The General After Missouri DUI
You received a DUI conviction in Missouri, your license is suspended for 90 days minimum, and you need SR-22 insurance before the Missouri Department of Revenue will consider a Limited Driving Privilege or reinstatement. The General appears in every SR-22 search result and advertises heavily to drivers in your exact position. The question is whether their non-standard tier pricing and coverage restrictions make them the right choice, or whether they are simply the most visible option in a field where better alternatives exist.
The General writes SR-22 policies in Missouri and specializes in after-DUI coverage, but they operate as a non-standard carrier with restrictive underwriting and higher-than-necessary premiums for many driver profiles. Missouri DUI drivers can file SR-22 through multiple non-standard and standard carriers—The General is one option, not the only option, and their pricing structure often disadvantages drivers who qualify for mid-tier non-standard carriers like Dairyland, National General, or GAINSCO.
Compare car insurance rates in your state
Get quotes from licensed carriers — no obligation, no spam, results in minutes.
Get Your Free QuoteThe General Missouri DUI Premium
$85–$160/mo
Non-standard tier liability-only SR-22 policies after first-offense DUI in Missouri typically range $85–$160/month depending on county, age, and violation history. The General sits at the higher end of this range for most driver profiles. Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary.
Non-Standard Tier Means Restricted Coverage
The General is classified as a non-standard carrier, meaning they underwrite drivers standard and preferred carriers decline. This is not inherently negative—it means they accept DUI convictions, suspended license histories, and drivers with multiple violations. The structural reality is that non-standard classification comes with coverage restrictions and higher base rates that standard carriers do not impose.
Missouri DUI drivers shopping The General should understand that non-standard policies frequently exclude collision and comprehensive coverage, limit policy add-ons like rental reimbursement or roadside assistance, and cap liability limits below what Missouri's $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 minimum would suggest is standard. The General's SR-22 filing meets Missouri DOR requirements, but the underlying policy may not cover the vehicle damage, medical expenses, or uninsured motorist scenarios a driver expects.
Non-standard carriers also impose stricter payment terms. The General requires upfront deposits, charges reinstatement fees for missed payments, and cancels policies for late payments faster than standard carriers. A canceled SR-22 policy triggers an immediate Missouri DOR notification, which extends your suspension period and restarts your SR-22 filing clock. The two-year SR-22 requirement in Missouri resets from the date of filing, not the date of conviction—policy cancellation is not a minor administrative issue.
The General's non-standard underwriting accepts DUI drivers, but their cancellation-for-nonpayment policy is stricter than mid-tier carriers—one missed payment restarts your two-year SR-22 clock.
The General Filing Process in Missouri
Owner SR-22 policies through The General require proof of vehicle registration, a valid Missouri address, and payment of the first month's premium plus SR-22 filing fee before the certificate is transmitted to Missouri DOR. The General does not file SR-22 retroactively—the filing date is the date your policy activates, which means any gap between conviction and policy purchase extends your suspension. Missouri DOR requires continuous SR-22 coverage for two years from the filing date, and any lapse longer than 30 days restarts the clock.
Non-owner SR-22 policies through The General cover liability when you drive a vehicle you do not own. Missouri suspended-license drivers who need SR-22 to qualify for a Limited Driving Privilege but do not own a vehicle must file non-owner SR-22. The General writes non-owner policies, but their premiums for non-owner SR-22 are higher than Dairyland, GAINSCO, and Progressive non-owner rates in most Missouri counties. Non-owner policies do not cover the vehicle you drive—they cover your liability to others. If you borrow a car and cause an accident, the vehicle owner's policy pays first; your non-owner policy pays only when their limits are exhausted.
Related Articles
The General vs Mid-Tier Non-Standard Carriers
Missouri DUI drivers should compare The General's rates against Dairyland, GAINSCO, National General, and Bristol West before committing. These carriers all write SR-22 policies in Missouri, all accept DUI convictions, and all operate in the non-standard or standard tier with pricing that frequently undercuts The General by $20–$50/month for identical coverage.
Dairyland specializes in SR-22 and non-owner policies and consistently quotes lower premiums than The General for Missouri drivers under 35. GAINSCO launched in Missouri in 2021 and aggressively prices DUI policies to build market share. National General underwrites through Allstate's non-standard division and offers payment flexibility The General does not match. Bristol West operates in 43 states including Missouri and prices competitively for drivers with one DUI and no prior violations.
The General's brand visibility makes them the default choice for many Missouri DUI drivers, but brand recognition does not correlate with best price or best coverage. Missouri does not regulate SR-22 filing separately from auto insurance, which means every licensed carrier files SR-22 at the same administrative cost—the premium difference between carriers reflects underwriting risk models, not filing mechanics. Shopping multiple carriers is not optional; it is the only way to verify whether The General's quote reflects your actual risk or their default pricing tier.
Missouri SR-22 Filing Period
2 years
Missouri requires continuous SR-22 coverage for two years following DUI conviction, measured from the date your SR-22 certificate is filed with Missouri DOR. Any lapse in coverage restarts the two-year clock. The General and all other Missouri-licensed carriers file SR-22 electronically, and cancellations trigger automatic DOR notification within 24 hours.
RSMo Chapter 302
Limited Driving Privilege and The General SR-22
Missouri DUI convictions trigger a 90-day minimum suspension, but you can petition the circuit court for a Limited Driving Privilege after 30 days if you install an ignition interlock device and file SR-22 proof of financial responsibility. The General's SR-22 filing satisfies Missouri DOR's insurance requirement for LDP eligibility, but the court controls whether your petition is granted—SR-22 filing alone does not guarantee LDP approval.
The LDP petition must be filed in the circuit court of the county where you reside, not where the offense occurred. The court sets the restricted driving purposes, hours, and routes—The General's policy does not define these restrictions. Your LDP typically allows driving for employment, school, medical appointments, alcohol treatment, and court-ordered purposes, but the judge has discretion to deny any LDP petition or impose narrower restrictions than the statute permits. Violating LDP terms—driving outside approved hours or purposes—revokes the LDP immediately and extends your suspension.
Reinstatement After Missouri DUI
Missouri DUI reinstatement requires completing your suspension period, finishing the Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program, maintaining two years of continuous SR-22 coverage, and paying a $20 reinstatement fee to Missouri DOR. The General's SR-22 filing covers the insurance requirement, but SATOP completion and fee payment are separate procedural steps you must complete independently.
Missouri DOR offers online reinstatement eligibility checks at dor.mo.gov for straightforward suspension cases, but DUI suspensions frequently involve overlapping administrative and judicial suspensions that require in-person DOR visits to resolve. The $20 reinstatement fee applies to standard suspensions; alcohol-related revocations trigger a $45 fee instead. If your DUI involved a chemical test refusal, your suspension is classified as a revocation and subject to the higher fee and longer processing timeline. Verify your specific reinstatement requirements with Missouri DOR before assuming online reinstatement applies—The General cannot clarify your reinstatement pathway, only provide the SR-22 certificate DOR requires.
Compare Before You Commit
The General writes SR-22 policies in Missouri and accepts DUI drivers, but their non-standard tier pricing and restrictive underwriting mean they are rarely the lowest-cost option for drivers who qualify for mid-tier carriers. Missouri DUI drivers should quote Dairyland, GAINSCO, National General, Bristol West, and Progressive alongside The General before selecting a carrier. SR-22 filing mechanics are identical across all licensed Missouri carriers—the premium difference is pure underwriting, and comparison shopping saves $240–$600 annually for most driver profiles. Start by quoting all five carriers above, verify each quote includes SR-22 filing, and choose based on total cost and payment flexibility, not brand familiarity.