California Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance
As Low As $10/month
Instant Certificate, Same-Day Filing
Cheap Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance in California
The DMV wants an SR-22 before it gives your license back, and you don’t own a car. That is more common than you might think, and it has a simple fix: a non-owner SR-22 policy. It gives you California’s required liability insurance and the SR-22 filing, with no vehicle on the policy. At MIS Insurance Services it starts as low as $10 a month. Prices vary with your driving record and your situation.
MIS has worked with high-risk California drivers since 2009, and our customers have left us more than 3,000 Google reviews with a 4.9-star rating. You can buy your non-owner SR-22 online in about 3 minutes and print your certificate. On the purchase page, choose “NNO (Non-Owned Auto)” and check “Include a SR-22 certificate.” If you would rather talk to someone, fill out the form on this page and an agent will call you.
What Is a California Non-Owner SR-22?
The SR-22 is a form, not a policy. Your insurance company sends it to the California DMV as proof that you carry at least the minimum liability coverage the state requires. Normally it rides along with the insurance on your car.
With no car, you need a policy that insures you instead of a vehicle. In California that is a non-owner policy, which some insurance companies call an operator policy. It follows you when you borrow a car now and then, and it gives the insurance company something to attach the SR-22 to.
Who Needs One in California?
The DMV usually asks for an SR-22 after a DUI, a suspension for driving without insurance, an accident while you were uninsured, or too many points on your record. A non-owner policy is the way to file it when:
- No car is registered in your name
- Nobody you live with owns a car that you drive
- You get around by rideshare, transit or the occasional borrowed car
- You sold your car or it was totaled, and your SR-22 period is not over yet
- You are applying for a restricted license after a DUI and the DMV wants proof of insurance first
What Does Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance Cost in California?
At MIS, California non-owner SR-22 insurance starts as low as $10 a month. Prices vary. Your price depends on the reason for the SR-22, your driving record, your age and your ZIP code.
Because the policy covers a driver and not a car, it is usually the least expensive way to satisfy the DMV. The DMV charges its own reissue fee to give your license back. That fee goes to the DMV and is not part of your insurance. To see your exact price, use the online purchase button above. It takes about 3 minutes. Comparing agencies? Read how to choose a non-owner SR-22 agency in California.
What the Policy Covers
It covers your legal liability. If you borrow a friend’s car and cause an accident, the policy pays for the other people’s injuries and property damage, up to your limits. California’s minimum limits went up on January 1, 2025, and a non-owner SR-22 policy has to meet them:
- $30,000 for injury or death of one person
- $60,000 for injury or death of more than one person
- $15,000 for property damage
The insurance on the car you borrowed normally pays first. Your non-owner policy is there for what is left. You can buy higher limits if you want more protection.
What It Does Not Cover
A non-owner policy is limited, and the limits matter. It will not pay for:
- Any car you own
- A car that belongs to someone at your address, or that is kept there
- A car you drive regularly, even if it is not yours
- Driving for business, such as deliveries or rideshare work
- Repairs to the car you borrowed. The policy has no collision or comprehensive coverage
If one of those describes you, you need regular auto insurance with an SR-22. Our California SR-22 insurance page covers that, or call and we will sort out which policy you need.
How Long Does California Require It?
For most drivers, at least three years. Some cases run longer. The three years usually start on the day your license is reinstated, not the day of the ticket or the arrest, so check your dates with the DMV before you cancel anything.
Not owning a car does not shorten the requirement. The non-owner policy has to stay active from the first day to the last.
If the Policy Lapses
A missed payment can undo months of progress. When a policy with an SR-22 cancels, the insurance company reports it to the DMV, and the DMV can suspend your license again. Put the policy on automatic payments if you can. If you want to change companies, get the new SR-22 filed first and cancel the old policy after.
Getting a Car Later
Plenty of our customers start on a non-owner policy and buy a car a few months later. When that happens, call us before you drive it. We can usually add the car and turn the policy into regular auto insurance, and the SR-22 stays on file the whole time.
Let us know too if you move in with someone who owns a car, or if you start using the same car every week. Either one changes what you need.
How to Get a Non-Owner SR-22 in California
- Start online or by phone. Buy online in about 3 minutes, fill out the form on this page, or call (800) 726-0640. Online, choose “NNO (Non-Owned Auto)” and check “Include a SR-22 certificate.”
- Pay for the policy. We accept all forms of payment, and you can pay monthly.
- Print your certificate. You get your SR-22 as soon as the purchase is complete.
- We file with the DMV. The filing goes to the DMV electronically.
- Finish with the DMV. Pay the reissue fee and complete whatever else is on your suspension notice.
Getting Your California License Back
Insurance is only one item on the DMV’s list. Depending on the reason for the suspension, you may also have to wait out a suspension period, pay a reissue fee, and enroll in or complete a DUI program. See whether you need an SR-22 to reinstate your California license.
in your name
a few times a month at most
and you have nothing to insure
that you drive
work or deliveries
California Non-Owner SR-22 Questions and Answers
What is non-owner SR-22 insurance?
It is a liability policy for a driver with no car, with an SR-22 attached. The SR-22 is the certificate that tells the California DMV you are insured. Some insurance companies call it an operator policy.
How much does non-owner SR-22 insurance cost in California?
As low as $10 a month at MIS. Prices vary by driving record, age, ZIP code and the reason you need the filing.
Who needs non-owner SR-22 insurance in California?
Drivers the DMV requires to file an SR-22 who have no car registered in their name and don’t regularly drive anyone else’s. That often follows a DUI, a lapse in insurance or too many points.
How do I get non-owner SR-22 insurance in California?
Buy it online in about 3 minutes with the button on this page, fill out the quote form, or call (800) 726-0640. We file the SR-22 with the DMV electronically.
Can I buy non-owner SR-22 insurance online?
Yes. It takes about 3 minutes, and you can print your certificate at the end. Choose “NNO (Non-Owned Auto)” and check the SR-22 box.
What does non-owner SR-22 insurance cover?
Injuries and property damage you cause to other people while driving a car you don’t own, up to your limits. In California that means at least $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $15,000 for property damage.
Can I get an SR-22 if I don’t own a car?
Yes. The DMV cares that the filing is on record and the policy is active, not whether a car is on it. See how to get SR-22 insurance without owning a car.
How long do I need non-owner SR-22 insurance in California?
At least three years in most cases. The DMV can tell you your exact end date.
Does non-owner SR-22 insurance reinstate my driver’s license?
The SR-22 is one requirement, not the whole list. The DMV may also want a reissue fee, a served suspension period and DUI program enrollment before it gives your license back.
What is the difference between non-owner and regular SR-22 insurance?
A regular SR-22 policy insures a car you own. A non-owner policy insures only you, for the times you borrow a car, so it usually costs less. The SR-22 filing with the DMV is the same. See California SR-22 insurance.
Can I get non-owner SR-22 insurance with a suspended license?
Yes. Most people buying it have a suspended license, and the SR-22 is part of how they get it back.
Does non-owner SR-22 insurance cover rental cars or cars I borrow?
It covers your liability when you borrow or rent a car once in a while. It does not pay for damage to that car, so the rental company’s own coverage still matters.
Who has the cheapest non-owner SR-22 insurance in California?
It depends on your record, so no one company is cheapest for every driver. MIS is a broker and compares insurance companies for you. Our California price starts as low as $10 a month, and prices vary.
Can I drive my roommate’s car on a non-owner SR-22 policy?
No. Cars owned by people at your address are not covered, and neither is any car you drive regularly.
Does a non-owner SR-22 work for a restricted license after a DUI?
The DMV asks for proof of insurance before it issues a restricted license, and the SR-22 is that proof. Ask the DMV what else your case requires.
What if I move out of California while I have an SR-22?
Call us before you cancel. Your California requirement may still apply after you move. See what to do before canceling an SR-22 when you leave California.
Talk to a California SR-22 Agent
Our office is in Culver City, and we are on the phone Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm, at (800) 726-0640. Tell us what your DMV notice says and we will tell you what you need. If a regular policy with an SR-22 fits you better, see our California SR-22 insurance page.
MIS Insurance Services is a licensed California insurance agency with more than 3,000 Google reviews and a 4.9-star rating.
Serving Every County in California
We write non-owner SR-22 policies for drivers anywhere in California, including:
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Riverside, Stockton, Irvine, Chula Vista, Fremont, San Bernardino, Modesto, Fontana, Oxnard, Glendale, Culver City, and more.