FR-44 Insurance in Florida and Virginia: Higher Limits, Higher Surcharge

What it is

The plain-English explanation

An FR-44 is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility used in Florida and Virginia only, filed after a DUI/DWI conviction. Like SR-22, it's a filing — not a separate product — but it requires materially higher liability limits than SR-22. Florida FR-44 mandates 100/300/50 liability ($100k bodily injury per person, $300k bodily injury per accident, $50k property damage). Virginia mandates 60/120/40. Both are well above the state's standard minimums and well above the SR-22 minimum used in other states.

Who accepts, who declines

The carrier landscape for your profile

Same carrier landscape as SR-22 but the math is harsher. Major direct carriers (GEICO, State Farm, Allstate) almost universally decline new FR-44 applicants — the elevated liability limits + the underlying DUI risk combination triggers their hardest declines. Progressive and The General dominate the FR-44 market in both Florida and Virginia by volume. Dairyland and Direct Auto also write FR-44 selectively. The premium surcharge typically runs 5-15 percentage points higher than the same driver's SR-22 surcharge would be in another state because of the higher coverage limits.

5-Step Playbook

The shopping playbook for your profile

1. 1

   Verify the FR-44 vs. SR-22 distinction with your court order

   Florida and Virginia DUI cases typically require FR-44 specifically — but some lower-tier violations (suspended license, multiple at-fault) in those states still use SR-22. Verify which filing your court order specifies before pre-qualifying with carriers. Quoting FR-44 when only SR-22 is required overstates your premium by 25-40%.

2. 2

   Pre-qualify with Progressive + The General first

   Both carriers absorb the majority of FR-44 volume in Florida and Virginia. Their quotes typically anchor the market — other FR-44 underwriters price 5-20% above the Progressive/General benchmark. Get both pre-quals before approaching any specialty broker.

3. 3

   Accept the higher liability limits as permanent

   Even after the FR-44 period ends, many FL + VA drivers find they can't easily downgrade to state minimum liability because their MVR record still shows the underlying DUI. Plan for the 100/300/50 (FL) or 60/120/40 (VA) liability tier to be your baseline for at least 5-7 years post-conviction. Build the budget for the higher limits, not the FR-44 surcharge layered on standard minimums.

4. 4

   Maintain continuous coverage — gaps trigger re-suspension

   Same rule as SR-22 but harsher consequences in Florida and Virginia. Both states' DMVs run automated cross-checks against insurance carrier filings; any lapse triggers automatic license suspension within 10-20 days. Auto-pay from day one is non-negotiable.

5. 5

   Re-shop at FR-44 release

   At the end of the FR-44 period, your carrier files the release. Most major carriers (GEICO, State Farm) become quotable again — but only in the standard-tier at the high-limit threshold. Don't expect a dramatic drop — the underlying DUI on your MVR still triggers a 20-40% surcharge for an additional 2-4 years. The big drop comes when the DUI itself ages off (typically 5-10 years from conviction depending on state).

Editor-vetted shortlist

Carriers that fit your driver profile

Ranked by editorial fit for your profile. Pre-qualify with several within a 14-day window so FICO treats them as a single inquiry.

All 8 driver-profile playbooks