Please enter valid ZIP

Removing the SR-22 financial responsibility filing from your car insurance policy may vary slightly from state to state, but it’s typically a simple process.

First, you should contact your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to verify your three-year requirement for carrying the SR-22 is over. You can skip this step if you have already received a letter from the DMV or state saying your SR-22 is no longer needed.

It’s important to know that an SR-22 won’t automatically drop off your insurance policy once it’s no longer needed. You have to ask your insurance company to remove the SR-22 from your policy.

With verification that the mandate for the SR-22 is satisfied with the state, you can contact your car insurance company to inform them. Your insurance company may require proof that the SR-22 is no longer needed, such as a notification letter from the state.

Your auto insurance provider will now file the right paperwork with the DMV to show you are dropping your SR-22 filing from your car insurance policy.

Forms that help you cancel an SR-22

Generally, it is the SR-26 form that is used to show the cancellation of an SR-22. In some states, this doubles as proof of insurance as well as showing that the SR-22 filing has been terminated.

Once this SR-22 is canceled, you will no longer be charged the filing fee during your policy renewal period.

You want to be certain that your SR-22 period is over before canceling this filing with the state. In many states, the period to carry the SR-22 is only three years, but in some states, it is up to five years. Also, states vary on the date that the clock starts ticking on the SR-22 time period. 

If you, even accidentally, cancel your SR-22 before your filing period is over, the result could be a suspension of your driver’s license or vehicle registration or both.

If you still need SR-22 insurance, compare insurance quotes from companies with policies that include an SR-22 filing. When going through the quoting process, please indicate “Yes” on the driver portion of our online quote when it asks: “Does this driver require a financial responsibility filing?” if you need to find an auto insurance company that will file the SR-22 for you.

Will my insurance go down after I cancel my SR-22?

Your rates may decrease once your SR-22 is removed, but it’s not guaranteed. It will depend on your driving record, the coverage you buy after the SR-22 cancellation and other factors.

Once your SR-22 is removed, compare auto insurance quotes to see which company offers the coverage you want at the best price. Even drivers with violations and accidents on their records can save by shopping around. That’s because each insurer assesses risk differently, so prices vary significantly, regardless of your record.

Check out which companies have the cheapest SR-22 car insurance near you

Still have a question? Ask our experts

Get advice from an experienced insurance professional. Our experts will help you navigate your insurance questions with clarity and confidence.

Authors Browse all FAQs
Please enter a valid input Min 50 to max 250 characters are allowed. Only (& ? , .) charcters are allowed.
All information provided will remain confidential.
Please enter a valid input
Browse all FAQ’s >>
Error: Security check failed
Thank You, Your message has been received. Our team of auto insurance experts typically answers questions within five working days. Note that due to the volume of questions we receive, not all may be answered. You are a bot!
Ask another question
Meet our editorial team
author-img Shivani Gite Contributing Writer
Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.
author-img Laura Longero Executive Editor
Laura Longero is an insurance expert with more than 15 years of experience educating people about personal finance topics and helping consumers navigate the complexities of auto insurance. She writes and edits for QuinStreet’s CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she worked as a reporter and editor at the USA Today Network.