The General Confirms SR-22 Filing in Idaho
You received a DUI in Idaho, your license is suspended for 90 days, and you need SR-22 insurance to reinstate. The General appears on the Idaho Transportation Department's SR-22 DMV contact list, confirming the carrier files SR-22 in Idaho. The question is not whether The General can file your SR-22 — it can — but whether its payment structure, tier position, and monthly billing availability fit your reinstatement timeline and budget.
The General operates as a non-standard carrier backed by Sentry Insurance (AM Best A rating). It writes SR-22, non-owner SR-22, and after-DUI coverage in Idaho. Most DUI drivers assume confirmation of SR-22 filing means immediate availability, but The General's payment terms vary by state and underwriting tier. Idaho DUI drivers face a structural reality: confirming the carrier files SR-22 does not tell you whether you can pay monthly, whether a down payment is required, or whether the policy term locks you into a six-month lump payment that exceeds your reinstatement budget.
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Get Your Free QuoteIdaho DUI Reinstatement Fee
$285
Idaho charges $285 to reinstate a license after a DUI suspension, paid to the Idaho Transportation Department after completing the 90-day suspension period and filing SR-22. This fee is separate from insurance premiums and SR-22 filing fees.
Idaho Code 18-8002A, Idaho Transportation Department
Non-Standard Tier Position and Payment Structure
The General operates in the non-standard tier, writing drivers standard and preferred carriers decline. Idaho DUI drivers fall into this tier after conviction. Non-standard carriers typically charge higher premiums than standard carriers, but they accept DUI drivers without the immediate declination you face from State Farm, Allstate, or USAA.
The structural confusion: non-standard carriers vary widely in payment terms. Some allow true monthly billing with minimal down payments. Others require semi-annual terms paid in full upfront, or monthly installments with 20–30% down payments that exceed Idaho's $285 reinstatement fee. The General's website offers online quotes, but payment structure details — monthly availability, down payment requirements, installment fees — are not disclosed until the quote stage. Idaho DUI drivers cannot determine upfront whether The General's payment terms fit their budget.
Carriers writing Idaho DUI drivers with clearer payment structures include Progressive, Geico, Dairyland, Bristol West, and National General. Progressive and Geico both confirm monthly billing availability and publish installment fee structures online. Dairyland and Bristol West operate in the same non-standard tier as The General and accept DUI drivers, but their payment terms also vary by state and are not disclosed until quote.
The General files SR-22 in Idaho, but you cannot determine payment terms until quote — if a semi-annual lump or high down payment blocks your filing, you restart the comparison process inside your reinstatement deadline.
Idaho SR-22 Filing Requirements After DUI
Your carrier files the SR-22 electronically with the Idaho Transportation Department. The filing confirms you carry at least Idaho's minimum liability limits: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 property damage. If you let the policy lapse or cancel during the three-year period, the carrier notifies the state within 24 hours and your license is suspended again.
Idaho allows non-owner SR-22 policies for drivers who do not own a vehicle. A non-owner policy provides liability coverage when you drive a borrowed or rented vehicle and satisfies the SR-22 filing requirement. Non-owner policies cost less than standard policies because they exclude collision and comprehensive coverage. If you do not currently own a vehicle but need SR-22 to reinstate, a non-owner policy is the correct product. The General writes non-owner SR-22 in Idaho, as do Progressive, Geico, Dairyland, Bristol West, GAINSCO, National General, Travelers, and USAA.
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Restricted Driving Permit During Suspension
Idaho offers a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) during your 90-day DUI suspension. The RDP allows limited driving to work, school, medical appointments, DUI treatment programs, and basic life necessities. You apply by submitting Form ITD-3227, Form ITD-3208 work or school verification, a signed Drivers Agreement (ITD-3238), proof of liability insurance (SR-22 if required), satisfaction of reinstatement requirements, and a $60 non-refundable permit fee to the Idaho Transportation Department DMV Operations office in Boise.
The RDP is not automatic. Processing takes approximately five business days after the department receives your complete application. Geographic and time restrictions apply — for an 18-8002A administrative license suspension, the permit restricts driving to 8am–5pm Monday through Friday within specified counties or cities. Violating the permit terms triggers immediate revocation and extends your suspension period.
You must carry SR-22 insurance before applying for the RDP if your DUI conviction requires SR-22 filing. The permit application requires proof of insurance at the time of submission. If you apply without SR-22 in place, your application is denied and you restart the process. Secure your SR-22 policy first, then submit the RDP application with the SR-22 certificate attached.
The General can provide the SR-22 filing you need for the RDP application, but you need confirmation of payment terms and policy issuance speed before the application deadline. If The General's payment structure requires a down payment you cannot meet, or if policy issuance takes longer than your RDP application timeline allows, you lose days inside the 90-day suspension window. Compare carriers that confirm monthly billing and same-day or next-day SR-22 filing before committing to The General.
Idaho SR-22 Filing Period
3 years
Idaho requires continuous SR-22 filing for three years after a DUI conviction. The period begins the day your carrier files the SR-22 certificate with the state, not the conviction date. Any lapse in coverage during the three years triggers automatic license suspension.
Idaho Code Title 49, Chapter 12
Comparing The General Against Other Idaho SR-22 Carriers
The General is one of eleven carriers confirmed to write SR-22 after DUI in Idaho. The others: Progressive, Geico, State Farm, Dairyland, Bristol West, GAINSCO, National General, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, and USAA. State Farm writes SR-22 but operates in the preferred tier and typically declines DUI drivers. USAA restricts eligibility to military members and their families. That leaves nine broadly available carriers.
Progressive and Geico both offer online quotes, confirm monthly billing, and publish installment fee structures. Progressive charges no installment fees for monthly billing; Geico's installment fees vary by state but are disclosed at quote. Dairyland and Bristol West operate in the non-standard tier alongside The General and accept DUI drivers, but payment terms are not disclosed until quote. GAINSCO, National General, and Farmers also write SR-22 after DUI in Idaho, but tier position and payment structure details vary.
The structural advantage of comparing multiple carriers before committing: you identify which carriers offer true monthly billing with minimal or zero down payments, which require semi-annual terms, and which charge installment fees that add $180–$540 to your three-year SR-22 cost. The General may offer competitive premiums, but if its payment structure blocks your filing or forces a lump payment you cannot afford, the premium advantage disappears.
Get SR-22 Coverage That Fits Your Reinstatement Timeline
You need SR-22 insurance that files immediately, allows monthly payments you can afford, and maintains continuous coverage for three years without lapsing. The General files SR-22 in Idaho, but you cannot confirm payment terms until quote. If you are inside the 90-day suspension window and need an RDP, or if you are approaching the end of your suspension and need SR-22 in place before reinstatement, compare carriers that confirm monthly billing and same-day filing upfront. See Idaho SR-22 carriers that write DUI drivers with transparent payment structures, or get quotes from Progressive, Geico, Dairyland, and Bristol West before committing to The General.