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Non-owner SR-22 insurance costs about $75 a month on average in 2026, or around $900 a year, according to MoneyGeek’s analysis. The range is wide: $30 to $85 a month depending on your state, your violation, and your carrier. CarInsurance.com’s 2026 analysis, built from Quadrant Information Services data, puts the national average lower, at $574 a year, with state averages running from $262 a year in South Dakota to $1,487 a year in New Jersey. Either way, a non-owner SR-22 is the cheapest way to satisfy a filing requirement when you do not own a car, usually about half the price of an owner SR-22 policy.
An SR-22 is not insurance. It is a form your insurer files with the state to prove you carry the legally required coverage. You need one after a DUI, driving without insurance, an at-fault accident while uninsured, or a license suspension, and the form attaches to a policy. If you do not own a car, the policy is a non-owner policy: liability coverage that follows you as a driver instead of following a vehicle. This post covers what that policy costs, what it covers, how long you need it, and how to buy it.
How much does SR-22 insurance without a vehicle cost?
A non-owner SR-22 policy costs about $75 a month on average for liability-only coverage, according to MoneyGeek’s November 2026 analysis. The same analysis puts the typical range at $30 to $85 a month, or $360 to just over $1,000 a year. CarInsurance.com’s July 2026 analysis gives a national average of $574 a year, which works out to about $48 a month, with a DUI on record pushing the average to about $1,040 a year. The two datasets use different methods and driver profiles, so treat the range as the honest answer: most drivers pay $30 to $90 a month, and drivers with a DUI pay more.
The filing fee itself is small. The one-time charge to file the SR-22 form with the state usually runs $15 to $25, and some states cap it by law. Texas, for example, caps the filing charge at $20 per endorsement under Rule 41 of the Texas Automobile Rules and Rating Manual. State reinstatement fees are separate and vary by state, so check your DMV notice for the full amount.
| Carrier | Non-owner SR-22, monthly | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $28 | MoneyGeek / CarInsurance.com; military members and families only |
| State Farm | $33 | MoneyGeek |
| Kemper | $33 | MoneyGeek |
| Travelers | $40 | MoneyGeek; best overall score, 98 out of 100 |
| Auto-Owners | $17 | CarInsurance.com, $207 a year; regional, not in every state |
| National average | $75 | MoneyGeek, liability-only |
Those carrier numbers come from two different datasets, so they are not directly comparable to each other. MoneyGeek’s monthly figures and CarInsurance.com’s annual figures use different driver profiles. What they agree on is the order: USAA is cheapest where it is available, State Farm and Kemper are the cheapest widely available options, and Travelers is close behind with the strongest overall score. Our guide to the best non-owner SR-22 insurance compares these carriers in full, including which ones actually sell non-owner policies in your state.
What does a non-owner SR-22 policy cover, and what does it leave out?
A non-owner SR-22 policy is a liability-only policy that follows you, the driver, instead of a car. It covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to other people while driving a car you do not own, such as a borrowed car or a rental. It is secondary coverage, which means the car owner’s policy pays first and your non-owner policy covers what is left. It satisfies the SR-22 filing requirement because the state only needs proof that you carry liability coverage, and a non-owner policy provides exactly that.
What it does not cover is just as important. It does not pay to repair the car you are driving, because there is no collision or comprehensive coverage on a non-owner policy. If you borrow a friend’s car and crash it, your policy covers the other driver’s injuries and property damage, not your friend’s car. That damage falls on the owner’s collision coverage or on you out of pocket. It also does not cover a car you drive regularly. If you drive the same borrowed car every day, insurers call that regular use and expect the car to be listed on a standard policy, and a claim can be denied on that basis.
Our guide to non-owner car insurance costs explains the coverage in detail, including the rental car gap: a non-owner policy does not replace the damage waiver at the rental counter, since it has no collision or comprehensive. A credit card with rental coverage or the counter waiver handles the car itself, while your non-owner policy handles liability to other people.
How much does non-owner SR-22 cost by state?
Non-owner SR-22 prices vary more by state than almost any other kind of car insurance, because each state sets its own minimum limits, filing rules, and reinstatement fees. CarInsurance.com’s 2026 state analysis shows the spread clearly: South Dakota averages $262 a year, the cheapest in the country, while New Jersey averages $1,487 a year, the most expensive. That is nearly a sixfold gap for the same product.
| State | Non-owner SR-22 average | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $262 a year | Cheapest state average, CarInsurance.com 2026 |
| Texas | $28 to $90 a month | Typical range for standard violations; $15 to $25 filing fee |
| New Hampshire | $27 a month at State Farm | MoneyGeek; state average $51 a month for SR-22 non-owner |
| Illinois | $362 a year at Auto-Owners | Cheapest non-owner SR-22 in the state; Progressive $919 a year |
| Ohio | $290 a year at Auto-Owners | Cheapest non-owner SR-22 in the state; GEICO $492 a year |
| New Jersey | $1,487 a year | Most expensive state average, CarInsurance.com 2026 |
Texas deserves a closer look because it shows how the violation drives the price. A non-owner SR-22 in Texas typically runs $28 to $90 a month for standard violations such as a second no-insurance conviction or an at-fault uninsured accident. After a DWI, an owner SR-22 in Texas runs about $125 to $175 a month, and the non-owner version sits well below that. Texas requires the SR-22 on file for 2 years, or 3 years after a DWI. The filing fee is capped at $20.
The state table also shows why shopping matters more for SR-22 drivers than for anyone else. In Illinois, the cheapest non-owner SR-22 carrier charges $362 a year while the most expensive charges $919 a year for the same filing. In Ohio, the gap runs from $290 to $741 a year. Same state, same requirement, more than double the price. Get at least five quotes.
What makes your non-owner SR-22 price go up or down?
The violation that triggered the filing drives the price more than the form does. A filing after driving uninsured is generally cheaper than a filing after a DUI or reckless driving conviction, because the insurer sees a different level of risk. CarInsurance.com’s data puts the national average at $574 a year for a standard filing and about $1,040 a year with a DUI on record. Multiple violations stack, and bad credit can add 20 to 50 percent in states where insurers use credit-based pricing.
Your liability limits matter too. A non-owner SR-22 policy at your state’s minimum limits is the cheapest version, and it is the one time in your life when minimum coverage can be the rational choice: it satisfies the filing at the lowest price. The tradeoff is real, since minimum limits leave you exposed if you cause a serious crash. Our guide to SR-22 insurance costs and how long you need it walks through that tradeoff in detail, including why raising your limits is worth considering if you have assets to protect.
Age, ZIP code, and driving history after the filing all move the price as well. A clean record after the SR-22 requirement starts can bring the premium down at renewal, and some carriers re-rate faster than others. The single biggest lever is the carrier: SR-22 premiums vary more between insurers than standard premiums do, because companies differ in how much they want high-risk business.
How long do you have to keep a non-owner SR-22?
Most states require the SR-22 to stay on file for three years. The range across states and situations is roughly one to five years, with more serious offenses like DUI sometimes running three to five. Your court order or DMV notice states the exact length, and that number is the one that counts. Texas requires 2 years, or 3 years after a DWI. Illinois requires 3 years after DUI convictions, at-fault accidents while uninsured, and three or more mandatory insurance violations.
The clock has one strict rule: coverage must be continuous. If your policy lapses or is canceled during the requirement period, your insurer notifies the DMV, your license can be suspended again, you can face additional fines, and in many states the clock restarts, meaning you start the three years over. That restart is the single most expensive mistake SR-22 drivers make, and it happens most often when people switch insurers and let a gap open between policies. Do not cancel the old policy until the new one is active and the new insurer has confirmed it will file the SR-22.
A three year non-owner SR-22 at the $75 a month national average costs $2,700 in premiums plus a $15 to $25 filing fee, for a total of about $2,725. The same three years on an owner SR-22 at $125 a month costs $4,500. The difference, about $1,775, is what not owning a car saves you over the filing period. If you buy a car during the requirement, you convert the non-owner policy to an owner policy and the filing continues without restarting the clock.
How do you buy SR-22 insurance without a car?
Start by telling the insurer upfront that you need a non-owner policy with an SR-22 filing. Not every insurer sells non-owner policies, and most that do require you to buy through an agent rather than online, so expect a phone call. The agent will ask for your license number, the violation or court order, and the state requiring the filing. Have your DMV notice or court paperwork in front of you, because the agent needs the exact requirement length and the filing type.
Ask three questions before you buy. First, does the carrier file SR-22s in your state, and how fast, since some carriers file same day and others take several days. Second, what are the liability limits, and do they meet your state’s minimums. Third, what happens to the filing if you switch carriers or buy a car, since a lapse or a botched transfer can restart your clock. Our guide to whether you need SR-22 and regular insurance answers the most common confusion here: the SR-22 is not a separate policy, it is a filing attached to your policy, so you need one policy with the filing on it.
Once the policy is active, confirm the filing directly with your DMV as well as with the insurer. The insurer files the form, but the DMV is the one that lifts the suspension or clears your record, and a filing error can leave you driving on a suspended license without knowing it. Keep proof of the filing and your insurance ID card in the car, and set a calendar reminder for the requirement end date so you can drop the filing and re-shop for standard rates the day it expires.
Key takeaways
Non-owner SR-22 insurance costs about $75 a month on average in 2026, with most drivers paying $30 to $90 a month and drivers with a DUI paying more. State Farm and Kemper are the cheapest widely available carriers at about $33 a month, Travelers is the best rated at $40 a month, and USAA is cheapest at $28 a month for military members and families. The policy covers liability only, it follows you instead of a car, and it does not pay to repair the car you drive. Keep it continuous for the full requirement, usually three years, because a lapse can restart the clock.
Frequently asked questions
How much is SR-22 insurance without a vehicle?
Non-owner SR-22 insurance costs about $75 a month on average in 2026, or around $900 a year, according to MoneyGeek. CarInsurance.com’s analysis puts the national average at $574 a year, with state averages from $262 a year in South Dakota to $1,487 a year in New Jersey. Most drivers pay $30 to $90 a month, plus a one-time filing fee of $15 to $25.
Can I get an SR-22 if I do not own a car?
Yes. A non-owner SR-22 policy is designed for exactly this situation. It provides liability coverage when you drive cars you do not own, and your insurer files the SR-22 form with the state. It is usually about half the cost of an owner SR-22 policy because there is no vehicle to insure. Tell the insurer upfront that you need a non-owner policy with an SR-22 filing.
Does non-owner SR-22 insurance cover the car I drive?
No. A non-owner SR-22 policy covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to other people. It does not include collision or comprehensive coverage, so it pays nothing to repair the car you are driving. That damage falls on the car owner’s collision coverage or on you out of pocket. It also does not cover a car you drive every day on a regular basis.
How long do I need SR-22 insurance without a car?
Most states require the SR-22 on file for three years, with a range of one to five years depending on the state and the offense. Texas requires 2 years, or 3 years after a DWI. Your court order or DMV notice states the exact length. Coverage must stay continuous for the whole period, because a lapse can suspend your license again and restart the clock.
What is the SR-22 filing fee?
The filing fee is a one-time charge, usually $15 to $25, that your insurer charges to submit the SR-22 form to the state. Some states cap it by law: Texas caps the charge at $20 per filing. State license reinstatement fees are separate and vary by state. The expensive part of an SR-22 is the insurance premium, not the filing fee.
Which company is cheapest for non-owner SR-22 insurance?
USAA is cheapest at about $28 a month, but only military members, veterans, and their families can buy it. Among carriers open to everyone, State Farm and Kemper average about $33 a month and Travelers averages $40 a month in MoneyGeek’s 2026 data. Auto-Owners is cheapest in several states, at $207 a year in CarInsurance.com’s data, but it does not write policies everywhere. Get at least five quotes, because the cheapest carrier changes by state.
