Best Connecticut SR-22 Insurance in 2024
What are Connecticut SR-22 requirements?
SR-22 insurance for drivers in Connecticut is similar to standard car insurance policies but has higher premiums. If you get caught driving under the influence or get convicted of major driving violations, the insurance company will need to file an SR-22 certificate. This form serves as proof of financial responsibility that you have the minimum liability requirements. In fact, it is a form as opposed to an insurance policy.
SR-22 is a vehicle liability insurance document required by most state DMVs. Technically speaking, SR-22 insurance in Connecticut is not insurance for drivers but rather is proof of insurance that the driver is carrying the minimum amount of car insurance required by the state of Connecticut. The Connecticut law requires individuals who are considered high-risk drivers after certain offenses to have SR-22 insurance. A driver whose license was revoked after they were found guilty of violating traffic laws will have to have SR-22 insurance to get their license reinstated.
You’ve likely heard the term SR-22 insurance if you’re required to file an SR22 in Connecticut. While SR-22 insurance is not actually a different type of insurance from typical car insurance, the term is often used to describe car insurance coverage for those who need an SR-22 endorsement because an SR22 affects your car insurance coverage and cost. In Connecticut, SR-22 insurance after a DUI conviction costs an average of 46 % more than car insurance for standard drivers.
If you’re required to have SR22 insurance in Connecticut, the DMV requires that you maintain your SR-22 for your required filing period, which is usually three years. If you stop paying the premium or cancel the policy, your insurance company will inform the Connecticut DMV and it could lead to license suspension and you’ll likely have to restart the process. When an SR-22 expires or is cancelled, the insurer issues an SR-26, a document that declares that the policy is no longer an active contract.
There are two types of Connecticut SR-22 forms: owner SR-22 and non-owner SR-22. While a vehicle owner needs to file an owner SR-22 form through their insurer, a person who doesn’t own a car must complete a non-owner SR-22 form. Most non-owner SR-22 policies cover bodily injury liability and property injury liability.
SR22 insurance is expensive, compared to traditional car insurance policies due to the seriousness of the violation. Apart from the premiums, other factors influence the total cost of SR-22 insurance in Connecticut. These factors include filing fees, the seriousness of the driving violation, and being ineligible for insurance discounts. Insurance providers often offer driver discounts for a clean record.
If you pay your SR22 premium on time, maintain a clean driving record, and abide by additional regulations, if any, issued by the DMV, your car insurance rates may gradually go down. It’s worth noting here that even after you’re not required to maintain SR-22, DUI charges may stay on your record for much longer.
If you are looking for affordable car insurance rates in Connecticut, it's best to compare insurance options from different companies. Insurance companies offer different rates for SR-22 car insurance in Connecticut.
Use our comparison tool to compare insurance quotes from multiple companies.
What are the SR22 insurance limits in Connecticut?
If you’re required to have SR-22 insurance in Connecticut, you’ll be required to have at least the following coverage:
- Liability:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $50,000 bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 property damage per accident
- Bodily injury caused by an uninsured/underinsured motorist
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per accident
Who needs an SR-22 in Connecticut?
In Connecticut, SR22 insurance for drivers is required in a few scenarios in order for you to get your license reinstated. SR-22s are required after you’ve committed certain violations with the law. You may even be required to have an SR-22 if you’ve had a series of small violations within a short span of time. You could need SR22 insurance for the following reasons:
- Conviction for driving under the influence (DUI or DWI)
- Driving without car insurance
- Driving with a revoked or suspended license
- Having repeated traffic violations in a certain amount of time, including speeding tickets
- Numerous at-fault accidents
- A fatal at-fault accident or one that results in injuries
- Reckless or dangerous driving
- Assignment from a court order
- Failure to pay fines from tickets
- Refused consent to breathalyzer or blood alcohol test
How are Connecticut SR-22 insurance rates calculated?
If you need SR22 insurance in Connecticut, you’re considered a high-risk or non-standard driver. High-risk drivers tend to pay the highest car insurance rates, but the cost of car insurance can vary by company and by state. Some other factors that insurers consider when calculating the annual premiums are the driver’s age, gender, location, the type of car they drive, and credit score.
One of the most common reasons drivers need SR-22 insurance is because of a DUI conviction. On average, drivers with one DUI conviction in Connecticut pay $1,882 per year for car insurance. That’s 46% more than car insurance for a driver with a clean driving record.
However, the cost you pay differs significantly based on the company you buy car insurance from. In the table below, you can find average rates for Connecticut drivers who have one DUI conviction from some of the largest companies in the state.
| Company | Car insurance rate |
|---|---|
| Travelers | $1,217 |
| Geico | $1,529 |
| USAA* | $1,614 |
| State Farm | $1,636 |
| Nationwide | $1,679 |
| Amica | $1,872 |
| Safeco | $2,190 |
| Allstate | $2,273 |
| Progressive | $2,391 |
| Liberty Mutual | $3,219 |
*USAA is only available to active and former military members and their families.
These rates are based on a 35-year-old single adult with one driver and one vehicle on a policy. The car used was a 2015 Toyota Highlander LEs. Full coverage was used with 100/300/50 limits and a $500 collision and comprehensive deductible. The driver had 1 DUI on their record. The rates displayed should only be used for comparative purposes as individual rates for high-risk insurance in Connecticut will differ. Rate data is provided by Quadrant Information Services.
How to get SR-22 insurance in Connecticut?
Drivers who are required to file an SR-22 need to talk to their insurer about their requirements. An SR-22 must be filed by an insurance company. You can’t complete it on your own.
Not all insurers, however, offer SR-22 coverage. In case your car insurance company doesn’t offer SR22 insurance, you will have to shop around for a new policy by a provider that offers SR-22 insurance. Even if your insurer agrees to cover you, you may still want to shop around for a new policy in order to get the cheapest rate with the best company.
Use the table at the top of this page to find all the car insurance companies that offer SR-22 insurance in Connecticut with a minimum of 25 reviews. If you want to see which companies customers say are the best car insurance companies for SR22 insurance in Connecticut, sort the table by highest rated. You can sort through companies and find the ones you want to get quotes from. To get quotes, click on the orange “Click for quote” button next to the company, call the number available, or visit the company’s website.
If you want to read customer reviews of the company, click the company name in the table and you will be directed to the company’s profile page containing information about the company and reviews.
Are there any SR-22 fees in Connecticut?
If you need an SR-22 in Connecticut, you’ll have to pay a one-time fee to file the form. The filing fee in Connecticut is typically around $25 but may vary based on your insurance company. Drivers who are required to get SR-22 for a serious offense, such as a DUI, may be asked to pay a higher fee. There may also be additional fees associated with the offense you committed that cause the SR22 requirement.
How are car insurance rates calculated?
When searching and comparing car insurance quotes, it can be frustrating trying to understand how your insurance rates are calculated. While there is no exact formula that each car insurance company uses when providing you a quote, there are many factors that do contribute to the price you pay for your insurance. Among the factors that car insurers consider are:
- Your driving record
- How much you drive
- Location
- Age
- Marital status
- Gender
- Your car’s make, model and year
- Your credit history (in some states)
- Amount of car insurance coverage (required coverage and optional add-ons, such as comprehensive and collision insurance)
One of the biggest misunderstandings when it comes to insurance rates is that the history of drivers in your area also contributes to how much you pay. For instance, even if you go two years without an accident, if there were a lot of accidents near you recently, your rates might still go up. Why is that the case?
Insurance companies disperse risk across all policyholders so that when it comes time to pay a claim, they have enough money to pay out. But imagine a scenario where they only raised rates for drivers with an accident. For drivers who had an expensive claim, the drivers simply wouldn't be able to afford the raised rates that are based off how much their insurer had to pay after an accident. So instead, insurance companies slightly increase rates across the board to offset the costs, though of course the at-fault driver may see a larger increase.
How much car insurance do I need?
You certainly don’t want to be underinsured or uninsured while staring at a claim after a car accident or other damage to your car. But at the same time, there’s no sense in paying for more coverage than you need, right? So it begs the question: How much car insurance coverage do you actually need?
The answer, as frustrating as it may be, is it depends. For example, someone insuring a brand-new, leased car is likely required to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, but for someone driving an older car that doesn’t have much value, it may not make sense to purchase optional coverage. Plus, states have different car insurance requirements. There are 12 no-fault states that require its drivers to purchase personal injury protection (PIP).
So when it comes to determining what car insurance coverage and limits you should purchase, it’s important to do your research. Talk with an insurance agent or your insurance company to determine what makes the most sense for your situation.
How to save money on your car insurance?
At the end of the day, we’d all like to have the best coverage at a cheap, affordable price. While you never want to sacrifice quality to save a couple of dollars, there are some different ways you can lower your car insurance premium.
Here are six ways you may be able to lower your car insurance rates:
- Bundle your car insurance with other policies
- Consider raising your deductibles
- Pay your car insurance policy in full
- Try usage-based car insurance
- Monitor price changes to your policy
- Shop for better insurance rates
How do we rank car insurance companies?
Wondering how Clearsurance determines scores for insurance companies? Our algorithm analyzes a range of inputs from our community of unbiased insurance customers, including:
- Cost
- Customer Service
- Overall Experience
- Claim service
- Purchasing experience
- Likelihood to recommend
Car Insurance Guide
Whether you’re buying your insurance direct or going through an agent, understanding the different car insurance coverage options is a must. Do you know what is covered by comprehensive coverage? Are you familiar with uninsured motorist coverage/underinsured motorist coverage? Do you know how a deductible works?
We want to make sure you’re equipped with a proper knowledge of car insurance, so check out our practical guide to understanding car insurance. Looking for more educational information about car insurance? Check out our blog for more information and topics related to car insurance.