The General Files SR-22 in Texas Through Two Underwriters
The General operates in Texas under two separate underwriting entities: Old American County Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Security National Insurance Company (NAIC 33120). When you request an SR-22 quote online, the system routes your application to the underwriter licensed in your county. You won't see which entity holds your policy until after approval, but both file SR-22 certificates with the Texas Department of Public Safety within 24 hours of policy binding.
This two-underwriter structure creates filing confusion for suspended drivers who expect a single carrier name on their certificate. Your SR-22 certificate will show either Old American County Mutual or Security National as the insurer of record, not The General brand name. DPS accepts both — the brand distinction doesn't matter for reinstatement purposes, but knowing which entity writes your county prevents surprise when the certificate arrives.
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Get Your Free QuoteTexas Suspended Driver Premium
$95–$155/mo
Monthly premium range for liability-only SR-22 coverage through The General after license suspension. Rates vary by suspension trigger — DWI filers typically land at the upper end, while insurance lapse suspensions run closer to $95–$110/mo. Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary.
The General Texas rate filings, non-standard tier
SR-22 Filing Timeline After Policy Approval
The General submits your SR-22 certificate to Texas DPS electronically within 24 hours of policy binding. Texas processes electronic filings immediately, but your DPS driver record shows the filing 2–5 business days after submission due to batch processing delays. If you're reinstating from suspension, this processing gap matters — you cannot schedule your reinstatement appointment until the SR-22 posts to your record.
Your policy effective date and your SR-22 filing date are not always the same day. If you purchase coverage on Friday evening, your policy binds immediately but The General may not transmit the SR-22 until Monday morning. DPS then processes it Tuesday or Wednesday. Build in a full week between purchase and your planned reinstatement date.
The General does not issue paper SR-22 certificates for Texas — all filings are electronic through the state's TexasSure verification system. If DPS requires proof during your reinstatement appointment, your driver record printout showing the active SR-22 filing serves as the official document.
The General's online quote tool won't show accurate premiums until you disclose your suspension trigger and completion dates — generic quotes ignore the risk tier your violation puts you in.
What The General Requires for SR-22 Approval
You'll need a copy of your DPS suspension notice or court order showing the SR-22 requirement, your driver license number (even if currently suspended), and proof of your current address matching DPS records. If your mailing address differs from your garaging address, The General requires documentation for both — a utility bill or lease agreement works for this purpose. Applicants with DWI suspensions must also provide their Administrative License Revocation hearing outcome letter or court disposition showing conviction date, because The General calculates your risk tier from the conviction date forward.
Vehicle information is required even for non-owner SR-22 policies. If you don't own a car, The General still asks for the year, make, and model of any vehicle you'll drive regularly — this affects liability limits they'll approve. Drivers seeking non-owner policies after DWI must provide proof they surrendered all vehicle titles or that vehicles were sold, because Texas DPS requires non-owner filers to certify they don't have access to a titled vehicle.
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Premium Calculation for Suspended License Holders
The General tiers suspended drivers by violation type and time since conviction. DWI filers within 12 months of conviction pay the highest premiums — typically $140–$155/mo for minimum liability coverage. Drivers 18–36 months post-conviction drop to $110–$130/mo. After 36 months, rates approach $95–$110/mo if no additional violations occurred.
Insurance lapse suspensions cost less than DWI suspensions because The General views them as administrative rather than behavioral risk. Lapse filers typically pay $85–$105/mo for the same coverage. Points-related suspensions (excessive speeding tickets, at-fault accidents) fall between lapse and DWI rates at $100–$120/mo. Your actual quote depends on your county — Harris, Dallas, Bexar, and Tarrant county drivers pay 10–15% more than rural county drivers due to higher claim frequency in metro areas.
The General does not offer payment plans longer than 6 months for SR-22 policies. You'll pay either in full at binding or through monthly installments with a $7 processing fee per payment. No down payment discount exists for SR-22 filers — the company views suspended drivers as flight risks and structures pricing to recover underwriting costs within the first policy term.
Texas SR-22 Filing Period
2 years
Texas requires SR-22 filing for 2 years from reinstatement date for most DWI and liability-related suspensions under Transportation Code §601.153. Your filing clock starts when DPS reinstates your license, not when you purchase the policy. Canceling coverage before the 2-year period ends triggers a new suspension.
Texas Transportation Code §601.153
When The General Won't Write Your Policy
The General declines SR-22 applications from drivers with more than two DWI convictions within 5 years, anyone currently on an ignition interlock device requirement (they'll reconsider after IID removal), and applicants with felony convictions involving a vehicle within 3 years. If you're seeking an Occupational Driver License while your full license remains suspended, The General requires proof of the court order granting the ODL before binding coverage — they will not issue speculative policies.
Drivers with active warrants, unpaid court fines over $500, or child support arrears flagged by DPS cannot get approved until those issues clear. The General checks DPS records during underwriting and automatically declines applications showing these holds. If your suspension stems from failure to appear in court, resolve the underlying case before applying — FTA suspensions require proof of case disposition before any non-standard carrier will file SR-22.
Compare The General Against Texas SR-22 Alternatives
The General competes in Texas's non-standard market alongside Progressive, Dairyland, Bristol West, GAINSCO, and Direct Auto. Progressive typically beats The General's rates by $10–$20/mo for drivers 24+ months post-conviction but charges higher down payments. Dairyland matches The General's premiums almost exactly but offers 12-month payment plans instead of 6-month caps. Bristol West runs $15–$25/mo cheaper for lapse-related suspensions but won't write policies for DWI filers within 18 months of conviction.
If The General quotes you above $140/mo, request quotes from at least two other non-standard carriers before binding. Rate spreads in Texas's SR-22 market routinely hit 30% between highest and lowest quotes for identical coverage. The General's advantage is filing speed and statewide availability — they write all 254 counties without territory restrictions, while some competitors exclude rural areas or require broker involvement in counties under 50,000 population.