 Written by Ben Breiner | Reviewed by Pamela Goforth, Licensed Insurance Agent | Updated Sept 3, 2026 Content reviewed for accuracy by a Texas-licensed insurance professional. |
To remove your SR-22, you need to complete the required two-year filing period, maintain continuous auto insurance coverage throughout, and confirm your exact end date directly with the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) — here’s how to check your specific expiration date before starting this process. Once the period is over, notify your insurance provider so they can submit an SR-26 cancellation form to TxDPS. You’ll also need to pay a reinstatement fee to restore your driving privileges. Here’s what each step involves.
Meet the SR-22 Duration
To remove an SR-22 in Texas, you first need to complete the required duration — a fixed two years under Texas Administrative Code § 25.6, regardless of the specific offense that triggered it. The duration starts from the date of the offense, not the date you purchased the policy.
If you accumulate additional violations during this period, TxDPS can reset or extend the requirement. Maintaining compliance is crucial, since failure to maintain coverage can lead to severe penalties, including restarting the full two-year period.
It’s essential to comply with all court orders and maintain continuous insurance coverage to avoid extensions. This ensures you have the minimum liability coverage mandated by the state. Confirm the exact end date of your SR-22 requirement with TxDPS, and verify all court-mandated requirements are completed before the filing period ends.
Once the two-year period is met, you can proceed to remove the SR-22 and return to standard auto insurance.
Maintain Continuous Coverage
Maintaining continuous auto insurance coverage is essential while you have an SR-22 requirement, as any lapse can lead to severe consequences. A lapse in coverage can result in the suspension of your driving privileges, additional fines, and — critically — a reset of the entire two-year filing period.
To avoid gaps in coverage, set reminders or use auto-pay for timely payments. If you’re switching insurers, overlap your old and new policies rather than letting one lapse before the other begins.
Confirm with your insurance provider that the SR-22 is continuously filed, and understand that minimum liability coverage requirements apply even if you don’t own a vehicle, through a non-owner policy.
Continuous coverage, combined with a clean driving record, is essential for a smooth removal process.
Submit Final Documentation
Once you’ve maintained continuous coverage for the full two-year period, it’s time to submit the final documentation to remove the SR-22 from your policy.
Contact your insurance provider and inform them that you no longer need the SR-22, providing the confirmed end date of the requirement. Your insurance company will then submit an SR-26 cancellation form to TxDPS, confirming that the SR-22 is no longer in effect. This is especially relevant after a DUI or DWI conviction, which is the most common reason Texas drivers need an SR-22 in the first place.
This form is typically handled by your insurer, but it’s worth confirming with them that TxDPS has received it — verification may be necessary to ensure their records reflect the change in your insurance status.
Pay Reinstatement Fees
After confirming the end of your SR-22 requirement, the next step is paying any necessary reinstatement fee to fully restore your driving privileges.
In Texas, this is handled through TxDPS’s License Eligibility system, the fastest option — online payments are typically processed within 24-48 hours. You can also pay by mail using a money order or cashier’s check.
Reinstatement fees are generally $100, though DUI/DWI-related suspensions specifically may carry a $125 fee — worth confirming the exact amount for your situation directly through TxDPS before paying.
Ensure your payment includes your full name, date of birth, and driver license number to avoid processing delays.
Explore New Insurance Options
Once your SR-22 requirement has ended and any reinstatement fees are paid, you can return to a standard auto insurance policy — and premiums typically drop once the SR-22 filing is no longer required.
Here are a few things worth doing at this stage:
- Compare Quotes: Get quotes from at least three companies, using the same coverage limits and deductibles for a fair comparison.
- Evaluate Coverage Options: Decide whether you need full coverage or liability-only, and consider any additional add-ons.
- Check Your Driving Record: A clean record from this point forward will help your rates continue to improve over time.
- Ask About Discounts: Many insurers offer discounts for good students, seniors, low mileage, or bundling with other policies.
Conclusion
Removing your SR-22 means you’ve completed the required two-year period, maintained continuous coverage, submitted the final documentation, and paid any necessary reinstatement fees. From here, you can return to standard auto insurance — a reflection of a clean driving record maintained over the filing period.
| Written by Ben Breiner | Reviewed by Pamela Goforth, Licensed Insurance Agent | Updated Sept 3, 2026 Content reviewed for accuracy by a Texas-licensed insurance professional. |