Why The General After License Suspension
You called The General because your license is suspended and you need SR-22 coverage that will file to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles fast enough to meet your reinstatement deadline. The General writes policies specifically for suspended drivers in Indiana — their underwriting accepts OWI convictions, habitual traffic violator designations under IC 9-30-10, and points-accumulation suspensions that standard carriers decline.
The General's SR-22 filing process works through their partnership with Sentry Insurance, which holds an AM Best A rating and submits electronic proof-of-financial-responsibility certificates directly to the Indiana BMV through the INSPECT system. Your specific question right now is whether buying The General's policy alone gets you back on the road, or whether other reinstatement steps create delays you haven't accounted for.
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Get Your Free QuoteThe General SR-22 Filing Window
24 hours
The General submits SR-22 certificates to Indiana BMV electronically within one business day of policy binding. The INSPECT system receives the filing automatically; you do not need to carry paper proof to a BMV branch.
Indiana INSPECT program documentation
What the SR-22 Filing Actually Does
The SR-22 is not insurance itself — it is a compliance certificate proving you carry continuous liability coverage meeting Indiana's $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage minimums under IC 9-25. The General files this certificate with the BMV on your behalf when you purchase a policy and maintain it for the full three-year monitoring period Indiana requires after OWI convictions or uninsured-driver violations.
Filing the SR-22 satisfies one reinstatement condition. It does not automatically reinstate your driving privileges. Indiana BMV requires you to also pay the base $250 reinstatement fee, complete any court-ordered education programs, serve mandatory hard suspension periods for certain offenses, and clear outstanding violations before the license is restored. The General's filing speed does not bypass these other requirements.
If you were approved for a Probationary License — Indiana's hardship option for work, school, medical, or religious driving — the SR-22 is required before the BMV will issue the restricted credential. The General's 24-hour filing window means you can obtain the probationary license quickly once the certificate reaches the BMV, assuming you have already submitted the hardship application and received court or BMV approval.
The General's SR-22 filing does not trigger reinstatement until you pay the $250 BMV fee and clear all court holds — the certificate alone does not restore driving privileges.
What The General Policy Covers for Suspended Drivers
Liability-only policies from The General typically cost $140–$210 per month for suspended Indiana drivers with one OWI conviction and SR-22 filing. This tier covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others but does not repair your own vehicle after an at-fault crash. Most drivers pursuing reinstatement choose liability-only because it satisfies the SR-22 requirement at the lowest monthly cost and many do not own a vehicle during suspension.
Full-coverage policies add collision and comprehensive protection, repairing your vehicle regardless of fault and covering theft, vandalism, or weather damage. Monthly premiums rise to $210–$320 for the same driver profile. The General requires full coverage when you finance a vehicle or lease, but if you own your car outright and are focused purely on meeting reinstatement requirements, liability-only satisfies Indiana BMV and keeps costs lower during the three-year SR-22 monitoring window.
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How The General Compares to Other Non-Standard Carriers
The General competes in Indiana's non-standard tier with Bristol West, Dairyland, Acceptance Insurance, GAINSCO, and National General. All five write SR-22 policies for OWI and suspended-license drivers. Monthly premiums vary by $30–$80 depending on your county, violation count, and vehicle. Shopping three carriers typically produces one quote 15–25% below the others.
The General's advantage is underwriting speed and electronic filing infrastructure. Bristol West and Dairyland match The General's 24-hour SR-22 filing window. Acceptance and GAINSCO sometimes take 48–72 hours for manual processing. If your reinstatement deadline is tight or you need a probationary license issued this week, carriers with same-day electronic filing reduce procedural delays.
Non-owner SR-22 policies are available from The General, Dairyland, GAINSCO, Progressive, Geico, and USAA if you do not currently own a vehicle but need continuous proof of financial responsibility to satisfy Indiana BMV during suspension. Non-owner premiums run $65–$110 per month. This option matters for drivers using public transit or household vehicles during the suspension period who still face the three-year SR-22 monitoring requirement.
Indiana Base Reinstatement Fee
$250
Indiana BMV charges $250 to reinstate driving privileges after most administrative suspensions. OWI-related reinstatement fees escalate to $500 for second suspensions. Payment must clear before the BMV processes your reinstatement application, even if The General's SR-22 already appears in INSPECT.
IC 9-29-8
Timeline from Policy Purchase to Reinstatement
The General binds your policy and files SR-22 within 24 hours. The Indiana BMV receives the certificate electronically through INSPECT the same day or the next business day. This does not mean your license is reinstated 24 hours after buying the policy. You still must pay the reinstatement fee through the myBMV online portal or at a BMV branch, submit proof of completing any court-ordered alcohol education programs, and wait for the BMV to process the reinstatement application.
Typical reinstatement processing takes 3–7 business days after the BMV confirms all conditions are met: SR-22 on file, fee paid, suspension period served, no outstanding court holds. If you were suspended for OWI with a mandatory hard suspension period, you cannot apply for reinstatement or a probationary license until that minimum period expires. The General's fast SR-22 filing does not override statutory waiting periods set by IC 9-30-5 or IC 9-30-16.
What Happens If You Let The General Policy Lapse
Indiana requires continuous SR-22 coverage for three years after the reinstatement date. If you cancel The General's policy or miss a payment and the policy lapses, The General is required by IC 9-25 to notify the Indiana BMV electronically within 10 days. The BMV initiates a new suspension for failure to maintain proof of financial responsibility. Reinstatement after a lapse-triggered suspension requires filing a new SR-22, paying the reinstatement fee again, and restarting the three-year monitoring period from zero.
Switching carriers during the SR-22 period does not create a lapse as long as the new carrier files an SR-22 before The General's cancellation notice reaches the BMV. Most drivers switching from The General to a lower-cost carrier after one year coordinate the effective dates so coverage and filing are continuous. The three-year clock does not restart when you switch carriers — it continues from your original reinstatement date as long as filing is never interrupted.