My brother recently had his license suspended, and while he wasn’t driving, he still needed car insurance to meet state requirements and avoid higher costs later. What we quickly learned is that finding insurance with a suspended license isn’t easy—but it’s not impossible.
If your license is suspended, you might still need insurance for reasons like:
✅ Filing an SR-22 or FR-44 to reinstate your license.
✅ Maintaining coverage to avoid a lapse (which leads to higher rates later).
✅ Keeping coverage for a parked vehicle (comprehensive-only or non-owner insurance).
In this guide, I’ll break down:
✅ Why you still need insurance with a suspended license
✅ Best car insurance companies for suspended drivers
✅ How to get cheap coverage and reinstate your license faster
Can You Get Car Insurance With a Suspended License?
Yes, but it depends on your situation. If your license is suspended, you might still need insurance to:
✔️ Reinstate Your License – Some states require SR-22 or FR-44 insurance to prove financial responsibility before reinstating your license.
✔️ Avoid a Lapse in Coverage – If you cancel your policy, insurers see you as a higher risk later, making coverage more expensive when your license is reinstated.
✔️ Insure a Parked or Stored Car – If you own a vehicle but won’t drive it, you can get comprehensive-only insurance to protect against theft, fire, and vandalism.
✔️ Drive With a Hardship or Work Permit – Some states allow limited driving privileges during a suspension, which still requires valid insurance.
📌 Key Tip: If you don’t own a car but need insurance to reinstate your license, a non-owner SR-22 policy is the cheapest option.
Best Car Insurance Companies for Suspended License Drivers
We researched multiple insurance providers to find the best options for drivers with suspended licenses.
Insurance Company | Best For | SR-22/FR-44 Option? | Monthly Cost Estimate |
---|---|---|---|
Progressive | Best overall coverage | ✅ Yes | $120 – $250 |
GEICO | Cheapest rates for SR-22 | ✅ Yes | $100 – $220 |
State Farm | Best for customer service | ✅ Yes | $130 – $260 |
The General | Best for high-risk drivers | ✅ Yes | $140 – $300 |
Dairyland | Best for non-standard policies | ✅ Yes | $150 – $320 |
USAA | Best for military families | ✅ Yes | $90 – $200 |
📌 Quick Breakdown:
- Progressive: Best overall for affordable SR-22 coverage.
- GEICO: Cheapest option for low-cost SR-22 filing.
- State Farm: Best for customer service and flexible policies.
- The General: Best for drivers with multiple violations.
- Dairyland: Best for drivers needing non-owner insurance.
- USAA: Cheapest for military families.
🚗 Example: My brother needed SR-22 insurance, and after comparing quotes, GEICO had the cheapest rate at $110 per month.
How to Get Cheap Car Insurance With a Suspended License
1. Find Out If You Need an SR-22 or FR-44 📜
If your suspension is due to:
🚨 DUI/DWI
🚨 Driving without insurance
🚨 Multiple traffic violations
Your state may require an SR-22 or FR-44 (higher-liability certificate) before reinstating your license.
📌 How to Check? Contact your state’s DMV or current insurance provider.
🚗 Example: My brother had his license suspended for driving without insurance, and the DMV required an SR-22 form before reinstating his license.
2. Choose the Right Insurance Type 🚗
Depending on whether you own a car or not, you have three options:
Insurance Type | Best For | Covers Your Car? | Monthly Cost |
---|---|---|---|
SR-22 Insurance | Drivers reinstating their license | ✅ Yes | $100 – $300 |
Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance | Suspended drivers without a car | ❌ No | $50 – $150 |
Comprehensive-Only Insurance | Parking or storing a car | ✅ Yes | $50 – $130 |
📌 Key Tip: If you don’t own a car, non-owner SR-22 insurance is the cheapest way to keep coverage active.
🚗 Example: My brother didn’t own a car anymore, so he got a non-owner SR-22 policy for $90 per month—saving him $600 per year compared to regular coverage.
3. Compare Quotes from Multiple Insurers 💰
Since suspended license drivers are considered high-risk, prices vary by provider. The best way to get affordable coverage is to compare quotes from multiple companies.
📌 Best Websites for Comparing High-Risk Insurance:
- The Zebra
- NerdWallet
- Policygenius
🚗 Example: My brother got three quotes and found that Progressive’s SR-22 policy was $40 cheaper per month than State Farm.
4. Look for Discounts to Lower Your Rate 💵
Even with a suspended license, you might qualify for:
✔️ Multi-policy discount (bundling auto & renters/home insurance).
✔️ Pay-in-full discount (paying for six months upfront).
✔️ Low-mileage discount (if you won’t be driving much).
✔️ Defensive driving course discount (in some states).
📌 Tip: My brother took a defensive driving course, which saved him 5% on his policy.
5. Consider Switching to a Non-Owner Policy 🚗
If you won’t be driving soon but need insurance to reinstate your license, switching to a non-owner SR-22 policy is the cheapest option.
📌 Best Companies for Non-Owner Insurance:
- GEICO
- Progressive
- The General
🚗 Example: My brother’s regular SR-22 policy was $150 per month, but switching to non-owner insurance dropped his cost to $90 per month.
How to Reinstate Your License Faster 🚦
If you’re trying to get your license back, follow these steps:
✅ Step 1: Contact your DMV to check reinstatement requirements.
✅ Step 2: Get an SR-22 or FR-44 policy if required.
✅ Step 3: Pay any DMV fees or fines for reinstatement.
✅ Step 4: Complete any court-ordered courses (if applicable).
✅ Step 5: Submit proof of insurance to the DMV.
📌 Tip: Once my brother provided proof of SR-22 insurance, his license was reinstated in two weeks.
Final Thoughts: How My Brother Got the Best Insurance for a Suspended License
After comparing multiple quotes, my brother chose GEICO’s non-owner SR-22 policy because:
✅ It was the cheapest option at $90 per month.
✅ It met DMV requirements for reinstating his license.
✅ He could cancel anytime after his license was restored.
💰 Final Cost: $90 per month, saving him $720 per year compared to a standard SR-22 policy.
🚗 Bottom Line: If you need car insurance with a suspended license, the best way to save money is to:
✔️ Check if you need an SR-22 or FR-44.
✔️ Compare multiple insurance quotes.
✔️ Consider a non-owner policy if you don’t own a car.
✔️ Take advantage of available discounts.
✔️ Follow DMV steps to reinstate your license ASAP.
By following these steps, drivers with suspended licenses can stay insured, meet legal requirements, and reinstate their license as quickly as possible! 🚗💨💰