What Is an FR-44 Form?

An FR-44 form is a certificate of financial responsibility required only in Florida and Virginia, issued after serious violations like a DUI or reckless driving and mandates liability coverage limits double the state minimums. While similar to an SR-22, an FR-44 is distinct in the severity of the violations it addresses and the higher coverage requirements. The filing process is stricter than standard insurance and stays on your record for three to five years depending on the violation.

An FR-44 requires double the state minimum liability limits in Florida and Virginia. An SR-22, used in 48 other states, only requires the state minimum, which means a lower premium floor. Florida and Virginia reserve the FR-44 for their most serious violations, such as DUI convictions, breathalyzer refusals and DUI-related license suspensions. Drivers required to file an FR-44 see rates increases of 50% to 200%, compared to 25% to 50% for SR-22 filers.

An FR-44 in Florida requires $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability (BIL), 10 times the state's standard $10,000/$20,000 BIL minimum. Virginia's FR-44 requires $60,000 per person and $120,000 per accident in BIL, double the state's standard $30,000/$60,000 minimum, per the Virginia DMV. An SR-22 in other states only requires the state's standard minimum liability limits, allowing filers to pay less for the coverage floor.

Florida and Virginia both require FR-44 after DUI convictions but differ on coverage limits, filing fees and which other violations trigger the requirement.

What results an FR-44 in both Florida and Virginia are a first-time DUI or DWI conviction, refusal of a chemical test during a DUI arrest and driving with a license suspended for a prior DUI. In Florida, vehicular manslaughter involving alcohol also results in an FR-44. 

A driver who causes an accident without insurance gets an SR-22, not an FR-44. The distinction matters because FR-44 carriers price the risk differently than SR-22 carriers.

Your insurer files the FR-44 electronically and there's no separate application you complete. Buy a qualifying policy and pay the first premium, then your insurer submits the certificate to your state's DMV within 24 to 48 hours. You'll also need your driver's license number, court documents confirming the FR-44 requirement and payment for the premium and filing fee. Keep copies of all documents for the full three-year required period.

• Valid driver's license or state-issued ID
• Court documents specifying the FR-44 requirement and duration
• Previous insurance information if you had prior coverage
• Payment method for the premium and filing fees

FR-44 drivers in Florida pay an average of $2,431 per year for full coverage, reflecting the cost of carrying double the state minimum liability limits plus a high-risk classification in your insurer's underwriting file. Filing fees add $148 in Florida and $77 in Virginia on top of that premium. Insurers also charge a separate processing fee of $15 to $25 to file the form. An SR-22 in another state costs less because it only requires the state minimum limits, not doubled coverage.

Total Annual Costs by State:

• Florida: $1,800 to $3,200 (including $148 filing fee)
• Virginia: $1,200 to $2,400 (including $77 filing fee)

Drivers with a DUI pay more, but rates vary enough between insurers that shopping produces real savings. State Farm averages $1,775 per year for FR-44 drivers in Florida. In Virginia, Virginia Farm Bureau averages $924 per year. Compare quotes from at least three FR-44 carriers before committing.

For drivers struggling to find coverage through standard providers, explore quotes from high-risk insurance companies as they specialize in policies for drivers with DUIs and other driving violations.

Florida and Virginia require FR-44 filing even if you don't own a vehicle, and a non-owner car insurance policy meets the requirement. A non-owner FR-44 policy in Florida must carry $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability (BIL), the same limits as a standard FR-44 policy. You must keep that non-owner coverage active for three years from your conviction date, regardless of how often you drive.

Non-owner FR-44 coverage follows you as a driver rather than a specific vehicle. Non-owner FR-44 covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others when driving borrowed, rented or employer-owned vehicles. The policy doesn't include comprehensive or collision coverage since you don't own a vehicle to protect.

The carrier you choose for FR-44 coverage in Florida or Virginia determines your annual cost more than any other factor. State Farm averages $1,775 per year for FR-44 drivers in Florida; Virginia Farm Bureau averages $924 per year in Virginia. Coverage must stay active for three years from your conviction date, so avoid a lapse which suspends your license and notifies the DMV within 24 hours. Get quotes from at least three FR-44 specialists before committing.

MoneyGeek compiled rate data from Quadrant Information Services, evaluating 20,764 quotes from 46 insurance providers across 473 ZIP codes in Florida and Virginia. Rates reflect a 40-year-old male driver with a Toyota Camry LE. The profile assumes 12,000 miles annually and full coverage. The baseline profile uses a clean driving record; a DUI violation is applied separately to generate high-risk rate comparisons. All rates include $100,000 bodily injury liability per person and $300,000 per accident, plus $100,000 property damage liability and a $1,000 deductible, unless noted otherwise. Individual rates will vary based on location, age, vehicle type and driver profile. MoneyGeek's full methodology page covers all rating variables and data sourcing in detail.