By Renata Alves · Senior Editor
Published · Updated
Answer in brief
Florida requires an FR-44 certificate from drivers convicted of DUI. It works like an SR-22—your insurer files proof of coverage with the state—but the required limits are far higher: $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage, for three years from licence reinstatement. The filing fee is modest; the cost comes from the high limits combined with high-risk rating. Not every insurer files FR-44s, so confirm that before requesting a quote. Florida's SR-22 is a separate, lower-limit filing used for other violations.
FR-44 vs SR-22 in Florida
| FR-44 | SR-22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Triggered by | DUI conviction | Other violations: driving uninsured, at-fault uninsured crash, excessive points |
| Required limits | 100/300 BI, $50,000 PD | 10/20 BI, $10,000 PD |
| Duration | 3 years from reinstatement | 3 years |
| Premium payment | Often required in full or non-cancellable terms | Normal payment plans |
Getting one filed
Ask each insurer two questions before anything else: do you file FR-44s in Florida, and do you have a policy for my situation. Once you bind a policy with the required limits, the insurer sends the certificate electronically; reinstatement can usually proceed within a day or two. If you do not own a car, a non-owner policy can carry the filing.
Cost expectations
The FR-44's 100/300/50 limits are around ten times the state minimum, and a DUI typically places a driver in the high-risk tier. The combination commonly produces premiums two to three times what the driver paid before. Because insurers weight both factors differently, quotes for the same FR-44 driver vary widely—comparing several is more valuable here than for any other Florida driver.
Questions & answers
How long do I need an FR-44 in Florida?
Three years from the date your licence is reinstated.
Can I lower the limits after a year?
No. The 100/300/50 limits must be maintained for the full filing period.
Does the FR-44 itself cost a lot?
The filing fee is small. The premium behind it is what costs—because of the high limits and high-risk rating.
Terms used in this guide
- FR-44
- Florida's certificate of financial responsibility required after a DUI. Requires 100/300 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage liability for three years.
- SR-22
- A filing proving you carry at least Florida's minimum liability coverage, required after certain non-DUI violations such as driving uninsured. Lower limits than the FR-44.
- Financial responsibility
- The legal obligation to be able to pay for damage you cause while driving, satisfied by insurance meeting state requirements.
- High-risk driver
- An insurer's classification for a driver whose record predicts above-average claims—accidents, violations, a DUI or a coverage lapse.
Sources and references
Legal figures on this page (minimum limits, filing periods, statutory benefits) are checked against the primary law or the state insurance regulator listed below. Links and figures last verified Nov 2026.
- Fla. Stat. § 627.736 — required personal injury protection benefits — Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine), Fla. Stat. § 627.736Primary lawPIP: $10,000 medical and disability benefits, $5,000 death benefit; 80% of reasonable medical expenses, 60% of lost income; initial care within 14 days; $2,500 cap without an emergency medical condition.
- Fla. Stat. § 324.022 — property damage liability requirement — Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine), Fla. Stat. § 324.022Primary lawEvery owner must maintain at least $10,000 property damage liability (or a $30,000 combined single limit with PIP).
- Fla. Stat. § 324.023 — financial responsibility after a DUI conviction — Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine), Fla. Stat. § 324.023Primary lawAfter a DUI conviction (since 1 Oct 2007): $100,000 per person / $300,000 per crash bodily injury and $50,000 property damage, maintained for three years from reinstatement — the FR-44 requirement.
- Automobile financial responsibility limits by state — Insurance Information Institute (2023)Statistical dataCompulsory coverages and minimum liability limits by state (table dated December 2023 — several states have raised limits since; see statute entries).
- Facts + Statistics: Alcohol-impaired driving — Insurance Information InstituteStatistical dataAlcohol-impaired crash fatalities, BAC thresholds and state ignition-interlock context.
- Consumer insurance information — National Association of Insurance CommissionersConsumer guidancePlain-language guides from the body of state insurance regulators; links to every state's insurance department and complaint process.
- What if I can't find auto coverage? — Insurance Information InstituteConsumer guidanceHow the non-standard market and state assigned-risk plans insure drivers the voluntary market declines.
- Is it legal to drive without insurance? — Insurance Information InstituteConsumer guidanceEvery state requires drivers to demonstrate financial responsibility; in most states insurance is the mandatory way to do so.
Practical guidance on this page is original editorial work. Cited sources support factual statements and do not endorse this site. Dollar ranges described as typical or illustrative are editorial estimates, not figures from these sources.
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