SR-22 in Vermont

Checked against official Vermont sources · Last reviewed October 5, 2026

Vermont requires an SR-22 after a DUI and certain other convictions, crashes, and court judgments. Your insurance company, not your agent, files it with the Vermont DMV.

State law changed on January 1, 2021. Under the statute, most people now keep it for 1 year instead of 3, though one DMV page still says 3 years. A second or later DUI still means 3 years. [1][2][5]

Uses SR-22?: Yes
How long: 1 year [2]
After a DUI: 1 year [2]
Base reinstatement fee: $96 [3]
Minimum liability coverage: 25/50/10 [4]

Does Vermont require an SR-22?

Yes. Vermont requires proof of financial responsibility after certain convictions, crashes, and judgments. The DMV accepts it only as an SR-22 certificate from an insurance company. [1]

Form: SR-22 certificate, issued by an insurance company (not by an agent). Vermont calls the coverage "Financial Responsibility Insurance." [1]

How long do you need an SR-22 in Vermont?

1 year from the crash, conviction, or judgment. If the conviction led to a suspension or revocation, 1 year after your reinstatement eligibility date. (Was 3 years before January 1, 2021.) [2]

After a DUI

First DUI: 1 year after your reinstatement eligibility date. Second or later DUI: 3 years after your reinstatement eligibility date. [2]

What does reinstatement cost?

$96 to reinstate a suspended license. A restricted license (where offered) costs $125 more. [3]

We couldn't confirm whether Vermont charges its own fee to file an SR-22. Your insurer may charge one.

What coverage do you need?

$25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per crash, $10,000 property damage [4]

What happens if your SR-22 lapses?

Any lapse in Financial Responsibility Insurance coverage leads to a suspension of your driving privileges. Your license is not reinstated until valid coverage is on file with the DMV again. [1]

Don't own a car?

Yes. In Vermont, Financial Responsibility Insurance covers the person, not a specific vehicle, and must cover them in any vehicle they drive, owned or not. [1]

Who has to file one?

Convictions for DUI (23 V.S.A. 1201) or a 1205 civil suspension, death resulting from careless and negligent or reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, operating without the owner's consent, and driving while suspended or revoked; an unpaid court judgment from a crash; or a crash with injury, death, or $3,000+ in property damage. Most of these do not apply if you had qualifying insurance at the time. [5]

Who handles it

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Your insurance company files the SR-22. [1]

Common questions

When does my 1 year start?

State law counts 1 year from the crash, conviction, or judgment. If the conviction led to a suspension or revocation, the year starts on your reinstatement eligibility date. Some pages, including one on the DMV site, still say 3 years, but the statute was changed to 1 year for most cases. [1][2][6]

How long do I need an SR-22 after a DUI?

After a first DUI, 1 year from your reinstatement eligibility date. After a second or later DUI, 3 years from that date. A civil or refusal suspension also requires one, and having insurance at the time doesn't get you out of it. [2][5][6]

Do I need an SR-22 for driving without insurance?

Not for that conviction alone anymore. Vermont removed it from the list of triggers in 2021. A crash that causes injury, death, or $3,000 or more in property damage can still require one. [5][6]

How much does it cost to get my license back?

The DMV charges $96 to reinstate a suspended license, and a restricted license, where offered, costs $125 more. You can pay online, by mail, or in person at the Montpelier office. [3][7]

I don't own a car. Does my SR-22 still work?

Yes. In Vermont this coverage, called Financial Responsibility Insurance, covers you as a person. It must cover you in any vehicle you drive, whether you own it or not. [1]

What happens if my coverage lapses?

Any lapse leads to a suspension of your driving privileges. Your license isn't reinstated until valid coverage is on file with the DMV again. [1]

Sources

Vermont DMV - Insurance (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
23 V.S.A. 809 - Waiver of proof of financial responsibility (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
Vermont DMV - License Fees (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
23 V.S.A. 800 - Maintenance of financial responsibility (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
23 V.S.A. 801 - Proof of financial responsibility required (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
Vermont H.578 (2020), Act relating to proof of financial responsibility, as passed by House and Senate (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
Vermont DMV - License Suspensions & Related Programs (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)