Why You Are Looking at The General After an Iowa OWI
You were arrested for OWI in Iowa. The arresting officer took your license and handed you a temporary permit good for 10 days. You know you need insurance that includes SR-22 filing to get your driving privileges back, and The General is one of the carriers licensed to write non-standard auto policies in Iowa with SR-22 attached. You are trying to figure out whether The General will insure you, what it will cost, and whether filing SR-22 right now gets you closer to a Temporary Restricted License.
The General writes policies for high-risk drivers in Iowa, including OWI offenders. Their underwriting accepts first-offense OWI with SR-22 filing, and quotes are available online without broker involvement. The cost question has two parts: the premium for liability coverage, and the procedural costs Iowa DOT imposes on top. Both matter, and the timing of each determines when you can legally drive again.
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Get Your Free QuoteIowa OWI Reinstatement Fee
$230
Iowa charges a $20 base reinstatement fee plus a $200 civil penalty for OWI-related revocations under Iowa Code § 321J.17. This fee is paid to Iowa DOT when you complete the full revocation period or apply for reinstatement after TRL expiration.
Iowa Code § 321J.17
What the OWI Administrative Revocation Means for Your Insurance Requirement
Iowa law separates the administrative license revocation from the criminal OWI case. Under Iowa Code § 321J.9, the Iowa DOT revokes your license administratively if you fail or refuse a chemical test at the time of arrest. That revocation is immediate and runs for 180 days on a first offense. The criminal conviction that follows in court triggers a separate court-ordered revocation. These can run concurrently, but the SR-22 filing requirement attaches to both tracks.
SR-22 is proof of financial responsibility. Iowa DOT requires you to maintain SR-22 on file for 2 years following an OWI conviction. The filing itself is not insurance — it is a form your carrier submits to the state certifying you hold liability coverage meeting Iowa's minimums: $20,000 bodily injury per person, $40,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage. If your policy lapses or cancels during the 2-year SR-22 period, the carrier notifies Iowa DOT and your driving privileges suspend again immediately.
The General files SR-22 electronically with Iowa DOT as part of the policy issuance process. The SR-22 itself has no separate fee when filed by The General — it is included in the policy premium. Iowa DOT does not charge you to receive the SR-22 filing. The $230 reinstatement fee is separate and is paid when you reinstate your license after the revocation period ends or when you exit a TRL and return to full privileges.
Filing SR-22 today does not make you eligible for a Temporary Restricted License tomorrow. Iowa law requires a mandatory 30-day hard suspension before TRL eligibility opens.
What The General Policy Costs After OWI in Iowa
Monthly premiums for OWI drivers in Iowa typically range from $140 to $240 per month for minimum liability coverage with SR-22 filing included. Younger drivers under 25 see the high end of that range; drivers over 30 with no prior violations before the OWI land closer to the middle. County of residence matters — Polk, Linn, and Scott counties carry higher base rates than rural counties due to claim frequency. The General quotes online, so you can see the exact premium before committing.
The General operates as a non-standard carrier under the Sentry Insurance group, which holds an AM Best A rating. Iowa DOT lists The General in their SR-22 DMV contact directory. The policy you buy covers liability only unless you add collision or comprehensive. Most OWI drivers buying for SR-22 compliance select state minimum liability to keep the premium manageable during the 2-year filing period. If you own your vehicle outright and it has low value, liability-only keeps costs down. If you finance the vehicle, your lender will require full coverage regardless of your SR-22 status.
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How the Temporary Restricted License Application Works in Iowa
Iowa offers a Temporary Restricted License (TRL) for OWI offenders who meet specific criteria. The TRL allows you to drive for employment, education, medical care, and other court-approved essential purposes during the revocation period. It is not unrestricted — you cannot use it for social driving, errands unrelated to work, or driving outside the approved purposes. Violation of TRL restrictions triggers automatic revocation without a hearing.
First-offense OWI drivers must serve a mandatory 30-day hard suspension before becoming eligible to apply for a TRL. That 30-day period begins the day your administrative revocation takes effect, which is 10 days after your arrest when the temporary permit expires. You cannot shorten this window by filing SR-22 early, completing the Drinking Driver Program early, or petitioning Iowa DOT. The 30 days is a statutory floor under Iowa Code Chapter 321J.
To apply for a TRL after the 30-day hard suspension, you must submit an application to Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division, proof of SR-22 filing, a statement documenting your employment or educational need, and confirmation of ignition interlock device installation. Iowa requires ignition interlock for the entire TRL period on OWI-related restricted licenses. The interlock requirement is non-negotiable. You pay the interlock vendor directly for installation and monthly monitoring — those costs are separate from the insurance premium and the DMV fees.
Iowa DOT processes TRL applications at the Motor Vehicle Division office. There is no statewide online portal for OWI-related TRL applications. Processing time varies by office workload, but most applications are approved or denied within 10 business days of submission if all documentation is complete. Incomplete applications delay the process. If your TRL application is denied, Iowa DOT will specify the deficiency — usually missing SR-22 proof, incomplete employment documentation, or failure to install the ignition interlock device before applying.
Iowa SR-22 Filing Period
2 years
Iowa requires continuous SR-22 filing for 2 years following OWI conviction. The 2-year clock starts when you file SR-22, not when your revocation ends. If your policy lapses at any point during those 2 years, Iowa DOT suspends your driving privileges immediately and the 2-year clock resets when you refile.
Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division
Filing SR-22 Before You Are Eligible for TRL
You can purchase a policy from The General and file SR-22 with Iowa DOT at any time after your OWI arrest, including during the mandatory 30-day hard suspension. Filing early does not accelerate your TRL eligibility, but it starts the 2-year SR-22 clock. Some drivers file immediately to satisfy the SR-22 requirement before the TRL application window opens. Others wait until day 28 or 29 of the hard suspension to align the SR-22 filing date with the TRL application.
If you do not currently own a vehicle, you can purchase a non-owner SR-22 policy from The General. Non-owner policies provide liability coverage when you drive a vehicle you do not own — borrowed cars, rental cars, or employer vehicles. The SR-22 filing attached to a non-owner policy satisfies Iowa DOT's proof of financial responsibility requirement for TRL applications. Non-owner premiums are typically lower than standard policies because the carrier assumes lower risk. Monthly cost for non-owner SR-22 in Iowa ranges from $50 to $90 depending on age and county.
What Happens If Your Policy Lapses During the SR-22 Period
Iowa operates an electronic insurance verification system. When you cancel your policy or your carrier cancels for non-payment, The General notifies Iowa DOT electronically within 24 hours. Iowa DOT suspends your driving privileges immediately upon receiving the lapse notice. There is no grace period. If you are driving on a TRL when the lapse occurs, the TRL is revoked and you return to hard suspension status.
Reinstating after an SR-22 lapse requires purchasing a new policy with SR-22 filing and paying Iowa DOT's reinstatement fee again. The 2-year SR-22 clock resets from the date you refile. If you lapse 18 months into your original 2-year period, you owe another full 2 years from the new filing date. Chronic SR-22 lapses signal non-compliance to Iowa DOT and can result in extended revocation periods or denial of future TRL applications.
The General offers monthly payment plans, but missing a payment triggers a cancellation notice. Most non-standard carriers give a 10-day payment grace period before canceling the policy. If you know you will miss a payment, contact The General's billing department before the due date. Extending the payment deadline by a few days is easier than reinstating a lapsed policy and resetting your SR-22 clock. Iowa DOT does not care why the policy lapsed — the consequence is the same whether you forgot to pay or the payment method failed.
Compare Carriers Before Committing to The General
The General writes OWI policies in Iowa, but they are not the only non-standard carrier licensed in the state. Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, Dairyland, Bristol West, and National General all write SR-22 policies for Iowa OWI offenders. Premium varies by carrier even when the coverage and driver profile are identical. Comparing quotes from three or four carriers before buying ensures you are not overpaying by $30 to $60 per month for the same liability limits and SR-22 filing.
Request quotes that include SR-22 filing as part of the application. Some carriers charge a one-time SR-22 processing fee of $15 to $25; others include it in the base premium. The total cost over 24 months matters more than the monthly premium alone. A carrier quoting $10 per month lower but charging a $50 SR-22 fee ends up costing more after 6 months. Iowa DOT does not specify which carrier you must use — any Iowa-licensed carrier can file SR-22 on your behalf. Compare Iowa SR-22 carriers to see rate ranges and carrier availability in your county.