In this article 10 sections
Texas DPS requires an SR-22 after convictions for DWI, drug offenses, Driving While License Invalid and multiple no-insurance convictions, and in some uninsured-crash and judgment cases. You must keep it for two years from the most recent qualifying conviction or the judgment date.
The policy must meet Texas minimums of $30,000/$60,000/$25,000. If it lapses, the insurer tells DPS and your license and registration may be suspended. Drivers without a car can use a non-owner SR-22 policy.
Rules come from Texas DPS’s SR-22 FAQ, its SR-22 page and crash suspension page, the Texas Department of Insurance and Texas Transportation Code Chapter 601. DPS pages refused direct connections when checked in October 2026; DPS wording was confirmed through the pages’ indexed text. NextCarReview does not sell insurance or file SR-22 forms, quotes no average premiums and does not rank insurers; see our sourcing policy.
This is general information, not legal advice; rules change, so check your state DMV and your own suspension or court notice.
In Texas, the SR-22 is handled by the Department of Public Safety, which issues and suspends driver licenses. The form itself is a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate: proof, filed by your insurer, that you carry the liability insurance Texas law requires. This page covers the Texas-specific rules; for how SR-22 filings work in general, see our SR-22 insurance explainer.
Who Needs an SR-22 in Texas?
Texas DPS says an SR-22 is required by Texas Transportation Code Chapter 601 to verify that you are maintaining motor vehicle liability insurance (Texas DPS). DPS lists these triggers:
- Convictions for Driving While Intoxicated.
- Drug offenses.
- Driving While License Invalid (DWLI).
- Multiple convictions for no motor vehicle liability insurance.
- Uninsured crashes and judgments. DPS can suspend the license of a driver who was uninsured, was found responsible by the investigating officer, and was in a crash causing injury, death or at least $1,000 in property damage. Reinstating after that suspension can involve a security deposit plus an SR-22, and an SR-22 is required if it has been less than two years since a crash judgment was rendered (DPS crash suspension).
How Long Do You Need an SR-22 in Texas?
DPS says you must maintain a valid SR-22 for two years from the date of your most recent conviction, or from the date a judgment was rendered against you due to a crash. If a new conviction that requires an SR-22 is reported, the requirement may be extended. Failing to maintain the SR-22 for two years without a lapse can lead to additional enforcement actions and reinstatement fees (DPS FAQ).
| Situation | SR-22 required? | How long |
|---|---|---|
| DWI or drug-offense conviction | Yes | 2 years from the most recent conviction |
| DWLI conviction | Yes | 2 years from the most recent conviction |
| Multiple no-insurance convictions | Yes | 2 years from the most recent conviction |
| Crash judgment | Yes, if under 2 years since judgment | 2 years from the judgment date |
| Uninsured crash suspension complied with by deposit | SR-22 required with the deposit | Per DPS notice |
Two years is shorter than the three-year periods used in states such as California, Florida and Illinois, but the clock restarts with a new qualifying conviction. For a DWI, the SR-22 is only one part of reinstatement; DPS’s alcohol-related offense pages list the other steps.
What Are Texas Minimum Liability Limits?
Texas DPS says the SR-22 certifies the minimum liability coverage required by law: $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in one crash, $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in one crash, and $25,000 for damage to property of others in one crash (DPS). The Texas Department of Insurance explains that these amounts, set by Transportation Code section 601.072, took effect January 1, 2011, after an earlier step to $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 for policies issued or renewed on or after April 1, 2008 (TDI bulletin B-0048-10).
| Coverage | Texas minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury, one person | $30,000 |
| Bodily injury, two or more people | $60,000 |
| Property damage | $25,000 |
How Do You File a Texas SR-22, and What If It Lapses?
- Find an insurer that writes SR-22 policies in Texas. DPS says most insurance providers can issue an SR-22; confirm with the insurer before you buy.
- Buy a policy with at least the 30/60/25 minimums (an owner policy if you own a car, or a non-owner policy if you don’t).
- Ask the insurer to file the SR-22 with DPS; keep a copy.
- Pay any reinstatement fees and meet the other conditions on your DPS notice.
- Keep the policy active, without a gap, for the full two years.
DPS says insurance providers automatically notify the department when an SR-22 is cancelled, terminated or lapses, and that your driving privilege and vehicle registration may be suspended if a new SR-22 is not on file before the original policy is cancelled (DPS). If you change insurers, have the new company file before the old policy ends.
Does Texas Use the FR-44?
No. Texas uses the SR-22 for DWI and other qualifying convictions, at the regular state minimum limits. The higher-limit FR-44 certificate is used in Florida and Virginia; see our guides to those states in the series box below.
What About Non-Owner SR-22 Policies in Texas?
Not owning a car does not end the requirement. DPS says that you are still required to file and maintain an SR-22 even if you do not own a vehicle, and that you may obtain a Texas non-owners SR-22 insurance policy (DPS). A non-owner policy covers your liability when you drive a vehicle you do not own; it does not insure any particular car. Our non-owner SR-22 guide, listed in the series box below, compares how several states handle these policies.
Moving to or From Texas With an SR-22
DPS describes the SR-22 as proof of state-monitored liability insurance from an insurance company that provides coverage in Texas. If Texas imposed your requirement and you move, the Texas requirement does not automatically end; contact DPS before cancelling the filing, and ask your insurer whether it can keep a Texas SR-22 on file while insuring you in your new state. If you move to Texas with another state’s requirement, that state’s rules continue to govern the filing it ordered.
How Can You Keep Costs Down?
No state agency publishes an average SR-22 premium, and NextCarReview does not rank insurers. What you can control is the comparison: ask several insurers whether they file the form your state requires, request quotes for identical limits, and ask about any filing fee in writing. Our guide to comparing auto insurance quotes explains how to line up like-for-like coverage, and the auto insurance calculator shows how a driving-record change moves an estimate. If a crash led to the requirement, our overview of when to talk to an auto accident attorney covers the liability side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you need an SR-22 in Texas?
Texas DPS says you must maintain a valid SR-22 for two years from the date of your most recent conviction, or from the date a judgment was rendered against you after a crash. A new conviction that requires an SR-22 can extend the requirement.
What convictions require an SR-22 in Texas?
Texas DPS lists Driving While Intoxicated, drug offenses, Driving While License Invalid, and multiple convictions for no motor vehicle liability insurance. An SR-22 is also required in some crash and judgment cases.
What are the Texas minimum liability limits for an SR-22?
$30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more people in one crash, and $25,000 for property damage, the same as the state minimum. The Texas Department of Insurance notes these amounts took effect January 1, 2011.
Can I get a Texas SR-22 if I don’t own a car?
Yes. Texas DPS says you must still file and maintain an SR-22 even if you do not own a vehicle, and that you may obtain a Texas non-owner SR-22 insurance policy.
What happens if my Texas SR-22 is cancelled?
Your insurer automatically notifies DPS when an SR-22 is cancelled, terminated or lapses. DPS says your driving privilege and vehicle registration may be suspended if a new SR-22 is not filed before the original policy is cancelled.
⚠️ Professional Notice:
Texas rules summarized from DPS pages, the Texas Department of Insurance and Transportation Code Chapter 601 as of October 2026. DPS pages could not be loaded directly when checked; wording was confirmed from DPS’s indexed page text.
This is general information, not legal advice. Financial responsibility rules change through legislation and agency rules; the notice you receive from your state controls. NextCarReview.com does not receive compensation from insurers or filing services.
Data Sources and Verification
- Texas DPS: Section 9, SR-22 (Proof of Financial Responsibility) FAQ
- Texas DPS: Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22)
- Texas DPS: Crash Suspension
- Texas Department of Insurance: Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0048-10 (minimum limits)
- Texas Transportation Code Chapter 601 (Safety Responsibility)
Morgan Reyes is the founder and editor-in-chief of NextCarReview, which Morgan launched in August 2024. A 2022 graduate of Columbia University, Morgan is based in New York and writes and edits the site’s reviews, comparisons and buying guides. Morgan does not road-test vehicles. Every article is built from published primary data: EPA FuelEconomy.gov ratings, NHTSA crash ratings, recalls and owner complaints, IIHS results, and manufacturer specifications and pricing, with each figure cited and checked before publication. Contact: admin@nextcarreview.com
