A DUI conviction in Florida can affect much more than your driving record. One of the most important financial consequences is the possibility of being required to carry FR-44 insurance before you can legally restore and maintain your driving privileges.
If you have recently been convicted of driving under the influence in Florida, understanding how the FR-44 requirement works can help you avoid coverage lapses, unexpected costs, and problems with your driver’s license.
This guide explains what Florida FR-44 insurance is, who needs it, how much coverage is required, how long the requirement lasts, and what options may be available if you do not own a vehicle.
What Is FR-44 Insurance?
Despite the common phrase “FR-44 insurance,” an FR-44 is not a separate type of auto insurance policy.
The FR-44 is a certificate of financial responsibility filed with the State of Florida. It demonstrates that a driver has liability insurance meeting the higher limits required following certain DUI-related cases.
Florida introduced these increased financial-responsibility requirements for DUI cases in 2007.
The key difference is that an FR-44 requires significantly higher liability limits than the minimum coverage ordinarily associated with driving in Florida.
Who Needs an FR-44 in Florida?
Florida law imposes increased financial-responsibility requirements on certain drivers who have been found guilty of, or entered a guilty or nolo contendere plea to, DUI under Florida law.
For qualifying DUI cases after October 1, 2007, Florida requires the driver to establish and maintain increased financial responsibility.
Whether an FR-44 filing is required in your individual case should be confirmed through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) or your insurance provider.
Do not assume that simply purchasing an ordinary auto insurance policy automatically satisfies an FR-44 requirement.
How Much Coverage Does an FR-44 Require in Florida?
This is one of the most important differences between an FR-44 and ordinary auto insurance requirements.
Under current Florida law, qualifying drivers must maintain liability limits of at least:
$100,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in one crash;
$300,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one crash; and
$50,000 for property damage in one crash.
These limits are commonly written as:
100/300/50
Florida’s statute also provides for a $350,000 certificate of deposit as one method of demonstrating the required financial responsibility.
Because these liability limits are substantial, an FR-44-related policy can be considerably more expensive than the coverage a driver maintained before a DUI.
Why Does FR-44 Insurance Cost More After a DUI?
There are two major reasons.
First, the FR-44 requirement itself involves much higher liability limits.
Second, a DUI can cause an insurer to classify a driver as presenting a greater insurance risk. That can result in substantially higher premiums.
Your actual price can depend on factors including your age, location, driving history, previous insurance history, vehicle, coverage choices, insurer and other rating factors permitted under Florida law.
For this reason, there is no single price for “Florida FR-44 insurance.”
Two drivers with the same FR-44 requirement can receive very different quotes.
Comparing quotes from insurers that handle FR-44 filings can therefore be particularly important.
How Long Do You Need an FR-44 in Florida?
Florida law requires the higher financial-responsibility limits to be carried for a minimum period of three years.
The statute also provides that a driver can become exempt from this particular requirement if they have not been convicted of another DUI or felony traffic offense for three years from the date their driving privileges were reinstated following the relevant DUI violation.
This makes the reinstatement date particularly important.
Drivers should confirm their exact FR-44 period with FLHSMV rather than estimating when the requirement ends.
Canceling or reducing coverage prematurely could create additional licensing problems.
Can You Get an FR-44 Without Owning a Car?
Not owning a vehicle does not necessarily eliminate a driver’s financial-responsibility obligations.
Depending on the circumstances, a driver who needs to demonstrate financial responsibility but does not own a vehicle may need to investigate an operator or non-owner policy capable of satisfying the applicable Florida requirements.
Non-owner coverage is designed differently from a traditional owner’s policy because it is associated primarily with the driver rather than insuring a vehicle owned by that person.
However, eligibility and coverage can become more complicated if you regularly use a vehicle owned by someone in your household or have regular access to a particular car.
If you have an FR-44 requirement but do not own a vehicle, tell the insurer your exact circumstances rather than simply requesting the cheapest policy available.
What Happens If Your FR-44 Coverage Lapses?
Maintaining continuous coverage is extremely important while you are subject to an FR-44 requirement.
An FR-44 filing exists to demonstrate that you are maintaining the financial responsibility required by Florida. Allowing the underlying policy to expire or be canceled can therefore create problems with your compliance status and potentially your driving privileges.
If you are struggling to afford your premium, it is generally better to shop for replacement coverage before canceling your existing policy.
Make sure the new insurer understands that you have an active Florida FR-44 requirement so that any necessary filing can be handled correctly.
FR-44 vs. SR-22: What’s the Difference?
FR-44 and SR-22 are related concepts, but they should not be treated as interchangeable.
Both are forms used to demonstrate financial responsibility. However, Florida’s FR-44 is associated with the state’s increased financial-responsibility requirements following qualifying DUI cases and carries much higher liability requirements.
Florida’s FR-44 limits are 100/300/50, or the corresponding qualifying financial-responsibility alternative described by state law.
Therefore, if Florida requires you to maintain an FR-44, purchasing a policy intended for a different filing requirement is not a substitute.
How to Get FR-44 Insurance After a DUI
The process generally starts by determining exactly what FLHSMV requires for your license reinstatement.
You can then contact insurers that write policies for drivers requiring FR-44 filings and provide accurate information about your DUI, driving history, vehicle ownership and current license status.
Compare multiple quotes rather than focusing only on one company. The cost of insuring a driver after a DUI can vary significantly between insurers.
Once you select a policy, confirm that the insurer will make the appropriate FR-44 filing and verify what you need to do to complete the driver’s-license reinstatement process.
Most importantly, maintain the required coverage continuously for the entire period specified by Florida.
Final Thoughts
A Florida FR-44 requirement after a DUI can make auto insurance more complicated and expensive, but understanding the rules makes the situation easier to manage.
Remember the essentials: an FR-44 is proof of increased financial responsibility rather than a standalone insurance product; qualifying Florida DUI cases can trigger much higher 100/300/50 liability limits; and those increased limits generally must be maintained for a minimum of three years under Florida law.
If you do not own a car, investigate whether an appropriate non-owner or operator policy can satisfy your circumstances. If you do own a vehicle, compare insurers experienced with Florida FR-44 filings.
Above all, avoid letting required coverage lapse and confirm your individual requirements with FLHSMV or a properly licensed insurance professional before changing or canceling coverage.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not legal, financial, or individualized insurance advice. Insurance requirements and individual circumstances can change. Verify current requirements with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and a licensed Florida insurance professional.