Texas SR-22 Insurance (2026): Cost & Cheapest Companies After a DWI
After a Texas DWI you’ll need an SR-22 filing to reinstate your license. The certificate itself is cheap — the real cost is the premium surcharge. Comparing quotes is the single biggest way to lower it.
| What it is | A certificate your insurer files with Texas DPS proving you carry state-minimum liability coverage |
| How long you carry it | 2 years from your conviction date, carried continuously (per Texas DPS) |
| Filing fee | $15–25 (the certificate; the premium surcharge is the real cost) |
| Typical premium, first DWI | ~$110–190/mo vs. ~$55–85 for a clean-record driver |
| Minimum liability limits | 30/60/25 ($30k bodily injury / $60k per crash / $25k property damage) |
| If it lapses | Insurer files SR-26 → license suspended → $100 reinstatement fee → clock may reset |
How much SR-22 costs in Texas
Texas DPS accepts the SR-22 filing electronically at no cost to you. Your carrier charges a small filing fee ($15–25), and the real expense is the premium surcharge a DWI triggers. A first-DWI driver typically pays roughly $110–190/month for minimum coverage, compared to $55–85 with a clean record — a surcharge you’ll carry for the full two-year filing period.
Cheapest SR-22 carriers in Texas
Most standard insurers don’t write SR-22s, so pricing concentrates among a handful of carriers. Quotes for the same driver routinely differ by 200% or more. Starting points for 2026:
| Carrier | Notes |
|---|---|
| State Farm | Often the cheapest standard carrier for a single DWI; weighs full driving history |
| Allstate | Competitive DWI rates, broad Texas availability |
| Progressive Specialty | Strong in the non-standard / high-risk market statewide |
| Bristol West / Kemper Specialty | Non-standard carriers that routinely write SR-22 policies |
Availability and pricing depend on your record, county, and vehicle. The only way to find your cheapest rate is to compare multiple carriers.
How to file an SR-22 in Texas
You don’t file it yourself — your insurer does. Here’s the process:
- Buy a policy from a carrier that writes SR-22s in Texas.
- Ask them to file the SR-22 with Texas DPS — most carriers do this same-day, electronically.
- Keep the policy active continuously for 2 years from your conviction date.
- When the term ends, your carrier files an SR-26 to close it out.
Note that separate DPS fees apply to the underlying DWI: a $100 license reinstatement fee plus a $125 DWI reinstatement surcharge, paid directly to Texas DPS — not your insurer.