FR-44 Insurance Explained

FR-44 is the Florida- and Virginia-only variant of SR-22. Like SR-22, it is a certificate of financial responsibility that your insurer files electronically with the state DMV. Unlike SR-22, it requires double the state-minimum liability limits, which materially raises the underlying policy cost. FR-44 is triggered almost exclusively by a DUI or similar serious offense; a basic uninsured-driving citation typically still files SR-22 even in Florida and Virginia.

FR-44 vs SR-22 at a glance

• States that use FR-44: Florida and Virginia only.
• FR-44 trigger: DUI/DWI conviction or similar serious offense per state statute.
• SR-22 trigger (most states): uninsured driving, DUI, repeat moving violations, license suspension.
• FR-44 required limits (Florida): 100/300/50 liability (vs 10/20/10 state minimum).
• FR-44 required limits (Virginia): 60/120/40 liability (double the current 30/60/20 state minimum).
• Filing fee: $15 to $25 one-time per filing event (same as SR-22).
• Required duration: typically 3 years in both states.
• Lapse consequence: immediate DMV notification, license suspension.

What FR-44 actually costs

• Filing fee: $15 to $25, one-time.
• Underlying policy premium increase: higher than SR-22 because of the elevated required limits. Typical total surcharge over the clean-record baseline is 70 to 150 percent for a first-DUI shopper.
• Non-owner FR-44: $80 to $300 per month in Florida and Virginia depending on driver record and state. See our non-owner coverage question for the full breakdown.

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Carriers that file FR-44 in Florida and Virginia

• Dairyland is the standard IA-channel answer: same-day electronic FR-44 filing.
• The General writes FR-44 via its direct-to-consumer flow.
• Bristol West writes FR-44 via its IA channel. Non-owner FR-44 is a named product.
• Progressive writes FR-44 in both states; priced higher than the pure specialists.

Operational differences from SR-22

FR-44 works mechanically the same way as SR-22: your insurer files it electronically, the DMV sees the filing, your license is reinstated. The insurer must notify the DMV on any lapse or cancellation. At the end of the 3-year period, the insurer files the equivalent of the SR-26 release form. The practical difference is the dollar impact of the elevated limits, which drives the premium higher throughout the filing period.

Florida-specific FR-44 mechanics (FL Stat. §324.023)

Florida's FR-44 is codified in FL Statute §324.023 and applies to drivers whose license was revoked, canceled, or suspended for a DUI or similar statute-specified offense. Operational details Florida shoppers routinely miss:

• Trigger scope: DUI/DUBAL conviction (BAC 0.08+), DUI manslaughter, DUI with injury, and some reckless-driving-related felony reductions. A pure uninsured-driving citation (without DUI) typically triggers SR-22, not FR-44, in Florida.
• Minimum liability limits: 100/300/50 bodily injury / per accident / property damage. The 100/300 structure is roughly 10x Florida's baseline 10/20/10 state minimum.
• Duration: 3 years from the license- reinstatement date, not the conviction date.
• Reinstatement fee: Separate from the FR-44 filing itself, Florida DHSMV charges a license-reinstatement fee ($40 to $75 range) that is NOT part of your insurance bill.
• Habitual-offender escalation: A second FR-44 trigger within 10 years can extend the filing requirement to 5 years and increase the required limit above 100/300/50 at the DHSMV's discretion.

Virginia-specific FR-44 mechanics (Va. Code §46.2-472)

Virginia's FR-44 is codified in Va. Code §46.2-472. Virginia's structure is similar but materially different from Florida's:

• Trigger scope: DUI/DWI, driving on suspended license due to DUI, refusal of chemical test under implied consent, and manslaughter by vehicle.
• Minimum liability limits: 60/120/40 bodily injury / per accident / property damage. The structure is exactly 2x Virginia's current 30/60/20 state minimum (which rose from 25/50/20 in 2022).
• Duration: 3 years from the license- reinstatement date.
• Uninsured motorist payment: Virginia drivers who choose uninsured status pay a $600 annual fee to the DMV (as of 2026). This fee is NOT a substitute for FR-44; a DUI conviction requires FR-44 filing regardless of UM status.
• SR-26 equivalent: Virginia uses the same SR-26 release form at the end of the 3-year period as other states; the insurer files it automatically on policy expiration if the FR-44 period has run out.

FR-44 cost math: what the elevated limits actually add

The headline "100/300/50 required" number understates the real cost difference, because the standard SR-22 shopper most often already carries higher limits voluntarily. Walk through the three cost components:

1. The DUI surcharge itself. Most carriers surcharge 50 to 100 percent above the clean-record baseline for a first DUI, for 3 years. This is NOT an FR-44 cost; it's the DUI cost. SR-22 shoppers in other states pay the same surcharge.
2. The required-limit uplift. If you were previously on state-minimum (10/20/10 in FL or 30/60/20 in VA), moving to 100/300/50 (FL) or 60/120/40 (VA) typically adds 20 to 40 percent to the already-surcharged liability premium. If you were already at 100/300/100 voluntarily, the uplift is minimal.
3. The non-standard premium band. If no mainstream carrier will write you post-DUI, you end up on a non-standard specialist (Dairyland, The General, Bristol West). These books price 20 to 40 percent above the same risk at a mainstream carrier. This is the component most shoppers underestimate.

Realistic landing cost for a first-DUI FR-44 shopper in Florida or Virginia: 2x to 3x the pre-DUI premium for 3 years. The second-year renewal typically drops 15 to 30 percent as the surcharge rolls off slightly even while the FR-44 remains in force.

Common questions