The General SR-22 Washington: What You're Actually Buying
You received a DOL notice requiring SR-22 filing to reinstate your Washington license. The General appears on your list of carriers willing to write suspended-driver policies, but you don't understand what the SR-22 filing actually costs or whether The General's rates make sense for your suspension trigger. Washington requires SR-22 for three years after most DUI convictions and certain financial responsibility violations—the filing itself is separate from your premium.
The General charges $25-$50 to file SR-22 with Washington DOL. That one-time fee covers the electronic certificate DOL receives confirming you carry the state's minimum liability coverage. Your monthly premium—the actual insurance cost—depends on your violation type, age, county, and driving history. The filing fee and the premium are distinct line items, and most suspended drivers conflate them when comparison shopping.
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Get Your Free QuoteThe General WA SR-22 Filing Fee
$25-$50
One-time administrative charge to electronically file the certificate with Washington DOL. Separate from your monthly premium. Fee is non-refundable once filed, even if you switch carriers within the 3-year filing period.
The General rate disclosure, WA DOL SR-22 carrier list
Washington's 3-Year SR-22 Requirement
Washington requires SR-22 filing for three years from the date of conviction or violation—not from the date you file. If your DUI conviction occurred six months ago and you file SR-22 today, you still carry the filing for the full three years measured from conviction date. DOL's system tracks the filing period automatically; carriers report lapses electronically.
The filing period applies to DUI convictions, driving while suspended for financial responsibility reasons, and uninsured-accident violations under RCW 46.29. Points-based suspensions and unpaid-ticket suspensions do not trigger SR-22 requirements in Washington—those reinstatements require proof of insurance but not the continuous-filing certificate. If your suspension stems from unpaid fines or failure to appear, verify with DOL whether SR-22 applies to your specific case before paying a carrier to file.
If your SR-22 lapses at any point during the three-year period—because you cancel the policy, miss a payment, or switch carriers without maintaining continuous coverage—DOL receives electronic notification within 24 hours and suspends your license again. The suspension is automatic. You must refile SR-22 and pay a new reinstatement fee to restore driving privileges.
Washington DOL receives electronic lapse notices within 24 hours. Any gap in SR-22 coverage—even one day—triggers automatic license suspension and requires paying reinstatement fees again.
The General Monthly Premium: What Drives Cost
Washington suspended drivers pay $120-$280/month for minimum liability coverage with SR-22 filing through The General, depending on violation severity and county. DUI convictions place you in the highest-risk tier; uninsured-driving violations fall mid-range. King County and Pierce County drivers pay 15-25% more than rural counties due to accident frequency and theft rates. The General prices these factors into your base premium before adding the one-time filing fee.
The General writes non-owner SR-22 policies for suspended drivers without a vehicle. Non-owner coverage costs $85-$140/month in Washington and satisfies DOL's SR-22 filing requirement during your suspension period. If you regain your license but do not own a car, non-owner coverage continues the filing without requiring you to purchase a vehicle just to maintain insurance. This is the most common path for drivers whose suspension resulted from a DUI where the vehicle was impounded or sold.
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Filing Timeline and DOL Processing
The General files SR-22 electronically with Washington DOL within 1-3 business days of policy activation. DOL processes the filing immediately upon receipt; you can verify filing status through your DOL online account within 24-48 hours. The certificate itself does not arrive by mail—DOL's electronic system is authoritative, and you do not need a paper copy to prove compliance.
You cannot reinstate your license until DOL shows active SR-22 filing in their system and you pay the reinstatement fee. Washington's base reinstatement fee is $75; DUI-related reinstatements add ignition interlock device costs and alcohol information school fees on top of that base. The General's SR-22 filing does not expedite DOL's reinstatement processing—filing speed and reinstatement eligibility are separate tracks.
If your suspension included a hard suspension period (common for DUI cases), you must wait out that period before reinstatement regardless of when you file SR-22. Washington's Ignition Interlock License program allows some DUI offenders to drive during suspension with an IID installed, but that license requires SR-22 filing, the $100 IIL application fee, and proof of IID installation from a DOL-approved provider. The General's SR-22 satisfies the insurance portion of that requirement.
Washington SR-22 Filing Duration
3 years
Measured from conviction or violation date, not filing date. Applies to DUI, financial responsibility violations, and uninsured-accident cases under RCW 46.29. Points-based and unpaid-ticket suspensions typically do not require SR-22.
RCW 46.29, Washington DOL reinstatement requirements
Switching Carriers During the 3-Year Period
You can switch from The General to another carrier at any time during your 3-year SR-22 period, but coverage must remain continuous. The new carrier files SR-22 with DOL before you cancel The General's policy—any gap triggers automatic suspension. Most carriers coordinate the switch by overlapping effective dates for 24-48 hours to prevent lapses, but you are responsible for confirming DOL received the new filing before canceling the old policy.
Switching carriers does not reset the 3-year clock. If you filed SR-22 with The General 18 months ago and switch to Progressive today, you still have 18 months remaining on your filing requirement. DOL tracks the original conviction date, not the carrier or filing date. The new carrier reports the remaining duration when they file.
Next Step: Compare Washington SR-22 Carriers
The General writes SR-22 in Washington, but Geico, Progressive, Dairyland, Bristol West, State Farm, and USAA also file in this state. Monthly premiums vary by $50-$120 between carriers for the same coverage and violation profile. Request quotes from at least three carriers and compare total premium cost over your 3-year filing period—not just the filing fee. Washington DOL does not care which carrier files your SR-22 as long as the filing remains continuous and meets minimum liability limits of 25/50/10.