What an SR-22 Costs

Auto insurance rating in Illinois is done at the individual level by each licensed insurer using its own filed rates. Any “average” number would be misleading for your situation. Two drivers in the same city with the same DUI date can pay very different premiums based on record, vehicle, and carrier. The only accurate price is a quote for you.

These are the levers non-standard insurers typically weigh in Illinois:

• Violation type

  DUI, driving uninsured, at-fault crash, unsatisfied judgment, or a points-based suspension each rate differently.

• Recency

  A violation in the last 12 months rates higher than the same violation three years old.

• Driving record

  Additional citations, at-fault crashes, or prior suspensions compound the rate.

• Vehicle

  Make, model, year, safety rating, and repair cost all move an owner's policy premium.

• ZIP code

  Territorial rating reflects loss experience for cars garaged in your area.

• Coverage limits

  Higher limits cost more but are usually a better fit for drivers already carrying elevated risk.

• Lapse history

  Prior gaps in coverage are one of the strongest rating factors for non-standard insurers.

• Owner vs. non-owner

  Non-owner policies do not include physical damage; owner policies do.

• Filing fee

  A small one-time insurer charge to administer the SR-22 filing. Amount varies by insurer.

The reliable moves are: keep coverage continuous through the entire filing term, pay on time to avoid a cancellation that would trigger an SR-26, drive an older or lower-cost vehicle if you own one, and choose realistic liability limits rather than the bare state minimum. Bare-minimum limits (25/50/20) are cheaper up front but generally leave you exposed after a single serious at-fault crash.

Most insurers step your rate down as the violation ages. Three years of continuous coverage without new incidents is a meaningful signal to underwriters. Some carriers also reward completion of a state-approved driver improvement course.