Updated July 2026
What Is Reinstatement Coverage Insurance?
Georgia requires SR-22 certification after a second DUI conviction or when a court specifically orders it as a reinstatement condition. The SR-22 is a certificate your insurance carrier files with the Georgia Department of Driver Services proving you carry at least the state's minimum liability limits: $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. The carrier electronically notifies DDS when you purchase the policy and again if you cancel it or let it lapse. Your license remains suspended until DDS receives the SR-22 filing and you pay all reinstatement fees.
- You completed a 12-month hard suspension after a second DUI in Georgia. Before DDS will reinstate your license, you must show proof of SR-22 filing, complete a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program, pay a $210 reinstatement fee, and install an ignition interlock device for 12 months. The SR-22 requirement runs for 3 years from the reinstatement date. If you cancel your insurance 18 months in, DDS re-suspends your license immediately and the 3-year clock restarts when you file a new SR-22.
- You don't own a vehicle but need SR-22 certification to satisfy Georgia's reinstatement conditions. You purchase a non-owner liability policy with SR-22 endorsement for approximately $35 to $60 per month. The carrier files the SR-22 electronically with DDS, you pay the reinstatement fee, and your license is restored. The non-owner policy covers you when driving borrowed or rental vehicles but provides no coverage for vehicles you own or regularly use.
- You've carried SR-22 for 14 months and want to switch to a cheaper carrier. You must secure the new policy and SR-22 filing before canceling the old policy. If there is any gap — even one day — between the old carrier's cancellation notice and the new carrier's SR-22 filing, DDS treats it as a lapse and re-suspends your license. You'll pay a new reinstatement fee and the 3-year SR-22 period restarts from zero.
Who Needs Reinstatement Coverage Insurance?
You need SR-22 certification in Georgia if you received a second DUI conviction, or if a judge specifically ordered SR-22 as a condition of license reinstatement after a first DUI. You also need it if DDS sent you a notice stating SR-22 filing is required before reinstatement. Non-owner SR-22 is the right choice if you don't own a vehicle but need to satisfy the filing requirement to get your license back.
Check your DDS suspension notice or reinstatement letter — if it lists SR-22 filing as a requirement, you must obtain it before reinstatement. If the notice is unclear, call DDS Customer Service at 678-413-8400 and ask whether SR-22 is required for your specific suspension type. Do not purchase SR-22 based on assumptions or carrier recommendations alone.
How Much Does Reinstatement Coverage Insurance Cost?
SR-22 certification adds $25 to $50 as a one-time filing fee, plus 30% to 80% to your monthly premium due to the high-risk driver classification that triggered the SR-22 requirement. Expect to pay $120 to $220 per month for minimum liability coverage with SR-22 in Georgia.
- The violation that triggered the SR-22 requirement — a second DUI results in higher premiums than a first-offense DUI with court-ordered SR-22.
- Whether you choose a standard liability policy or a non-owner policy — non-owner SR-22 policies typically cost 40% to 60% less than standard coverage.
- Your county of residence — urban counties like Fulton and DeKalb have higher base rates due to accident frequency and theft rates.
- The number of years since your most recent violation — premiums decrease as you move further from the triggering event without new incidents.
- Whether you bundle SR-22 with comprehensive or collision coverage — adding full coverage on a financed vehicle can double the monthly cost.
- Your payment method — paying the full 6-month or 12-month premium upfront often saves 10% to 15% compared to monthly installments.