Car Insurance After a DUI in Texas: What SR-22 Actually Costs
A Texas DUI doesn't just mean court costs — it triggers a 2-year SR-22 filing requirement and can roughly double your premium. Here's how that actually breaks down.
What SR-22 actually is
An SR-22 isn't a separate insurance policy — it's a certificate your insurer files with the Texas Department of Public Safety confirming you carry at least the state's minimum 30/60/25 liability coverage. Per the Texas DPS, this filing is required for 2 years from the date of the DUI conviction (or from the date of judgment, if the case involved a crash). During that period, your policy has to stay continuously active; even a short lapse resets the clock and can trigger a license suspension plus a $100 reinstatement fee.
What a DUI does to your Texas premium
The increase is steep and shows up immediately. Published rate data puts it roughly like this:
| Scenario | Typical monthly range |
|---|---|
| Clean record, minimum coverage | ~$72 |
| With SR-22 after a DUI, minimum coverage | ~$145 – $280 |
| Underlying liability rate increase | ~60% – 150% above clean-record rate |
How the surcharge eases over the SR-22 period
The DUI surcharge doesn't stay flat for the full 2-year SR-22 filing period, let alone the years after — it's worst right when the conviction is fresh and eases in stages as your record ages, assuming no new violations:
| Point in time | What typically happens |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Highest rates, fewest carriers willing to quote at all |
| Years 2-3 | More carriers compete for the business; annual decreases of roughly 10%-25% |
| Right after the SR-22 requirement ends | Some insurers cut the rate a further 10%-15% at that renewal, and some drivers see drops of 30%-50% in the year immediately following release |
| Around the 5-year mark | Most insurers treat the driver close to normally again, assuming a clean record since the DUI |
Which insurers tend to be cheapest after a DUI
Published rate surveys for a full-coverage policy after one DUI consistently rank a handful of carriers well below the national average — though not every insurer writes SR-22 policies at all:
| Insurer | National average rate | Vs. average |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | ~$192/mo | -43% |
| Progressive | ~$268/mo | Often cited as cheapest among carriers that specialize in high-risk policies |
| Travelers | ~$236/mo | -30% |
| National General | ~$249/mo | -26%; actively accepts DUI applicants |
| GEICO | ~$334/mo | Baseline in this comparison |
| USAA | ~$150/mo | Cheapest of all, but restricted to military members, veterans, and their families |
What affects the size of the increase
Prior record
A first DUI with no other violations increases rates less than a second offense or a DUI combined with an at-fault accident.
Insurer
Not every insurer prices SR-22 drivers the same way — some standard carriers decline to write high-risk policies at all, pushing drivers toward specialty non-standard insurers, while others keep the driver and simply surcharge the existing policy. The spread between insurers for an identical SR-22 driver is often large.
Coverage level
Carrying only the state minimum keeps the premium as low as the SR-22 classification allows; adding full coverage stacks the DUI surcharge on top of collision and comprehensive costs.
Ways to lower the cost
- Shop multiple insurers specifically for SR-22 quotes — don't assume your current insurer's renewal price is competitive once you're classified high-risk.
- Ask whether a defensive driving or DUI education course completed voluntarily affects your specific insurer's rating.
- Keep coverage continuous. A lapse restarts the clock on your filing period and adds a further surcharge on top of the DUI increase.
- Reassess coverage level. If budget is the priority, minimum liability coverage keeps the SR-22 period as affordable as possible; you can add full coverage back once the filing period ends.
- Ask exactly when the surcharge is scheduled to drop off. Most insurers reduce the DUI surcharge on a set schedule even before the 2-year SR-22 requirement itself ends.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need SR-22 insurance in Texas after a DUI?
2 years from the date of the conviction (or crash judgment), per the Texas DPS, with continuous coverage required throughout.
How much does a DUI raise car insurance rates in Texas?
Published estimates show increases in the 60%-150% range over a clean-record rate, with minimum-coverage premiums roughly doubling in some surveys.
Does SR-22 cost extra on top of my insurance premium?
The filing fee itself is small (roughly $15-$35); the real cost is the higher premium your insurer charges once you're rated as high-risk.
See our related guides for Texas: teen drivers and senior drivers. Curious how Texas compares nationally? See our SR-22 requirements by state reference.
Sources
- MoneyGeek, "Cheapest SR-22 Car Insurance in Texas: 2026 Rates and Requirements" — accessed September 2026
- A-LA Auto Insurance, "SR-22 Cost in Texas 2026: County-by-County Premium Guide" — accessed September 2026
- Insurance.com, "SR-22 insurance in Texas" — accessed September 2026
- Golfdz, "Car Insurance After DUI in Texas (2026): Rates, SR-22 Costs & Cheapest Companies" — accessed September 2026
- Ocho, "SR22 Insurance Cost: What You'll Actually Pay in 2026" — accessed September 2026
- InsureMojo, "Car Insurance After a DUI: Costs and Best Companies 2026" — accessed September 2026
- Texas Department of Public Safety, "Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22)" — accessed September 2026
See our methodology and disclaimer — these are estimates, not a quote, and this page is not legal advice.