one.
If your 3-year filing period has expired and you've been continuously insured since, you do not need SR-22. The DUI itself stays on your driving record longer (10 years for insurance pricing purposes), but the filing requirement does not.
We don't charge broker fees on standard SR-22 policies. The SR-22 filing fee ($15-25) is a separate, one-time charge that goes to processing the form, not to us as a broker.
Walk into any of our three California offices (Stockton, San Jose, San Rafael), call 209-670-1556, or visit our SR-22 page for a same-day quote. Bring any DMV paperwork from your case — we'll handle the rest.