In Nevada, you must keep SR-22 insurance for three (3) years as a condition of reinstating your driver’s license. Then if you let your car insurance lapse before the three years are up, the three-year requirement begins all over again.
In my experience, the biggest mistake drivers make is assuming the three-year clock runs automatically in the background. I have seen people unknowingly extend their SR-22 requirement by letting a policy lapse, switching insurance companies without confirming the new SR-22 was filed, or waiting months to reinstate their license after becoming eligible.
I tell clients that once you are required to carry an SR-22, staying continuously insured is just as important as avoiding new traffic violations. A brief coverage gap can end up costing far more than the missed premium by delaying when you can finally return to ordinary insurance rates.
What SR-22 Insurance Is
An SR-22 is a “proof of financial responsibility” issued by your car insurance company. An SR-22 verifies that you carry no less than the minimum liability coverage that is required to own a car in Nevada.
Currently, the minimum required car liability coverage in Nevada is “25/50/20,” which stands for:
- $25,000 for the injury or death of one person,
- $50,000 for the injury or death of two or more people, and
- $20,000 for property damage in an accident.
The Nevada DMV typically requires everyone with suspended or revoked driver’s licenses to obtain SR-22 as a condition of getting their license back.1
Who Needs SR-22 After a DUI
If you get a DUI in Nevada, you need to obtain an SR-22 to reinstate your driver’s license after the revocation period is over. The revocation periods are:
Note that if you refuse to take a breath test or blood test following your DUI arrest, the DMV will revoke your license for a year. This is true even if your DUI charge gets dropped.2
When Else SR-22 Is Required
If you go for more than 90 days without car insurance, you will be required to get an SR-22 in Nevada. You will also need SR-22 if you cause a car accident and have no insurance.3
How To Get SR-22
Your car insurance company can provide SR-22 upon request and payment of a fee. Note that if you need to get SR-22 insurance, you will likely have to pay higher car insurance rates because you are deemed “high risk.”
How Much SR-22 Costs
It varies, but the price of SR-22 can run from around $1,640 to more than $3,000 annually. Plus there is a one-time filing fee that can run up to $50.
See our related article on how DUIs affect car insurance in Nevada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove my SR-22 early if I have been a safe driver?
No. Nevada generally requires you to maintain an SR-22 for the entire period ordered by the DMV, typically three years. Even if you never receive another ticket or accident, the requirement remains until the DMV releases you from it.
I have had clients assume the requirement ends simply because they completed probation or finished DUI school. It does not. I encourage clients to verify with the DMV that their SR-22 requirement has officially expired before asking their insurance company to remove the filing.
Does the three-year SR-22 period start after my DUI arrest?
No. In Nevada, the SR-22 requirement generally begins when your driver’s license is reinstated—not on the date of your arrest, conviction, or license suspension.
This catches many drivers by surprise. I regularly speak with people who believed they had already “served” most of the three years while their license was suspended. Unfortunately, that time usually does not count. Waiting too long to reinstate your license can also delay when your SR-22 obligation ends.
What happens if my SR-22 insurance lapses before the three years are over?
If your SR-22 policy is canceled or lapses before the required period ends, your insurance company notifies the Nevada DMV. Your license may be suspended again, and the three-year SR-22 requirement can restart from the beginning.
I tell clients that this is one of the most expensive mistakes they can make after a DUI. Missing even a single premium payment can undo years of compliance, resulting in new reinstatement fees and significantly extending how long you must carry high-risk insurance.
Do I need an SR-22 if I do not own a car?
Possibly. Nevada allows eligible drivers to obtain a non-owner SR-22 policy if they need proof of financial responsibility but do not own a vehicle. The filing satisfies DMV requirements even though you are not insuring a particular car.
In my experience, many clients mistakenly believe they must purchase a vehicle before getting their license back. Often, a non-owner SR-22 policy is a much less expensive way to restore driving privileges while you decide whether to buy another vehicle.
Will an SR-22 automatically disappear after three years?
No. The DMV does not automatically notify your insurance company that your filing is no longer required. You generally need to confirm that your obligation has ended before asking your insurer to remove the SR-22 endorsement.
I have seen people continue paying for SR-22 coverage months—or even years—after the requirement expired simply because no one told them to remove it. Once your obligation ends, it is worth contacting both the DMV and your insurer to ensure you are no longer paying unnecessary premiums.
Is SR-22 insurance the same thing as full coverage insurance?
No. An SR-22 is not an insurance policy. It is a certificate your insurance company files with the DMV showing that you maintain at least Nevada’s required liability insurance. You may have liability-only coverage or full coverage with an SR-22 attached.
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that “SR-22 insurance” is a special type of policy. In reality, the expensive part is usually being classified as a high-risk driver—not the filing itself.
Besides a DUI, what else can require an SR-22 in Nevada?
A DUI is not the only reason. Nevada may require an SR-22 after certain license suspensions, including some lengthy insurance lapses and other situations where proof of future financial responsibility is required.
I have represented drivers who were shocked to learn they needed an SR-22 even though they had never been arrested for DUI. Insurance-related suspensions and other DMV actions can trigger the same requirement, so it is important to understand why your license was suspended before beginning the reinstatement process.
If I move out of Nevada, do I still have to keep my SR-22?
Usually yes. Moving to another state does not automatically eliminate a Nevada SR-22 requirement. You generally must satisfy Nevada’s reinstatement conditions before the obligation ends.
In my experience, this creates confusion for people relocating for work or military service. Many discover that another state will not issue them an unrestricted license until Nevada confirms they have completed all SR-22 and reinstatement requirements.
Additional Resources
Our Las Vegas criminal defense lawyers suggest you refer to the following:
- How Much Do Car Insurance Rates Go Up After A DUI? – General discussion by Forbes.
- Cheapest car insurance after a DUI – Compilation of insurance choices by USA Today.
- What is the best car insurance in Nevada for drivers with a DUI? – State-specific options for getting liability insurance following a drunk driving case by wallethub.com.
- State Law: DUI Look-Back Periods – Overview by Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility.
- License Reinstatement – Instructions by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Alcohol Impaired Driving – General information by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
- Alcohol and Drugs – Discussion by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Legal References
- NRS 485.3075 – Proof required before reinstatement of license or registrations suspended for failure to maintain proof; duration; penalty (“A person whose license or registrations are suspended for failure to maintain proof of financial responsibility as required pursuant to this title must provide proof of financial responsibility pursuant to NRS 485.307 before the person’s license or registrations will be reinstated. The person must maintain proof of financial responsibility for 3 years after the date of the reinstatement of his or her license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. If the person fails to do so, the Department shall suspend his or her license and registrations.”). NRS 485.185. See also Langston v. Dept. of Motor Vehicles (1994) .
- NRS 483.460. NRS 484C.210.
- Insurance, Nevada DMV. Vehicle Registration Insurance Information Guide, Nevada DMV. NRS 485.
