Texas runs the two years from the conviction date, not the filing date
Texas DPS says you keep a valid SR-22 for two years from your most recent conviction. If a civil judgment from a crash put you here, the two years start on the date the judgment was rendered.
The day you file does not reset that clock. DPS gives its own example: file one year after the conviction, and you owe one more year, not two. A new conviction that calls for an SR-22 can stretch the requirement.
A gap counts against you. DPS warns that a lapse inside the two years brings more enforcement action or more reinstatement fees.
DWI, drug cases and repeat no-insurance tickets all lead to this form
The DPS SR-22 FAQ lists the convictions that call for the filing. It names Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), drug offenses, Driving While License Invalid, and repeat No Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance convictions.
Crashes count too. The main DPS SR-22 page says you file one after a crash suspension, a second no-insurance conviction, or a civil judgment. You also need one when you place a security deposit with DPS for a crash suspension.
Insured on the day of the ticket? Then no SR-22 is required. Your insurer sends DPS a letter on company letterhead instead.
Why your Texas insurance card is not enough
DPS will not take an insurance card or a copy of your policy in place of the form. The SR-22 is a certificate your carrier files with the Department, and DPS notes that not every insurance company offers it.
The policy behind the form has to meet the 30/60/25 floor the Texas Department of Insurance describes. That means $30,000 for one person's injuries and up to $60,000 per accident for injuries. It also means $25,000 for damage to other people's property.
Own no vehicle? You still file. DPS points drivers without a car to a Texas non-owner SR-22 policy, which covers you as a driver rather than a car. Here is how non-owner policies work.
Switching companies without a new Texas suspension
Your carrier tells DPS on its own when an SR-22 is cancelled, terminated or lapses, per the DPS certificate page. If no new SR-22 is on file before the old policy ends, your license and registration can be suspended.
So start the new policy first, then drop the old one. The TDI auto guide says a company must give you 10 days' notice before it cancels.
Turned down twice? Texas has a fallback. Drivers refused by two insurance companies can buy basic coverage through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA).
Paying the $100 and checking that DPS has your form
Getting your license back takes two things: a valid SR-22 on file and the $100 reinstatement fee. The state's License Eligibility system lets you pay suspension fees and see the compliance items still open on your record.
Processing an SR-22 can take up to 21 business days, per DPS. Track your eligibility status there before you get behind the wheel again.