What Is FR-44 Insurance?
In Florida and Virginia, an FR-44 is a certificate of financial responsibility that some drivers need to file after a license suspension for certain offenses.
Written by Jacoba Bood
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
- What is an FR-44?
- FR-44 in Florida
- FR-44 in Virginia
- How to file an FR-44
- FR-44 insurance cost
- FR-44 insurance without a car
- FR-44 vs. SR-22
- FAQs
Load full table of contents
If your driver’s license is suspended in Florida or Virginia after a serious offense, you may be required to purchase additional
car insurance
coverage and file an FR-44 certificate with the DMV before you can get your license reinstated.- An FR-44 certificate is a form that your auto insurance company may need to file with the DMV after your license is suspended for a serious violation like driving under the influence or driving with a suspended license.
- To get an FR-44 filing, your insurance policy limits will need to be at least twice as high as your state’s minimum coverage requirements.
- Car insurance rates are significantly more expensive with an FR-44.
- An FR-44 certificate is a form that your auto insurance company may need to file with the DMV after your license is suspended for a serious violation likedriving under the influenceor driving with a suspended license.
- To get an FR-44 filing, your insurance policy limits will need to be at least twice as high as your state’s minimum coverage requirements.
- Car insurance rates are significantly more expensive with an FR-44.
What is an FR-44?
If you have a suspended driver’s license, your state may require you to file an FR-44 certificate with the DMV to get your license reinstated. This is usually required after a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI), but the list of offenses that warrant an FR-44 varies by state.
This FR-44 certificate serves as proof that your car insurance coverage limits are higher than
your state’s minimum requirements
—the amount of coverage you’ll need depends on your state’s laws.Fact check: Although you’ll often hear the term “FR-44 insurance,” this is a misnomer. An FR-44 certificate proves that you have the right amount of insurance but it’s not actually a
type of insurance
coverage.Currently, only two states use FR-44 certificates:
- Florida
- Virginia
FR-44 in Florida
An FR-44 is required in Florida if you are convicted of driving under the influence.
If you are required to file an FR-44 in Florida, you must purchase
liability coverage
with at least the following limits:- $100,000 of bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 of property damage liability per accident
This is on top of the
auto insurance requirements for all Florida drivers
, which includes mandatory personal injury protection (PIP)
with a minimum limit of $10,000.After your
suspended Florida driver’s license is reinstated
, your auto insurance policy must meet the minimum liability limits listed above for three years. You will need your insurance company to file an FR-44 certificate with the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department (FLHSMV).FR-44 in Virginia
An FR-44 certificate is required in Virginia if you are convicted of one of the following offenses:
- Maiming while under the influence
- Driving under the influence
- Driving with a forfeited license
- Breaking a federal, state, or local law similar to the ones listed above
If you are required to file an FR-44 in Virginia, you must purchase liability coverage with at least the following limits:
- $60,000 of bodily injury liability per person
- $120,000 of bodily injury liability per accident
- $40,000 of property damage liability per accident
Your insurance policy must meet these minimum liability limits for three years after your
Virginia license is reinstated
. You’ll need your car insurance company to file an FR-44 certificate with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on your behalf.How to file an FR-44
If you end up with a suspended license and need to submit an FR-44, here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
- Contact your insurance company: Inform your provider as soon as possible that you need an FR-44 certificate and ask if they will be able to file one on your behalf.
- Shop for new car insurance (if necessary): If you don’t currently have car insurance, you’ll need to find a new provider. It can be difficult to find insurance as a high-risk driver and your rates will be high, but your best bet is tocompare car insurance quotesusing an insurance comparison tool likeJerry.
- Adjust your coverage (if necessary): You may need to purchase additional liability coverage to comply with your state’s FR-44 insurance limits.
- Have your provider file your FR-44 certificate: Your insurance company can file an FR-44 electronically on your behalf.
FR-44 insurance cost
After a driver’s license suspension, most insurance companies will label you a
high-risk driver
, and you’ll see a sharp increase in your insurance rate as a result—the average rate increase after a DUI or DWI conviction is between 70% and 80%.Your exact rate increase will depend on a few things:
- Your insurance provider
- Your driving record
- The severity of your offense
- The details of your policy
If you previously had a
clean driving record discount
, for example, you will lose that benefit after your conviction—increasing your insurance rate even more.You may also need to raise your coverage limits to meet the FR-44 car insurance requirements in your state, and your insurance premium cost will go up accordingly.
Besides an insurance rate hike, there are several additional costs associated with filing an FR-44:
Fee | Description | Average charge in Florida and Virginia |
|---|---|---|
FR-44 filing fee | Paid directly to your insurance company if they file the FR-44 on your behalf | $15 to $25 |
Suspended license reinstatement fee | Paid to the DMVFee amount may vary depending on the nature of your conviction | $175 to $220 |
Conviction fine | Outlined in your state lawsFine amount varies depending on the offense | First-time DUI conviction in Florida: At least $500 First-time DUI conviction in Virginia: At least $250 |
FR-44 insurance without a car
Even if you don’t own a vehicle, you may be required to file an FR-44 certificate after a license suspension in Florida or Virginia. To do this, you will need to purchase a
non-owner car insurance policy
with the correct liability insurance limits and ask your new insurer to file an FR-44 certificate for you.Keep up on your payment—or else: It may seem silly to purchase insurance if you don’t have a vehicle, but it’s important to keep up on your policy payments to get your driving privileges reinstated. Your license will be suspended again if you let your policy lapse or cancel your coverage.
FR-44 vs. SR-22
Many states—including Florida and Virginia—require certain drivers to file an
SR-22 insurance certificate
to get a suspended license reinstated. But FR-44 certificates are currently only in use in Florida and Virginia.Here are the main differences between an FR-44 and an SR-22 in these two states:
- Type of offense: State laws dictate which offenses require an FR-44 vs an SR-22. In both Florida and Virginia, SR-22 forms are necessary after a wider range of driving violations, including reckless driving and driving uninsured.
- Coverage limits: FR-44 insurance requirements have higher coverage limits than you would with an SR-22 filing.
The filing requirements and fees may also be different, but it depends on your specific circumstances.
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FAQs
What happens if your FR-44 policy lapses?
If you cancel your policy or your
policy lapses
after submitting an FR-44 form, your insurance provider will notify the DMV. As a result, the DMV may suspend your license and leave you with even more severe restrictions or fines.How long do you need FR-44 insurance?
In both Florida and Virginia, you typically need to carry FR-44 insurance for three years, but this may vary depending on the nature of your offense and your driving record history. Check with the DMV to be sure.
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