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Professor of Risk Management
25+ years in insurance
Former commercial lines underwriter
Updated
FR-44 insurance isn’t a type of car insurance policy. It’s a form drivers in Florida or Virginia might need after a conviction for a major traffic violation, like driving under the influence (DUI). FR-44 forms are required by law to prove that you’re insured, and your insurance company files them with the state.
An FR-44 increases your insurance premiums because it requires significantly higher liability limits than state minimums. Below, we dive deeper into who needs an FR-44, requirements, and costs.
FR-44 coverage significantly increases liability coverage requirements, sometimes doubling the normal state-required minimum.
Virginia uses SR-22 forms in addition to FR-44 forms.
FR-44 drivers in Florida and Virginia pay a combined average of 26% more for car insurance than drivers with clean records.
FR-44 insurance is only required in two states: Florida and Virginia. High-risk drivers in these states may be required to get an FR-44 after a serious traffic offense, like a DUI.
This certificate of financial responsibility proves you meet the state minimum liability car insurance requirements and must be filed by your car insurance company with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Not all car insurance companies file FR-44s, so you may need to find a different insurer.
High-risk drivers in states other than Florida and Virginia might need an SR-22, which serves the same purpose as an FR-44, but might have lower liability limits.
Compare quotes and save money on a policy.
FR-44 insurance requirements are different in Florida and Virginia. Here’s a look at what’s needed in each state.
In Florida, drivers who need an FR-44 must carry car insurance that’s five to 15 times the standard minimum limits, depending on the coverage.[1]
The Sunshine State requires the following minimum FR-44 coverage limits:
Personal injury protection: $10,000 per person
Bodily injury liability: $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $50,000
If you have a Florida FR-44 requirement, you must maintain it for at least three years. Your car insurance policy must also be “non-cancellable,” meaning you need to keep the policy active during the required period or face legal and financial consequences, like driver’s license suspension.[2]
Florida drivers with less serious offenses on their record, like driving without insurance, may be able to get an SR-22 form instead.
The Commonwealth of Virginia doubles the minimum auto insurance requirements for drivers with FR-44s. Residents who need to file an FR-44 certificate must meet these limits:[3]
Bodily injury liability: $60,000 per person and $120,000 per accident
Property damage: $40,000
If you have an FR-44 requirement, you must keep it active for a minimum of three years. If you lie about your insurance coverage or fail to provide proof of insurance for insurance-monitoring purposes, for example, Virginia may require an SR-22 instead.
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Florida and Virginia require high-risk drivers to file an FR-44 certificate. The filing process is similar to an SR-22, but an FR-44 comes with liability coverage requirements that are significantly higher than the state minimums.
You may need an FR-44 if you’re a Florida or Virginia driver who gets a DUI or similar traffic offense.
You might have to file an SR-22 if you’re convicted of a DUI or another major traffic violation in a state other than Florida or Virginia.
You can expect a hefty premium increase if you have to file an FR-44 cetificate. The higher car insurance rate is due to your high-risk driving behavior that led to the FR-44 in the first place. And you likely have to pay a filing fee for your insurer to file the form on your behalf.
With an FR-44, you also have to buy more coverage than you may have had before. Virginia requires drivers with an FR-44 certificate to carry double the state’s standard minimum limits. Florida requires drivers with FR-44s to purchase bodily injury liability insurance, meet property damage liability requirements, and purchase the state’s personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
Here’s how car insurance costs compare in Florida and Virginia for drivers with a clean record compared to drivers who need an FR-44, based on Compare.com data.
State | Average Monthly Premium: Clean Record | Average Monthly Premium: With FR-44 Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $181 | $213 |
| Virginia | $152 | $184 |
The cost of an FR-44 is determined by your insurer and varies by location. In most cases, car insurance companies charge a one-time administrative fee between $15 and $25 to file an FR-44 on your behalf.
You may also have to pay a fee to your state, depending on your situation. For example, Florida charges a $130 reinstatement fee for DUI-related license suspensions.[4] Virginia also imposes license-reinstatement fees for serious driving offenses ranging from $145 to $220.[5]
While many top car insurance companies offer FR-44 certificates, not all of them do. The table below shows average monthly rates for FR-44 insurance from top insurers.
Company | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| USAA | $66 |
| GEICO | $102 |
See rates from America’s top insurers.
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Follow these steps to secure FR-44 insurance in Florida or Virginia:
Contact your insurer: Ask your current car insurance company if they’ll file an FR-44 certificate on your behalf.
Find another insurance company if necessary: If your insurer doesn’t offer FR-44 insurance, shop around to compare quotes from other insurance companies that offer FR-44 certificates.
Complete the form: Fill out the FR-44 form with your personal, vehicle, and insurance details.
Ask your insurance company to file: Speak to your agent or insurer about filing the FR-44 with either the Florida Department of Highway Safety (FLHSMV) or the Virginia DMV, depending on where you live. Be prepared to pay a small filing fee.
Request a written confirmation: Verify your car insurance company has fulfilled your FR-44 requirement with your state with a document that includes your car insurance policy number, FR-44 effective date, and confirmation number.
Check out these answers to commonly asked questions about FR-44 forms in Florida and Virginia.
Florida requires FR-44 forms for a minimum of three years, and your FR-44 insurance needs to be “non-cancellable.”
In Florida and Virginia, FR-44 insurance may be required for high-risk drivers who commit very serious traffic offenses, like DUIs. SR-22s may also be required in these two states for lesser offenses, like driving without insurance. In other states, SR-22s serve the same purpose as FR-44s.
Virginia state law requires FR-44 certificates to be on file for at least three years. If your FR-44 insurance lapses, you could face legal and financial consequences.
Yes, in Virginia a DUI remains on your driving record permanently. But if your DUI didn’t result in a conviction, you may be able to expunge it.[6]
If your FR-44 policy lapses before the required period of three years or more is over, you might have to pay a penalty. You could also face legal consequences, such as a driver’s license suspension.
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Professor of Risk Management
25+ years in insurance
Former commercial lines underwriter
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