FR-44 Insurance: Requirements by State
FR-44 insurance sounds like an obscure paperwork issue, but in Florida and Virginia it is a real financial gate standing between a serious traffic conviction and getting a driver's license back on the road. The form itself is free, but the coverage it forces you to buy can double or triple a premium and must stay in place for three years without a single lapse. This guide walks through the two states that require an FR-44, how it differs from an SR-22, the exact liability limits it mandates, and what drivers typically pay.
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What FR-44 Insurance Actually Is
An FR-44 is a certificate an insurance company files with the state DMV to verify a driver is carrying liability limits well above the state minimum. It exists in only two states: Florida and Virginia. Both use it as a penalty add-on after a driver is convicted of driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, or in some cases refusing a chemical test. Once ordered, the certificate stays on file for three years from the date the license is reinstated. If coverage lapses at any point during that window, the insurer must notify the state and the license is suspended again.
The form itself is not expensive — most carriers charge a filing fee of $15 to $50 — but the required coverage is. FR-44 drivers are not allowed to buy the ordinary state-minimum liability policy, which is what makes the filing so different from an SR-22.
FR-44 vs. SR-22: The Real Difference
An SR-22 and an FR-44 look nearly identical on paper. Both are financial responsibility filings submitted by the insurer. Both are triggered by court order or DMV action. Both must be maintained continuously, usually for three years. The difference is the coverage they force you to buy.
An SR-22 only certifies that a driver is carrying the state's normal minimum liability limits. An FR-44 certifies that a driver is carrying limits that are roughly double the state minimum. Florida and Virginia both offer SR-22 filings for non-alcohol offenses like driving without insurance or repeat at-fault accidents, and they reserve the FR-44 specifically for DUI-related convictions.
| Feature | SR-22 | FR-44 |
|---|---|---|
| States that use it | About 40 | 2 (FL, VA) |
| Typical trigger | Uninsured driving, multiple violations | DUI or DWI conviction |
| Coverage required | State minimum liability | Roughly 2x state minimum |
| Duration | 3 years typical | 3 years |
| Filing fee | $15 to $50 | $15 to $50 |
Florida FR-44 Requirements
Florida's standard financial responsibility minimum is famously low — just 10/20/10 in bodily injury and property damage terms — and most drivers carry only $10,000 in personal injury protection along with property damage liability. An FR-44 blows past that.
Under Florida statute 324.023, a driver ordered to file an FR-44 must carry:
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 in property damage liability
That is the well-known 100/300/50 combination. There is no reduced version, no phase-in, and no exception for non-owner drivers who still need a filing to keep an active license.
Florida requires the FR-44 for three years from the date the license is reinstated, not from the date of conviction. Any lapse — even a one-day gap between insurers — resets the clock and re-suspends the license. Drivers must also settle any DUI reinstatement fees, typically $150 to $500, before an insurer's filing will be accepted.
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See our quote guideVirginia FR-44 Requirements
Virginia's FR-44 rules read a lot like Florida's but with lower absolute numbers. The state's baseline minimum liability moved up to 50/100/25 in 2025, but FR-44 drivers have their own required limits regardless of the general minimum.
Under Virginia Code 46.2-472, an FR-44 must certify at least:
- $60,000 in bodily injury liability per person
- $120,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $40,000 in property damage liability
Roughly 60/120/40 — double the state's older 30/60/20 floor and still comfortably above the new 50/100/25 default. Virginia historically allowed drivers to satisfy the general financial responsibility requirement by paying an uninsured motor vehicle fee instead of buying coverage, but FR-44 drivers cannot opt out that way. Real liability insurance is required.
The filing runs for three years from license reinstatement. Drivers who move out of Virginia during that period usually must keep the FR-44 in force through a Virginia-licensed carrier or the reinstatement is void.
How Much FR-44 Insurance Costs
The filing itself is cheap. The premium behind it is not. Two factors stack on top of each other: the serious offense on the driving record, which typically raises a full-coverage premium by 70 to 150 percent for three to five years, and the much higher liability limits, which add another 15 to 40 percent versus a state-minimum policy.
In practical terms, a Florida driver paying around $1,400 a year for state-minimum coverage before a DUI can expect renewal quotes in the $3,500 to $5,500 range for the same vehicle with an FR-44 in place. Virginia is often several hundred dollars cheaper thanks to lower required limits and a less expensive auto insurance market overall, but the pattern is similar: FR-44 pricing tends to run two to three times what the same driver paid before the conviction.
Not every carrier writes FR-44 policies. Standard-market insurers handle them for existing customers but often decline new applications from drivers with a fresh DUI. Non-standard specialty insurers like Dairyland, Bristol West, and The General write the bulk of new FR-44 business.
Getting the Filing Done
The mechanics of getting an FR-44 filed are straightforward once a carrier agrees to write the policy.
- Get a quote that specifically includes the FR-44 filing — not every online quoter surfaces this option, so calling the carrier is often faster than clicking through a website.
- Pay the first premium in full or set up an installment plan the carrier accepts for FR-44 policies. Many insurers require paid-in-full or six-month bulk pay for this class of business.
- Confirm the insurer will submit the FR-44 electronically to the Florida DHSMV or Virginia DMV. Both states now accept electronic filings, usually processed within two business days.
- Complete any state reinstatement requirements, including paying reinstatement fees and finishing a state-approved DUI education program.
- Verify the license is reinstated by pulling a current driving record. The date the record shows as active is the day the three-year FR-44 clock starts running.
What Happens If the FR-44 Lapses
An FR-44 policy is fragile in a way normal auto insurance is not. If the policy cancels for non-payment, if the driver switches to a carrier that does not file the FR-44, or if there is a short gap between policies, the insurance company is required by state law to notify the DMV, typically within about 15 days. The DMV then issues a license suspension, and the three-year filing clock resets to day one once coverage is reinstated.
For a driver who is 30 months into a 36-month FR-44 window, a lapse can wipe out that progress entirely and force another three full years of high-limit coverage. Drivers who shop for a cheaper premium mid-term should confirm the new carrier will file the FR-44 before canceling the old policy — the two need to overlap, not just butt up against each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FR-44 insurance the same as SR-22?
Both are financial responsibility filings the insurer submits to the state, but the FR-44 requires much higher liability limits — roughly double the state minimum. FR-44 is used only in Florida and Virginia and mainly for alcohol-related convictions, while SR-22 is used in most other states for a broader range of offenses like driving uninsured or accumulating too many violations.
How long does FR-44 insurance last?
Both Florida and Virginia require the FR-44 to be maintained continuously for three years from the date the driver's license is reinstated — not from the conviction date. Any lapse in coverage during that window typically restarts the three-year clock and re-suspends the license until a new policy with the filing is in force.
Can I get FR-44 insurance without owning a car?
Yes. Non-owner FR-44 policies are available in both states and satisfy the filing requirement for drivers who need to keep a valid license but do not own a vehicle. Rates are usually 40 to 60 percent lower than owner FR-44 policies because there is no physical damage coverage and no garaged vehicle to rate against.
What's the difference between the FR-44 fee and the premium?
The FR-44 filing fee is what the insurer charges to submit the form to the DMV — typically $15 to $50, paid once at issue. The premium is the ongoing cost of the underlying auto policy, which for an FR-44 driver is usually two to three times a state-minimum quote because both a serious conviction and doubled liability limits are baked in.
Do all insurance companies write FR-44 policies?
No. Many major carriers decline new FR-44 applications, though they will often continue the filing for existing customers after a covered driver's conviction. Non-standard specialty insurers like Dairyland, Bristol West, and The General are typically where new FR-44 shoppers find the widest availability, though rates can run higher than the standard market.