SR-22 Insurance

Last Updated on January 20, 2026

Many drivers search for “SR-22 insurance in NY” after a ticket, a DUI/DWI, or an insurance lapse. Here’s the key point up front: New York does not use SR-22 (or FR-44) certificates. Instead, New York enforces financial responsibility through continuous New York-issued insurance and DMV registration rules.

This guide explains what SR-22 is, why it doesn’t exist in New York, what New York does require, and what to do if another state is asking you for an SR-22 while you live in New York.

Does New York Require SR-22 Insurance?

No. New York does not require SR-22 filings, and the DMV generally relies on electronic insurance reporting plus New York insurance ID cards to verify coverage. If your vehicle is registered in New York, the policy must be issued by an insurer authorized in New York and accepted by the NY DMV (out-of-state auto insurance is not accepted for a New York registration). For the DMV’s current rules, see New York State Insurance Requirements.

SR-22 vs. What New York Uses Instead

Item	What It Is	Typical Use	What New York Does
SR-22	Proof-of-insurance filing made by your insurer	Required by many states after serious violations or repeated lapses	Not used for NY driving privileges
FR-44	Similar filing with higher required liability limits in some states	Used in a small number of states for certain DUI-related cases	Not used for NY driving privileges
NY Proof of Insurance	NY insurance ID card + electronic notice to DMV	Required to register and keep a vehicle registered in NY	Continuous NY-issued coverage is the core requirement

How New York Enforces Financial Responsibility

New York’s system focuses on keeping your vehicle continuously insured while it’s registered. The DMV can suspend your registration (and in many situations your driver license) if coverage is canceled or lapses. The DMV also explains how insurers provide proof: you typically receive NY insurance ID cards and the insurer sends an electronic notice of coverage to the DMV. Details: NY DMV insurance requirements.

For premium and marketplace rules (what insurers can charge, cancellation rules, consumer rights, and what to do if you can’t get insured), the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) is the primary regulator.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in New York

Unlike SR-22 states (where a “filing” is part of the compliance process), New York generally applies the same baseline requirements to all drivers. If you’re trying to keep costs down, it helps to understand what “minimum coverage” really means—here’s a plain-English overview, plus a deeper look at bare minimum auto insurance and New York-specific laws and requirements.

Required Auto Coverages in New York

Coverage	What It Helps Pay For	New York Minimum (Most Private Passenger Vehicles)
Bodily Injury Liability	Injuries you cause to others	$25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident (injury)
Property Damage Liability	Damage you cause to others’ property	$10,000 per accident
Uninsured Motorist Protection	Injuries to you/occupants caused by an uninsured driver (and certain hit-and-run situations)	Generally mirrors NY’s liability minimums
No-Fault (PIP)	Medical bills and certain economic losses for you/occupants, regardless of fault (subject to policy rules)	$50,000 per person

Important nuance: New York’s minimum liability framework also includes separate minimum death benefit amounts within liability coverage. The DMV lists these alongside the injury limits on its insurance requirements page: NY DMV: Insurance Requirements.

What If Another State Requires an SR-22 While You Live in New York?

This is the most common “SR-22 in NY” scenario. Even though New York doesn’t require an SR-22, another state can still require a filing if your license, conviction, or reinstatement obligation is tied to that state.

• Confirm who is requesting it: The notice should identify the state and the required form (SR-22 vs FR-44) and the filing period.
• Ask your insurer if they can file out-of-state: Many insurers can file an SR-22 with another state, but not all companies support every state.
• Keep New York compliance separate: If your vehicle is registered in New York, you still must maintain New York-issued coverage that the NY DMV accepts.
• Don’t let coverage cancel unexpectedly: In SR-22 states, cancellations often trigger a notification to that state. In New York, a cancellation can trigger registration action by the NY DMV.

High-Risk Drivers in New York

New York doesn’t label you “SR-22 required,” but insurers can still underwrite you as higher risk based on your driving and insurance history. If you’re shopping after a serious incident, this overview of high-risk driver insurance can help you understand how insurers evaluate risk.

You may be treated as high-risk in New York after situations like driving uninsured, repeated violations, or certain alcohol-related convictions. Insurers also weigh claim history—sometimes even when you believe you weren’t responsible (for example, see how “fault” and reporting can work after a not-at-fault accident).

If you’re trying to insure a vehicle while dealing with a suspended or revoked license, expect fewer options and more underwriting scrutiny. In those cases, shopping with multiple carriers (and working with an agent who understands New York rules) can matter more than it does for standard drivers.

If You Can’t Get Coverage, New York Has an Assigned Risk Option

If multiple insurers decline your application, you may still be able to obtain coverage through New York’s assigned risk mechanism, commonly referred to as the Auto Plan. DFS explains what to do when you have trouble getting coverage, and the plan administrator provides program details through the New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP).

For a New York-specific walkthrough of how assigned risk coverage works, see our guide to New York State assigned risk auto insurance.

Insurance Lapse Penalties in New York

Because New York doesn’t use SR-22 filings, the state’s compliance pressure shows up elsewhere: registration and license consequences when insurance cancels or lapses. The DMV explains the process and consequences in detail on its insurance lapse pages: Insurance Lapses (NY DMV).

Civil Penalty Amounts (When Eligible)

In some situations, the DMV may allow a civil penalty in place of surrendering plates/serving a registration suspension (eligibility depends on your DMV notice). The DMV’s current per-day civil penalty schedule is published here: Pay an Insurance Lapse Civil Penalty.

Length of Lapse	DMV Civil Penalty (Per Day)
1–30 days	$8/day
31–60 days	$10/day
61–90 days	$12/day

Driving without insurance can trigger additional penalties. The DMV notes that traffic court fines can be as high as $1,500 in some situations, and certain uninsured-crash scenarios can lead to a one-year revocation plus DMV civil penalties and reinstatement fees. See: NY DMV insurance lapse consequences.

Optional Coverages That Matter in New York

Minimum limits help you stay legal, but they can be thin protection in real claims—especially in higher-cost areas of New York. Many drivers consider adding:

• Collision coverage (damage to your car after an at-fault crash or hit-and-run, subject to deductible)
• Comprehensive coverage (theft, vandalism, weather, animal hits, and other non-collision losses, subject to deductible)
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist options (New York requires uninsured motorists protection; many policies also offer additional protections depending on how you structure coverage)

Where to Shop for Coverage in New York

Carrier appetite for higher-risk drivers varies by underwriting rules, claim history, territory, vehicle type, and payment profile. If you’re rebuilding your insurance history, it can help to review multiple insurers’ New York programs and compare apples-to-apples quotes.

New York Carrier Reviews and Guides

Carrier	Learn More
Progressive	Read our Progressive NY guide
Erie	Read our Erie NY guide
Travelers	Read our Travelers NY guide
Allstate	Read our Allstate NY review
USAA	Read our USAA NY guide
GEICO	Read our GEICO NY guide
State Farm	Read our State Farm NY guide
Liberty Mutual	Read our Liberty Mutual NY guide

Final Word on SR-22 Insurance in New York

New York doesn’t require SR-22 or FR-44 certificates. If you’re trying to get back on the road after a violation, the practical goal in New York is usually simple: keep continuous New York-issued coverage in place while your vehicle is registered and follow DMV instructions promptly if you receive an insurance letter or suspension order.

If another state is demanding an SR-22, focus on that state’s filing rules while still meeting New York’s separate registration and insurance requirements. Because rules and procedures can change, always verify details with the NY DMV and NY DFS for your specific situation.

FAQs on SR-22 Insurance in New York