The Three-Year Clock Runs From Filing, Not Conviction
You completed your DUI sentence. You paid the reinstatement fee. You maintained SR-22 coverage every month for what feels like forever. But Georgia does not count your three-year SR-22 period from your conviction date or your license suspension — the Department of Driver Services counts from the date your carrier filed the SR-22 certificate with the state.
That distinction matters because most drivers remember their conviction date clearly and assume the filing period ends three years later. If your carrier filed the SR-22 two months after your conviction because you took time to find coverage, your actual release date is two months later than you think. Drop coverage on the wrong date and Georgia DDS receives an SR-26 cancellation notice from your carrier automatically, triggering a new suspension within days.
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Get Your Free QuoteGeorgia SR-22 Filing Period
3 years
Measured from the date your insurance carrier files the SR-22 certificate with DDS, not from your conviction date or suspension start date. The filing clock begins when DDS receives the electronic certificate from your carrier.
Georgia Department of Driver Services
Why DDS Does Not Tell You When Your Period Ends
Georgia DDS does not send you a letter when your three-year SR-22 period ends. They do not notify your carrier. The system is passive — your carrier maintains the filing on record, DDS monitors it, and when three years pass from the original filing date the requirement simply expires in the state's database.
Your carrier does not receive notification either. They continue billing you for SR-22 coverage unless you explicitly tell them to remove the filing endorsement. Some drivers pay for SR-22 coverage months or even years past the required period because no one told them they could stop.
The only way to confirm your exact end date is to request your driving record directly from Georgia DDS. The record shows the original filing date. Add three years to that date and you have your earliest removal date.
Drop SR-22 coverage before the three-year filing period ends and Georgia DDS re-suspends your license automatically, even if your original suspension is fully resolved.
How to Confirm Your Filing Start Date
Request your certified driving record online through the Georgia DDS portal at online.dds.ga.gov. The record costs $8 and displays electronically within minutes. Look for the SR-22 filing entry — the date next to that entry is your filing start date, not your conviction date. Add exactly three years to that date. That is the earliest date you can request SR-22 removal without triggering a re-suspension.
Alternatively, visit a DDS Customer Service Center in person and request a printed driving record. Bring your driver's license or state-issued ID. The printed record shows the same filing date. If the SR-22 entry shows a date different from your conviction or suspension date, use the SR-22 filing date for all calculations. DDS tracks the filing, not the underlying violation.
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The Removal Process Has Two Steps
Once your three-year period ends, removing the SR-22 requires action on your part. Georgia does not remove it automatically. You must contact your insurance carrier and explicitly request SR-22 removal. Your carrier then files an SR-26 certificate with DDS notifying the state that the filing is terminated.
Do not cancel your insurance policy to remove the SR-22. Canceling your policy triggers an SR-26 notice immediately, and if you are still within the three-year period DDS will suspend your license for failing to maintain required coverage. The correct sequence is: wait until the three-year period ends, confirm the end date using your driving record, then call your carrier and request SR-22 removal while keeping your underlying liability coverage active.
After your carrier files the SR-26, Georgia DDS updates your record to reflect that the SR-22 requirement no longer applies. This typically processes within 5 to 10 business days. You can verify removal by requesting an updated driving record from DDS after two weeks.
Georgia Reinstatement Fee
$200
If you drop SR-22 coverage before the three-year period ends, DDS re-suspends your license and requires you to pay the full $200 reinstatement fee again, even if you already paid it once for the original suspension.
Georgia Department of Driver Services fee schedule
What Happens to Your Premium After Removal
Removing the SR-22 filing removes the SR-22 endorsement fee your carrier charges, typically $25 to $50 annually depending on the carrier. It does not remove the underlying DUI conviction from your driving record or reset your insurance risk profile. Georgia keeps DUI convictions on your record for 10 years, and carriers price your premium based on that conviction regardless of whether you still carry an SR-22.
Your rate will drop slightly after SR-22 removal because the endorsement fee disappears, but the larger rate impact from the DUI remains until the conviction ages off your record. Expect meaningful rate decreases at the five-year and seven-year marks as the conviction becomes less recent. Carriers vary significantly in how they price aged DUI convictions — some carriers reduce rates faster than others.
Compare Carriers Before and After Removal
Most drivers stay with the same non-standard carrier they used during the SR-22 period even after the filing requirement ends. That often costs more than switching to a standard carrier once SR-22 is removed. Non-standard carriers like Acceptance Insurance, Bristol West, and The General specialize in high-risk drivers and charge higher base rates. Once your SR-22 period ends, you may qualify for better rates with standard carriers like State Farm, Progressive, or GEICO, depending on how long ago your DUI occurred and whether you have other violations on your record.
Request quotes from at least three carriers within 30 days after SR-22 removal. Tell each carrier your DUI date and confirm that your SR-22 period has ended. Rates vary significantly by carrier for drivers with aged DUI convictions. Comparing carriers after removal is the single largest controllable factor in reducing your premium post-SR-22.