The General Quoted You—Now What
You received an OWI conviction in Iowa, called The General because you've seen their ads, and got a quote for SR-22 coverage. The rate is higher than you expected—maybe double or triple what you paid before the conviction—and you're wondering if this is just what SR-22 insurance costs or if The General is pricing you higher than other carriers would.
The General writes Iowa OWI cases and files SR-22 certificates electronically with the Iowa DOT, so the quote you received is legitimate coverage that satisfies your 2-year filing requirement. But The General is one of several non-standard carriers writing post-conviction drivers in Iowa, and those carriers price the same filing requirement differently based on how they model OWI risk in your county. You are not locked into The General's rate just because they quoted you first.
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Get Your Free QuoteIowa OWI SR-22 Filing Period
2 years
Iowa Code 321A requires continuous SR-22 filing for 2 years following license reinstatement after an OWI conviction. The filing period starts when your license is reinstated, not when you're convicted, so delays in reinstatement extend your total compliance timeline.
Iowa Code 321A.13/.14
Why The General's Rate Is Higher Than Your Old Policy
The SR-22 certificate itself costs almost nothing—The General and other carriers charge a small one-time filing fee set by the carrier. The rate shock comes from your tier assignment. An OWI conviction moves you from the standard tier into the non-standard tier, where carriers price policies for drivers with violations, suspensions, or lapses.
The General specializes in non-standard coverage, which is why they quoted you at all—many standard carriers like State Farm or Allstate will not write new policies for drivers with recent OWI convictions. But within the non-standard tier, carriers use different underwriting models. The General's model prices Iowa OWI risk one way; Progressive, Dairyland, Bristol West, and National General price it differently.
The General's quote reflects their risk model. It is not the only rate available to you.
The General writes Iowa OWI SR-22, but you're not required to use them—other non-standard carriers file the same certificate and often quote lower for identical coverage.
How Non-Standard Carriers Price Iowa OWI Cases
The General prices based on violation type, time since conviction, and your county's aggregate claims data. Progressive and Dairyland layer in telematics data, prior insurance history, and Iowa-specific OWI recidivism patterns. Bristol West and National General weight your payment history and whether you maintained continuous coverage during suspension. Each model produces a different premium for the same filing requirement.
This is why comparing carriers matters. The General's quote reflects their model's assessment of your risk. Progressive's quote reflects a different model applied to the same facts. Neither is wrong—they're pricing different risk signals. Your job is to find the carrier whose model prices your specific situation lowest while still filing the SR-22 certificate Iowa requires.
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What The General SR-22 Filing Actually Does
The SR-22 is a certificate The General files electronically with the Iowa DOT certifying that you carry at least Iowa's minimum liability limits: $20,000 per person for bodily injury, $40,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. The certificate stays active as long as you maintain continuous coverage and pay your premium on time.
If you cancel the policy, miss a payment, or let coverage lapse, The General is required to notify the Iowa DOT within 10 days. The DOT will suspend your license again immediately. This applies whether you're insured by The General, Progressive, Dairyland, or any other carrier—the SR-22 filing requirement is the same regardless of who writes your policy.
The General files the certificate when you purchase the policy and maintains it for the full 2-year period as long as you stay insured. At the end of 2 years, the filing requirement expires automatically. You do not need to notify the DOT or take any action—the carrier simply stops filing the certificate and your policy converts to a standard non-SR-22 policy if you remain insured.
Iowa License Reinstatement Fee
$20
Iowa charges a $20 base reinstatement fee after OWI suspension, separate from any civil penalties or fines imposed by the court. You must pay this fee, file SR-22 proof of insurance, complete a state-approved substance abuse evaluation and treatment if ordered, and install an ignition interlock device before the Iowa DOT will reinstate your license.
Iowa DOT reinstatement requirements
Should You Stay With The General or Switch Carriers
If The General's rate is competitive with other non-standard carriers writing Iowa OWI cases, there is no reason to switch—they file the SR-22 certificate correctly and maintain it for the full 2-year period.
Switching carriers mid-filing does not reset your 2-year SR-22 clock or create a gap in compliance as long as the new carrier files the SR-22 certificate before the old policy cancels. Most carriers can bind coverage and file the certificate the same day you purchase the policy, so the transition is seamless. The Iowa DOT does not care which carrier files your SR-22—they only care that a valid certificate is on file continuously for 2 years.
Compare Carriers Writing Your County
The General is one option. Progressive, Dairyland, Bristol West, National General, and Geico all write Iowa OWI SR-22 cases and file certificates electronically with the Iowa DOT. Each prices your specific situation differently based on their underwriting model. Get quotes from at least three non-standard carriers before committing to any one rate—the variance between them is real and the savings compound over 2 years of required filing.