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    SR22 in Nevada – Will I need it if I pick up a DUI?

    Playlist: Car insurance in Nevada DUI cases

    In Nevada, you need SR-22 if your license was revoked due to traffic offenses such as

    If your license was suspended for DUI, you will need an SR-22 for three years.

    Here are four key things to know:

    1. An SR-22 is a “certificate of financial responsibility” that verifies to the DMV that you carry at least the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
    2. You can get SR-22 through your car insurance company; costs vary but can run to hundreds per month.
    3. You may be able to avoid a license suspension altogether if we get the traffic charges dismissed and win your DMV hearing.
    4. DUIs are not the only reason you may be required to maintain SR-22 insurance for three years:

    In this article, our Las Vegas DUI attorneys explain what an SR-22 is in Nevada, when it is needed, and how to get it. Click on a topic to jump to that section:

    1. What is SR-22 in Nevada?

    A Nevada SR22 insurance document is issued by a car insurance provider that serves as “proof of financial responsibility” for high-risk drivers. It verifies you carry the following minimum coverage of liability insurance required to maintain driving privileges in Nevada:

    • $25,000 for the bodily injury or fatality of one person,
    • $50,000 for the bodily injury or fatality of two or more people, and
    • $20,000 for property damage

    If you have your driver’s license revoked by the Nevada DMV, you usually have to file an SR22 with the DMV before you can get it reinstated.1 It is irrelevant whether or not you own a vehicle: Non-owner SR-22 forms are available.

    SR-22 is necessary to reinstate your license following such events as:

    2. Do I need SR-22 after a DUI?

    Yes. An SR-22 policy is necessary to reinstate a Nevada driver’s license once the DUI suspension period ends.2 The length of a driver’s license suspension depends on whether you had previous DUIs within the last seven years:

    • A first-time DUI carries a 185-day driver’s license suspension.
    • A second-time DUI carries a 1-year driver’s license suspension.
    • A third-time DUI carries a 3-year driver’s license suspension.3

    If you do not get an SR22 after driving under the influence, your driver’s license remains suspended indefinitely.

    3. When else do I need SR-22?

    You need an SR-22 certificate if you cause a car accident without insurance. You also need SR-22 if you are caught driving with an insurance policy that has been expired for more than 90 days.4

    Aftermath of car accident, which may require at-fault driver to get SR 22 insurance.

    SR22 is necessary after causing a car accident without insurance.

    4. How do I get my SR-22?

    Contact your car insurance agent and request an SR22. There is usually a filing fee. The insurer then notifies the Nevada DMV that you have an SR22.5

    5. How long is an SR-22 required in Nevada?

    In Nevada, you must maintain SR-22 insurance for three years from the date you reinstate your license.6

    Note that the Nevada DMV does not notify you when your SR22 period is over.  So you should contact the DMV if you are uncertain about when you no longer need an SR22.

    6. What if I lose my car insurance?

    If your car insurance lapses or gets canceled before your SR22 period ends, the insurance company will issue an SR-26 form to the DMV. An SR-26 indicates a discontinuation in auto insurance coverage.

    At that point, the DMV will notify you by certified mail that they will suspend your driver’s vehicle registration in 10 days unless you can secure new insurance and another SR-22.

    Unfortunately, a lapse or cancellation in insurance coverage “restarts the clock” for SR22 coverage. So for example if your insurance gets canceled two years into a three-year SR22 period, you would need to get a new SR22 for another three years.7

    7. Can an SR-22 requirement be satisfied through a motorcycle insurance policy?

    It depends on the case. If you had a DUI with a motorcycle, the SR22 can usually be satisfied through motorcycle insurance.

    8. Do these rules apply to out-of-state drivers?

    Yes. People with out-of-state licenses will usually have to follow similar SR22 rules in their home state.

    9. What happens if I move away?

    The same rules apply if you move out of state. You would still need to fulfill your SR22 filing period for Nevada despite no longer living here.

    10. Are there any alternatives?

    The best way to try to avoid these requirements is to retain criminal defense counsel as soon as possible following the traffic citation or arrest.

    First we would request a DMV hearing to contest your driver’s license suspension. If the hearing is successful, you may no longer be required to get the SR22.

    Toy car on top of cash

    Drivers with SR22 are considered “high risk.”

    11. How much does it cost?

    SR22 usually costs more than $120 a month plus a one-time filing fee of around $25, but it depends on the insurance carrier. Insurers that usually have the cheapest SR-22 rates are:

    Having SR22 does not itself cause your insurance rates to increase. It is your underlying traffic/moving violation, such as

    Depending on your insurance carrier, a traffic violation can cause your premium rates to skyrocket by more than half. See our article on how DUIs affect car insurance.

    Ask if your carrier provides discounts for taking a defensive driving class. They may also be able to bundle your SR-22 insurance with other policies.

    Additional Resources

    For more general information about SR-22 insurance, refer to these resources:

    • Credit Karma – discusses what you can expect to pay a month
    • US News and World Report – goes over basic details, including the difference between SR-22 and FR-44
    • Forbes Advisor – provides links to various insurance companies and their current rates
    • CNBC – lists all the circumstances under which you have to obtain SR-22 insurance
    • Nevada DMV – outlines the penalties for failing to maintain auto insurance

    Legal References:

    1. NRS 485.3091; see also Langston v. Department of Motor Vehicles, (1994) 110 Nev. 342, 871 P.2d 362.
    2. NRS 485.3075.
    3. NRS 483.460.
    4. Insurance, Nevada DMV. NRS 485.105.
    5. Same.
    6. NRS 485.3092.
    7. Same.

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