Wyoming requires indefinite SR-22 after a third DUI — no automatic release date. Most drivers don't know they can petition DMV for termination after 5 clean years, and carriers won't tell you.
Wyoming's Indefinite SR-22 Requirement After Third DUI
A third DUI conviction in Wyoming triggers indefinite SR-22 filing under Wyoming Statute 31-7-233. There is no automatic release date. The filing requirement continues until you petition the Wyoming DMV for termination and they grant it — a process most drivers never learn exists.
First and second DUI convictions carry defined SR-22 periods: 3 years for a first offense, 5 years for a second. Third offense is different. The statute uses the term "indefinite," which means the filing continues until formally terminated by DMV action. Your carrier will continue filing your SR-22 certificate every policy term, and you will continue paying the filing fee, typically $25–$50 per year depending on carrier.
This creates a permanent compliance burden unless you take action. Wyoming DMV does not send notices when you become eligible to petition for release. Your insurance carrier has no incentive to inform you — they collect the filing fee every term. The burden is entirely on you to know the petition process exists and to initiate it.
When You Can Petition DMV to End Indefinite SR-22 Filing
Wyoming allows drivers with indefinite SR-22 to petition for termination after 5 consecutive years of clean driving. Clean driving means no DUI convictions, no refusals, no at-fault accidents resulting in injury or property damage exceeding $1,000, and no lapses in SR-22 coverage during the 5-year window.
The 5-year clock starts the day your license is reinstated after your third DUI suspension, not your conviction date. If your license was suspended for 18 months and you reinstated on March 1, 2020, your earliest petition date is March 1, 2025. A single day of SR-22 lapse during those 5 years resets the clock to zero.
Wyoming DMV evaluates petitions on a case-by-case basis. They review your full driving record, not just the 5-year window. Additional violations, even minor ones like speeding tickets, reduce your approval odds but do not automatically disqualify you. The statute grants DMV discretion — there is no guaranteed approval even if you meet the 5-year clean period.
Find out exactly how long SR-22 is required in your state
How to File a Petition for SR-22 Termination
You must submit a written petition to the Wyoming Department of Transportation Driver Services Program. The petition must include your full name, driver license number, date of third DUI conviction, date of license reinstatement, and a statement requesting SR-22 termination based on 5 years of continuous compliance.
Attach a current copy of your driving record from Wyoming DMV and a letter from your insurance carrier confirming continuous SR-22 coverage for the full 5-year period with no lapses. Wyoming DMV does not provide a standardized petition form — you write the letter yourself or have an attorney draft it. Mail the complete packet to: Wyoming DOT, Driver Services, 5300 Bishop Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82009.
DMV response time varies from 30 to 90 days. If approved, DMV issues a termination notice and notifies your carrier to stop SR-22 filing. If denied, the notice states the reason — typically a lapse in coverage, a recent violation, or insufficient time elapsed. You can re-petition after addressing the deficiency.
Insurance Cost Reality During Indefinite SR-22 Filing
SR-22 insurance after a third DUI in Wyoming costs $180–$320 per month for minimum liability coverage. That range reflects non-standard carrier pricing for high-risk drivers with repeat DUI convictions. Mainstream carriers — State Farm, Geico, Allstate, Progressive — typically non-renew after a first DUI and will not write new policies after a third.
Non-standard carriers that write third-offense DUI policies in Wyoming include Dairyland, The General, GAINSCO, Bristol West, and Direct Auto. Availability varies by county. Not all non-standard carriers file SR-22 in every state they operate — confirm SR-22 filing capability before binding coverage. The SR-22 filing fee itself is $25–$50 annually, a minor cost compared to the underlying premium increase driven by the DUI convictions.
Rates decrease slowly. After 5 years of clean driving, expect rates to drop 15–25%. After 10 years, the third DUI conviction falls off your insurance record entirely in most carrier underwriting systems, but it remains on your DMV record permanently. Even after SR-22 termination, you remain in the non-standard market until the 10-year mark.
What Happens If You Let SR-22 Lapse During Indefinite Filing
A single day of SR-22 lapse during indefinite filing triggers immediate license suspension. Your carrier notifies Wyoming DMV electronically within 24 hours of policy cancellation or non-renewal. DMV suspends your license the same day they receive the lapse notice. There is no grace period.
Reinstatement after an SR-22 lapse requires paying a $200 reinstatement fee, obtaining new SR-22 coverage, and waiting for DMV processing — typically 7 to 10 business days. The lapse also resets your 5-year clean driving clock for petition eligibility. If you were 4 years into your clean period when the lapse occurred, you start over at zero.
Some drivers lapse unknowingly when they switch carriers. If your old carrier cancels before your new carrier files the SR-22 certificate, even a 2-day gap counts as a lapse. Always confirm your new carrier has filed SR-22 with Wyoming DMV before canceling your old policy. Request written confirmation from the new carrier showing SR-22 filing date and DMV receipt.
Out-of-State Moves and Wyoming's Indefinite SR-22 Requirement
Moving out of Wyoming does not terminate your indefinite SR-22 requirement. Wyoming DMV holds the filing obligation until you petition for release or until you transfer your license to another state and that state imposes its own requirements. If you move to a state that does not require SR-22 for out-of-state DUI convictions, you may be able to end Wyoming SR-22 by surrendering your Wyoming license and obtaining a new license in your new state.
Some states honor Wyoming's indefinite SR-22 and continue it. Others impose their own filing period based on their statutes. Colorado, for example, would require 3 years of SR-22 for a third DUI regardless of Wyoming's indefinite term. You need to confirm your new state's requirements with their DMV before moving.
If you maintain a Wyoming license while living out of state, the indefinite SR-22 continues. You must carry SR-22 coverage in whatever state you reside, filed with Wyoming DMV. This creates cross-state filing complexity — not all carriers file SR-22 across state lines. Confirm your carrier can file Wyoming SR-22 while you hold an out-of-state address before binding coverage.
