SR-22 Does Not Require Full Coverage
You received your DUI revocation notice from the Colorado DMV and every carrier you contacted quoted $250 to $400 per month for full coverage with SR-22. That rate is accurate for comprehensive and collision on an owned vehicle, but Colorado law does not require full coverage to satisfy SR-22 filing after a DUI. The state requires proof of liability insurance at minimum limits — $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage. SR-22 is the filing mechanism that certifies continuous coverage to the DMV, not a separate insurance product.
If you do not own a vehicle or do not need to insure an owned vehicle right now, non-owner SR-22 policies cost $45 to $85 per month in Colorado and meet the state's filing requirement. If you own a vehicle, liability-only coverage with SR-22 runs $110 to $180 per month depending on your county and driving record. Full coverage is only necessary if you finance the vehicle or want collision protection — it is not a reinstatement requirement.
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Get Your Free QuoteColorado Non-Owner SR-22 Premium
$45–$85/month
Non-owner SR-22 policies provide state-minimum liability coverage and satisfy Colorado's SR-22 filing requirement for drivers who do not own a vehicle. Geico, Progressive, The General, and Dairyland write non-owner SR-22 in Colorado.
Colorado Division of Insurance carrier filings, 2025
Why Carriers Quote Full Coverage First
Most carriers assume DUI drivers own a vehicle and quote comprehensive and collision by default because it maximizes premium. The carrier makes more revenue on a $350/month policy than a $75/month policy. When you request an SR-22 quote online or by phone, the intake form often defaults to owned-vehicle full coverage unless you specify otherwise.
The second reason is financing. If you carry a car loan or lease, the lender requires comprehensive and collision as a contract condition. The carrier knows this and defaults to full coverage when you enter a VIN. But if you own the vehicle outright or do not own a vehicle at all, you control the coverage level. Colorado DMV reinstatement rules do not mention comprehensive or collision anywhere — only liability minimums and proof of financial responsibility via SR-22.
The structural confusion happens because SR-22 sounds like a premium coverage product. It is not. SR-22 is an endorsement that attaches to any liability policy and reports your coverage status to the DMV electronically. You can file SR-22 on a $60/month liability-only policy or a $400/month full-coverage policy. The filing fee is the same — typically $15 to $50 one-time, depending on carrier.
Colorado requires only liability coverage to satisfy SR-22 after a DUI. Comprehensive and collision are optional unless you finance the vehicle.
Non-Owner vs Owned-Vehicle SR-22 Cost
Non-owner SR-22 policies provide liability coverage when you drive a vehicle you do not own — a friend's car, a rental, a borrowed vehicle. The policy does not cover a specific VIN. Premium runs $45 to $85 per month in Colorado because the carrier assumes lower risk: you drive infrequently and do not have daily access to a vehicle. Geico, Progressive, Dairyland, The General, and Bristol West write non-owner SR-22 in Colorado. Most issue same-day filings. This is the cheapest path to reinstatement if you sold your vehicle after the DUI, rely on rideshare or public transit, or live with someone whose vehicle you occasionally borrow.
Owned-vehicle liability-only SR-22 covers a specific vehicle you own or lease. Premium runs $110 to $180 per month for state-minimum liability limits in Colorado. If you add comprehensive and collision, premium increases to $250 to $400 per month depending on the vehicle's value, your age, and your county. Denver and Aurora zip codes price higher than rural counties due to theft and accident density. Owned-vehicle SR-22 makes sense if you drive daily for work, live in an area without transit options, or need to insure a financed vehicle where the lender mandates full coverage.
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Carriers That Write Post-DUI SR-22 in Colorado
Not every carrier writes SR-22 policies after a DUI. Standard carriers like State Farm and Allstate may decline or quote rates above $400/month. Non-standard carriers specialize in high-risk drivers and price more competitively because their entire book of business consists of DUI, suspended license, and violation-history drivers. Colorado non-standard carriers include Progressive, Geico, The General, Dairyland, Bristol West, National General, Infinity, and Kemper. Progressive and Geico write both standard and non-standard tiers; if you quote online and see a high rate, call their non-standard underwriting line directly.
Bristol West, The General, and Dairyland focus exclusively on non-standard auto and typically offer the lowest rates for drivers with recent DUIs. All three write non-owner SR-22 policies and file electronically with Colorado DMV within 24 hours. Infinity and Kemper also write post-DUI coverage but may require a broker; they do not always offer direct online quotes. National General writes SR-22 in Colorado but merged with Allstate in 2021 and now underwrites through Allstate's non-standard division.
If you already carry coverage with a standard carrier and receive a DUI, your current insurer will likely non-renew you at the next policy term. Colorado law requires 30 days' notice before cancellation or non-renewal. Use that window to shop non-standard carriers before your current policy expires. A lapse in coverage during your SR-22 period triggers a new suspension and resets your three-year SR-22 clock.
Colorado SR-22 Filing Period
3 years
Colorado requires continuous SR-22 filing for three years after a DUI conviction, measured from the date the SR-22 is filed with the DMV, not the conviction date. Any lapse in coverage during the three-year period triggers DMV notification, immediate suspension, and restarts the three-year requirement from zero.
C.R.S. § 42-7-403
Ignition Interlock Adds Cost But Speeds Reinstatement
Colorado allows early reinstatement after a DUI through the Interlock Restricted License program. If you install an approved ignition interlock device, you can apply for restricted driving privileges immediately rather than waiting out the full suspension period. The device itself costs $70 to $150 to install and $60 to $90 per month to lease and maintain. You pay those fees directly to the IID vendor, not your insurance carrier.
The insurance impact: carriers classify IID-restricted drivers as moderate risk rather than extreme risk because the device physically prevents intoxicated operation. Some carriers reduce premiums by 10 to 20 percent once the IID is installed and verified. Geico and Progressive both offer IID discounts in Colorado if you provide proof of installation from an approved vendor. The IID requirement typically lasts for the duration of your suspension period, though Colorado may extend it to two years for drivers designated as persistent drunk drivers after a second or subsequent DUI.
Get Multiple SR-22 Quotes Before You File
SR-22 rates vary by $100 or more per month between carriers for identical coverage. The General may quote $65/month for non-owner SR-22 while Geico quotes $95 for the same limits. Bristol West may beat both at $55 but require a six-month prepayment. You will not know without quoting all three. Most non-standard carriers allow online quotes; some require a phone call or broker.
Request quotes for the exact coverage level you need: non-owner if you do not own a vehicle, liability-only if you own the vehicle outright, full coverage only if the lender requires it. Specify your DUI conviction date and ask whether the carrier offers IID discounts if you plan to install an interlock device. Confirm the carrier files SR-22 electronically with Colorado DMV and ask how long filing takes — same-day filing costs the same as three-day filing, so prioritize speed. Once you select a carrier and pay the first month's premium, the carrier files SR-22 with the DMV and you can apply for reinstatement immediately if you have completed all other requirements.