Two Non-Standard Carriers, Two Different Pathways
You have a Colorado DUI conviction. The DMV requires SR-22 filing for three years. You're comparing Dairyland and The General because both advertise DUI-friendly policies and both operate in Colorado. The carrier comparison pages you've read treat them as interchangeable non-standard options.
They are not interchangeable. Dairyland structures policies for drivers who own vehicles and need interlock-restricted license compliance — the Early Reinstatement pathway under C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5 that Colorado DUI offenders use to drive legally during revocation. The General structures policies for drivers who do not own vehicles and need non-owner SR-22 to satisfy reinstatement requirements without insuring a car. Your choice hinges entirely on whether you currently own a vehicle and which license pathway you are pursuing.
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Get Your Free QuoteColorado DUI SR-22 Period
3 years
Colorado requires SR-22 filing for three years following DUI conviction under state filing requirements. Lapse triggers immediate suspension and restarts the three-year clock from the date you refile.
Colorado DMV reinstatement requirements, C.R.S. § 42-2-132.5
Dairyland Writes Standard Auto Policies for Interlock License Holders
Dairyland operates as a non-standard carrier writing full-coverage and liability-only auto policies in 38 states including Colorado. The company underwrites DUI risks and files SR-22 certificates directly with the Colorado DMV. Dairyland policies require vehicle ownership — you insure a car you own or regularly drive.
Colorado's Early Reinstatement program allows DUI offenders to drive with an ignition interlock device installed immediately after revocation begins, bypassing the hard suspension period. Dairyland policies cover interlock-equipped vehicles without exclusions or premium surcharges for the device itself. The carrier does not require you to finish the full revocation period before writing coverage.
Dairyland's underwriting model assumes you need immediate driving privileges for work, school, or court-ordered programs — the exact use cases Colorado's interlock-restricted license allows. The policy structure matches the restricted-license timeline: coverage begins when you install the interlock, SR-22 filing happens within 24 hours of policy binding, and the three-year SR-22 period runs concurrently with your interlock requirement.
If you do not own a vehicle or cannot afford interlock installation, Dairyland cannot write you a policy — their underwriting requires an insurable vehicle with VIN and registration.
The General Writes Non-Owner SR-22 Without Vehicle Ownership
A non-owner policy covers liability when you drive a borrowed vehicle, a rental, or any car you do not own. Colorado's SR-22 requirement applies to the driver, not the vehicle — you can satisfy the three-year SR-22 period with a non-owner policy even if you never own a car during that window. The General's non-owner SR-22 product costs $40–$70 per month in Colorado for DUI offenders and files the SR-22 certificate with the DMV within one business day of policy activation.
Non-owner policies do not cover vehicles you own, lease, or have regular access to. If your household owns a car titled to a spouse or parent and you drive it regularly, The General will not write you a non-owner policy — you need a standard auto policy naming you as a listed driver. Non-owner coverage exists specifically for drivers who do not have an insurable vehicle but need liability protection and SR-22 filing to meet reinstatement conditions or maintain legal driving status during suspension.
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Premium Comparison Depends on Coverage Type and Vehicle Value
Dairyland quotes for Colorado DUI offenders with standard auto policies (liability-only on an owned vehicle) range $180–$260 per month. Full-coverage policies on financed vehicles run $320–$480 per month depending on vehicle value, age, and county. The General's non-owner SR-22 policies cost $40–$70 per month for the same driver profile.
This is not a pricing advantage for The General — it reflects the difference between insuring a physical vehicle and insuring only your liability exposure when driving borrowed cars. Dairyland's premiums cover collision and comprehensive risk on a specific VIN; The General's non-owner premiums cover only your legal liability when operating someone else's car. If you own a vehicle and need full coverage to satisfy a lender, The General cannot write that policy. If you do not own a vehicle and only need SR-22 filing, Dairyland cannot write a non-owner policy.
Both carriers charge DUI surcharges — Dairyland loads the premium 60–80% above clean-record rates for three years post-conviction; The General loads non-owner premiums 40–60% for the same period. Neither offers good-driver discounts during the SR-22 filing period. Your total three-year cost depends on whether you are paying to insure a vehicle or paying only for liability coverage and filing compliance.
Colorado License Reinstatement Fee
$95
After completing your revocation period, SR-22 filing obligation, and ignition interlock requirement, Colorado charges a $95 base reinstatement fee to restore full driving privileges. This fee applies on top of any court fines, program costs, and insurance premiums.
Colorado DMV reinstatement fee schedule
Policy Activation Speed and SR-22 Filing Windows
Both carriers file SR-22 certificates electronically with the Colorado DMV. Dairyland processes SR-22 filing within 24 hours of policy activation; The General files within one business day. Neither carrier offers same-day SR-22 filing on new policies — the administrative window reflects DMV processing requirements, not carrier delays.
Colorado's Early Reinstatement program requires proof of SR-22 filing before the DMV issues an interlock-restricted license. You cannot drive legally until the DMV receives the SR-22 certificate and processes your restricted-license application. Dairyland's 24-hour filing window means you bind the policy Monday, the SR-22 reaches the DMV by Tuesday, and you can begin the restricted-license application process midweek. The General's non-owner policies follow the same timeline — bind Monday, file Tuesday, but you still cannot drive until the DMV completes reinstatement or issues the restricted license.
Which Carrier Matches Your License Status Right Now
If you own a vehicle, plan to drive it during your revocation period using an interlock-restricted license, and need full-coverage or liability-only auto insurance, Dairyland writes that policy. The General does not. If you do not own a vehicle, cannot afford ignition interlock installation, or plan to wait out the full revocation period without driving, The General writes non-owner SR-22 to satisfy Colorado's three-year filing requirement. Dairyland does not offer non-owner policies.
Your license pathway determines carrier eligibility. Colorado DUI offenders pursuing Early Reinstatement with ignition interlock need a standard auto policy on the interlock-equipped vehicle — that is Dairyland's underwriting lane. DUI offenders serving the full revocation without restricted driving privileges, or offenders who have completed revocation and need SR-22 filing for reinstatement without owning a car, need non-owner coverage — that is The General's lane. Choosing the wrong carrier wastes application time and delays SR-22 filing because the underwriting will not proceed.