The General files SR-22 in most states, but their non-standard pricing tier means you're paying monthly premiums comparable to what standard carriers charge post-SR22 drivers — worth comparing as you near the end of your filing period.
Does The General File SR-22 in Your State
The General files SR-22 certificates in 47 states where SR-22 is required. They do not write policies in Alaska, Hawaii, or Massachusetts. In states using alternative frameworks — Florida's FR-44, Virginia's SR-22A — The General files the state-specific certificate.
Filing happens automatically when you purchase a policy if you disclose the SR-22 requirement upfront. The General submits the certificate electronically to your state DMV within 1-3 business days of policy binding. You receive a copy by email and mail. Most states accept electronic filing; paper certificates are backup documentation only.
If you're within six months of completing your SR-22 requirement, verify your filing end date with your DMV before shopping. The General will continue filing until you or your state DMV notify them to stop. Carriers do not automatically remove SR-22 when your required period ends — that notification step is your responsibility.
The General's Rate Position for SR-22 Drivers
The General operates as a non-standard auto carrier. Their base pricing tier assumes violation history, lapses, or SR-22 requirements. For drivers currently carrying SR-22, this positioning works in their favor — The General does not impose the same percentage surcharges standard carriers apply to high-risk profiles.
Typical monthly premiums for liability-only SR-22 coverage through The General range from $95 to $160 depending on state, violation type, and coverage limits. DUI violations push premiums toward the high end of that range; at-fault accidents without DUI trend lower. These figures assume state minimum liability limits plus SR-22 filing.
The counterintuitive pricing gap appears when you compare The General's rates to what standard carriers charge post-SR22 drivers. A driver with a clean three-year record after SR-22 completion can often secure standard carrier coverage at $85–$130/month for the same liability limits. The General's non-standard pricing does not drop when your SR-22 ends, because their pricing tier does not distinguish between active SR-22 filers and drivers with violation history. You remain in the non-standard book either way.
Find out exactly how long SR-22 is required in your state
When Post-SR22 Drivers Should Compare Standard Carriers
Start comparing standard carrier rates 90 days before your SR-22 filing period ends. Most standard carriers will quote drivers with a clean three-year lookback window even if the SR-22 requirement has not technically ended yet. Your violation falls outside their underwriting window once three years have passed from the conviction date — not the filing date.
Standard carriers writing post-SR22 drivers include State Farm, Progressive, Nationwide, and GEICO in most states. These carriers price post-SR22 drivers in their standard or preferred-risk tiers if no additional violations appear in the three-year window. Monthly premiums typically run 15–35% lower than non-standard carriers for equivalent coverage limits.
The transition strategy is sequential shopping. Get quotes from both non-standard carriers (The General, Bristol West, Acceptance) and standard carriers (State Farm, Progressive, GEICO) in the 90-day window before your SR-22 ends. Bind the best rate 30 days before your filing period ends. Notify your prior carrier and your DMV to stop SR-22 filing on the exact end date. Standard carriers will not file SR-22 for you once the requirement ends — that filing stops automatically when you cancel the non-standard policy.
Coverage Limits and Filing Fees Through The General
The General requires you to carry at least your state's minimum liability limits to maintain SR-22 filing. Most states mandate 25/50/25 or 30/60/25 split limits. The General will not file SR-22 on a policy below state minimums.
SR-22 filing fees through The General typically range from $15 to $35 depending on state. This is a one-time fee at policy inception and a per-policy-period fee at each renewal. If you cancel and rebind, you pay the filing fee again. Some states prohibit carriers from charging separate SR-22 fees; in those states the fee is embedded in your base premium.
Drivers nearing SR-22 completion should verify whether their current coverage limits exceed state minimums. If you're carrying 100/300/100 limits with The General and your state only requires 25/50/25 for SR-22 compliance, you can reduce limits when you transition to a standard carrier post-SR22. Standard carriers price lower limits at 20–30% less than high-limit policies. This stacks with the tier discount you gain by moving out of non-standard.
What Happens When Your SR-22 Requirement Ends
Your SR-22 filing period ends on the date specified in your original DMV order — typically three years from your conviction date. The General does not automatically stop filing when that date arrives. You must request removal.
To end SR-22 filing, contact The General's customer service and request an SR-26 certificate (called SR-22 cancellation or withdrawal in some states). The General submits the SR-26 to your DMV within 1-3 business days. Your DMV updates your record to show the SR-22 requirement as fulfilled. This process does not affect your insurance policy — you remain insured with The General unless you cancel separately.
Most drivers nearing SR-22 completion choose to cancel their non-standard policy and bind a new standard-carrier policy simultaneously. The sequence: bind the new standard policy with an effective date matching your SR-22 end date, cancel The General policy effective the same date, and request the SR-26 filing. This avoids any gap in coverage and ensures your DMV receives the SR-22 withdrawal before your new policy starts. A lapse during transition resets your SR-22 clock to zero in most states.
State-Specific SR-22 Duration and The General's Availability
SR-22 filing periods vary by state and violation type. Most DUI convictions require three-year filing. At-fault accidents, suspended license reinstatements, and repeat violations may require one to five years depending on state statute.
The General writes SR-22 policies in all SR-22 states except Alaska, Hawaii, and Massachusetts. In Florida, they file FR-44 (the state's higher-limit alternative to SR-22). In Virginia, they file SR-22A for DUI convictions. Each state's filing requirement is independent — if you move states during your SR-22 period, The General can transfer filing to your new state if they write there.
Verify your specific filing period by requesting a copy of your original DMV order or suspension letter. The order specifies the end date. If you cannot locate the order, contact your state DMV and request your driver record abstract. The abstract shows your SR-22 start date and required duration. Do not rely on your carrier to track this — carriers file as long as the policy is active; tracking the end date is your responsibility.
Rate Recovery Timeline After SR-22 Ends
Rates do not automatically drop when your SR-22 requirement ends. Your premium is determined by your underwriting tier, violation history lookback window, and claims record. The SR-22 filing itself is not a rating factor — it's a compliance certificate.
What changes rates post-SR22: moving from a non-standard carrier to a standard carrier (15–35% reduction), violations aging out of the three-year lookback window (10–25% reduction per violation), and accumulating claim-free years (5–10% reduction per year). These reductions compound. A driver moving from The General to State Farm 90 days after SR-22 ends, with a clean three-year record and no claims, can see total premium reductions of 40–60% compared to their SR-22-period rates.
Full rate normalization to clean-record pricing takes three to five years after your violation conviction date. Standard carriers tier post-SR22 drivers in preferred-risk once five years have passed with no additional violations. Some carriers compress this to three years for single-violation drivers. Shop annually after your SR-22 ends — your rate should improve each year as your violation ages further into the lookback window.
