National General Writes Iowa DUI Cases, But Rate Tier Varies
You received a DUI in Iowa, called National General because they appeared in your search results, and they quoted you SR-22 coverage. National General does write Iowa SR-22 after DUI convictions. They file electronically with the Iowa DOT, they maintain continuous coverage for the full 2-year requirement, and they won't drop you mid-term for the violation itself. The filing mechanics work.
The rate shock comes from National General's non-standard tier assignment. Iowa OWI convictions force you out of the standard tier and into non-standard underwriting, where carriers price risk differently. National General's non-standard tier runs higher than several other carriers writing the same violation in Iowa, and most drivers don't realize the tier assignment—not the SR-22 itself—is where the cost difference lives.
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$168–$310/mo
Post-DUI drivers in Iowa face monthly premiums 53-82% above clean-record rates.
ValuePenguin + Insurify after-DUI by-state analysis, 2026
Iowa's 2-Year SR-22 Requirement Starts at Reinstatement
Iowa Code 321A.13 requires SR-22 filing for 2 years after an OWI conviction. The 2-year clock starts on your reinstatement date—not your conviction date, not your arrest date. If your license was revoked for 180 days and you wait 6 months to reinstate, the SR-22 period begins when you pay the $20 reinstatement fee and the Iowa DOT processes your filing. Most drivers assume the clock starts at conviction and underestimate the total compliance window.
National General files SR-22 electronically with the Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division. The filing appears in the state's system within 1-3 business days. If you let coverage lapse at any point during the 2-year period—miss a payment, cancel the policy, switch carriers without overlapping coverage—National General notifies the DOT within 10 days and your license suspends again. The reinstatement fee resets, and the 2-year clock restarts from zero. Continuous coverage without gaps is the only path through the requirement.
You need SR-22 coverage before you can apply for a Temporary Restricted License if you're eligible for one during your revocation period. Iowa DOT Form 430400 requires proof of SR-22 filing as part of the TRL application. National General can provide that proof, but you'll pay their non-standard tier rate for the entire TRL duration plus the 2-year post-reinstatement period.
Why National General's Rate Is Higher Than Other SR-22 Carriers
National General underwrites post-DUI drivers in their non-standard tier, which models risk based on violation type, county, age, and vehicle. Their Iowa non-standard tier pricing typically lands near the upper end of the $168-$310/month range for drivers with a single OWI conviction and no other violations. National General writes SR-22 cases, but it's not their primary business—they're a standard-tier carrier that also writes non-standard, and their pricing reflects that mixed book.
That fee appears once, usually rolled into your first month's premium. The ongoing monthly rate has nothing to do with the SR-22 filing. It's purely the non-standard tier assignment. Both carriers file the same SR-22 form, both maintain it for 2 years, both notify Iowa DOT if you lapse. The filing is identical. The rate is not.
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National General vs Carriers That Specialize in Post-DUI SR-22
National General is a legitimate option if you value their brand recognition or if they're the only carrier that quoted you. Their SR-22 filing process is reliable, their customer service is accessible, and they won't drop you mid-term for the violation. But they're not the cheapest option for Iowa DUI drivers, and in most cases they're not the second-cheapest either. Bristol West, Dairyland, The General, and Progressive all write Iowa SR-22 after DUI convictions, and all four typically quote lower monthly premiums than National General for drivers with identical violation history and vehicle profiles.
Bristol West specializes in non-standard auto insurance. They write SR-22 cases in 43 states including Iowa, and their underwriting is built around high-risk drivers. Dairyland operates the same way—non-standard specialist, lower tier pricing, same SR-22 filing compliance. The General writes post-DUI cases in Iowa and often quotes at the low end of the range for drivers with a single OWI and no other violations. Progressive writes SR-22 in Iowa and prices competitively in urban counties, though their rates vary more by ZIP code than the non-standard specialists.
If National General already quoted you and you haven't bound coverage yet, get quotes from at least two other carriers writing Iowa SR-22 before you commit. The filing requirement is identical across all carriers—2 years, electronic submission, continuous coverage, no gaps.
Iowa SR-22 Filing Period
2 years
Iowa Code 321A.13 requires SR-22 filing for 2 years after OWI conviction, measured from reinstatement date. The clock does not start until you pay the $20 reinstatement fee and Iowa DOT processes your filing. Any lapse in coverage during the 2-year period resets the clock to zero.
Iowa Code 321A.13
What Happens If You Switch Carriers Mid-Requirement
You can switch from National General to another carrier at any point during your 2-year SR-22 requirement, but the new carrier must file SR-22 with Iowa DOT before your National General policy cancels. If there's any gap—even one day—between the cancellation date and the new filing date, Iowa DOT suspends your license and you start the 2-year clock over. Most drivers who switch carriers to save money lose their license because they didn't overlap coverage correctly. The new carrier files SR-22 on the effective date of the new policy, not the quote date. If you cancel National General on the 15th and your new policy starts on the 20th, you have a 5-day gap and your license suspends on the 16th.
The correct sequence: bind the new policy with an effective date that overlaps your current National General policy by at least one day. Confirm the new carrier has filed SR-22 with Iowa DOT—ask for the filing confirmation number and verify it appears in the state's system. Then cancel National General effective the day after the new policy starts. National General will notify Iowa DOT of the cancellation, but the state will see continuous coverage because the new filing was already on record. If you get the sequence wrong, you pay the $20 reinstatement fee again, you restart the 2-year clock, and you've negated any savings from switching carriers.
Compare Carriers Before You Bind National General
National General will file your SR-22, maintain it for 2 years, and meet Iowa's requirement. If you've already bound coverage with them, you're compliant—don't cancel without a new policy in place. But if you're still shopping, don't stop at the first quote. The SR-22 filing is identical across all carriers. The rate is not. Get three quotes, compare monthly premiums, and choose the carrier that prices your violation lowest while maintaining the same filing compliance.