Oregon SR-22 Now 1 Year Instead of 3 for Uninsured Drivers

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If you are convicted of driving uninsured in Oregon on or after January 1, 2026, the state now requires a one-year SR-22 filing instead of three. The change comes from Senate Bill 840, which Governor Tina Kotek signed in 2025. Uninsured-crash filings remain three years.

How Long Does an SR-22 Last in Oregon After a Driving-Uninsured Conviction?

For convictions on or after January 1, 2026, the SR-22 filing lasts one year. Senate Bill 840 shortened the filing period from three years to one for driving-uninsured convictions under ORS 806.010. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation confirmed the change in a December 9, 2025, memorandum to insurers.

An SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy. It is a certificate your insurer files with the Oregon DMV to prove you carry the state’s minimum liability coverage. The certificate itself may carry a small administrative cost that varies by insurer. The larger expense is the premium surcharge most insurers apply to drivers who need an SR-22, which generally runs for as long as the certificate stays on file. A shorter filing period means that surcharge ends sooner, and the driver can return to standard rating territory one year after reinstatement instead of three. For context on how Oregon auto insurance premiums have moved more broadly, see our coverage of Oregon car insurance premium increases.

The one-year rule applies to drivers convicted of driving uninsured on or after January 1, 2026. It does not apply to drivers whose SR-22 obligation arises from an uninsured crash; those filings remain three years. It also does not retroactively shorten filings for convictions that occurred before January 1, 2026. Drivers who need an SR-22 for a DUII conviction or certain other traffic crimes should check their own filing term with the DMV, because SB 840’s one-year change is limited to the driving-uninsured conviction.

The one-year filing rule is already in effect for convictions on or after January 1, 2026. No pending legislative or regulatory change to this specific provision was identified as of October 25, 2026. The Oregon DMV’s SR-22 information page still describes the general filing process, and drivers should rely on the DMV’s written determination for their own case if there is any question about the applicable term.

Does the One-Year Rule Apply to Uninsured Crashes Too?

No. If your SR-22 is required because of an uninsured accident, the filing period remains three years. The DFR memorandum states that DMV “will continue to impose a three-year SR-22 filing requirement” for uninsured accidents, even after the one-year change takes effect for driving-uninsured convictions.

What Should Drivers Do Now?

Drivers should confirm their specific filing term with their insurer and the Oregon DMV, because the one-year change applies only to driving-uninsured convictions, not to uninsured-crash filings or pre-2026 convictions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oregon SR-22 Filings

Does the one-year SR-22 rule apply if my conviction was in 2025 but my filing started in 2026?

No. The DFR memorandum ties the shortened period to convictions “on or after January 1, 2026.” A conviction entered before that date remains under the prior three-year requirement, even if the filing obligation continues into 2026.

What if my SR-22 is required because of an uninsured accident, not a driving-uninsured conviction?

The one-year change does not apply. The DFR memorandum states that for uninsured accidents, DMV “will continue to impose a three-year SR-22 filing requirement.” The mandatory suspension for the accident is repealed for accidents on or after January 1, 2026, but the SR-22 term remains three years.

How do I know when my one-year SR-22 period starts?

The Oregon DMV’s SR-22 page says an SR-22 filing begins on the date DMV receives the certificate during regular business hours. Your insurer should be able to confirm the date it filed the certificate and the date the requirement is scheduled to end.