Minimum Coverage Requirements in Tennessee
Tennessee operates under a traditional tort liability system, meaning the at-fault driver pays for damages. After a DUI conviction, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security requires SR-22 filing to reinstate your license and maintain it for the duration of your filing period. Filing periods vary by conviction class: first-offense standard DUI typically requires 3 years, while aggravated or repeat-offense DUI can extend to 5 years or longer.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Tennessee?
DUI convictions place you in Tennessee's non-standard insurance market, where rates are driven by conviction class, filing period length, and carrier acceptance. First-offense standard DUI with no aggravating factors typically costs $140 to $200 per month. Aggravated DUI, repeat-offense DUI, or implied-consent refusal pushes monthly premiums to $200 to $240 or higher.
What Affects Your Rate
- First-offense standard DUI with BAC under 0.15 qualifies for the lowest non-standard rates, while aggravated DUI (BAC 0.20 or higher, minor in vehicle, injury, or property damage) increases premiums 30 to 50 percent.
- Repeat-offense DUI within 10 years typically doubles your rate compared to first-offense, and some non-standard carriers decline to quote entirely.
- Filing period length directly affects total cost: a 3-year SR-22 requirement costs $5,040 to $7,200 total at minimum coverage, while a 5-year requirement for aggravated or repeat-offense DUI costs $8,400 to $12,000.
- Tennessee counties with higher uninsured motorist rates, including Shelby (Memphis) and Davidson (Nashville), carry 10 to 15 percent higher premiums due to elevated claim frequency.
- Adding an ignition interlock device (IID) may reduce your premium with certain non-standard carriers by 5 to 10 percent, but not all Tennessee carriers offer this discount.
- Bundling renters or homeowners insurance with your DUI-SR-22 auto policy is often unavailable in the non-standard market, eliminating a discount preferred-risk drivers take for granted.
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Get Your Free QuoteCoverage Types
SR-22 Insurance
SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy but a certificate your insurer files with the Tennessee Department of Safety proving you carry liability coverage. The filing itself costs $25 to $50 one-time, but the underlying insurance premium is what increases after a DUI.
Non-Owner SR-22
Non-owner SR-22 provides liability coverage when you don't own a vehicle but still need to file SR-22 to satisfy Tennessee's reinstatement requirements. It covers you when driving borrowed or rented vehicles.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others. Tennessee requires 25/50/15 minimums, but these limits are insufficient after serious crashes.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you when hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage. Tennessee requires carriers to offer it, and rejection must be made in writing.
Full Coverage
Full coverage combines liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Collision covers damage to your own vehicle in an accident. Comprehensive covers theft, vandalism, weather, and animal strikes.
