SR-22 in Texas: Who Needs It, How Long, and How to File

Texas keeps it simple: 2 years, counted from your most recent conviction. The details that trip people up are what counts as a trigger, what happens if you file late, and what a lapse costs.

What an SR-22 is in Texas

An SR-22 is a certificate your insurance company files with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirming you carry at least the state's minimum liability insurance. It's required by the Safety Responsibility Act, Chapter 601 of the Texas Transportation Code. It isn't a separate kind of policy, but not every insurer offers it, so you may need to shop around. DPS won't accept an insurance card or a copy of your policy in its place.

Who needs an SR-22 in Texas

DPS lists these as examples of what triggers the requirement (the list isn't exhaustive):

• Driving while intoxicated (DWI) — see our Texas DWI insurance guide for what it does to your premium
• Drug offenses
• Driving while license invalid (DWLI)
• A second or later conviction for having no liability insurance
• A license suspension after a crash, or an unpaid civil judgment against you from a crash
• Posting a security deposit with DPS to resolve a crash suspension

How long you need it

You must keep a valid SR-22 on file for 2 years from the date of your most recent conviction, or, for a judgment after a crash, 2 years from the date the judgment was rendered. The clock doesn't restart if you file late: per DPS, if you file an SR-22 a year after your conviction, you only need to keep it for one more year. A new conviction that requires an SR-22 can extend the period.

What it has to cover

The SR-22 certifies Texas's minimum liability limits: $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more people, and $25,000 for property damage per crash.

Filing and reinstating your license

1. Get the SR-22 from an insurer. The insurer files it with DPS for you.
2. Allow time for processing. DPS says it can take up to 21 business days to process an SR-22. You can check whether it has arrived on the DPS License Eligibility page.
3. Pay the reinstatement fee. It's $100 for a Safety Responsibility suspension and $100 for other departmental suspensions such as DWLI. A breath or blood test refusal or failure (an ALR suspension) has its own $125 fee. Paying online on the License Eligibility page is fastest, usually processed in 24 to 48 hours.

No car? You still need one

Not owning a vehicle doesn't exempt you. DPS says you're still required to file and maintain an SR-22, and suggests asking insurers about a Texas non-owner SR-22 policy, which covers you when you drive a car you don't own.

What happens if it lapses

Your insurer automatically notifies DPS if the SR-22 is cancelled, terminated or lapses. Unless a new SR-22 is filed before the old policy ends, your license and vehicle registration can be suspended again, and you'll need a new SR-22 plus another $100 reinstatement fee. Paying on time for the full 2 years is the cheapest way through it.

Related: When does my SR-22 end? (calculator) · Driving with a suspended license in Texas · Driving without insurance in Texas · Car insurance after a DWI in Texas · SR-22 requirements in every state