FR-44 Insurance Playbook (FL + VA only)
FR-44 Insurance in Florida and Virginia: Higher Limits, Higher Surcharge
FR-44 is the higher-coverage cousin of SR-22, used exclusively in Florida and Virginia after DUI / DWI convictions. Florida FR-44 requires 100/300/50 liability — 4× the SR-22 minimum. Virginia requires 60/120/40. The playbook for buying FR-44 at the lowest defensible rate, why Progressive + The General dominate the FR-44 market in both states, and the timeline back to standard rates.
Premium multiplier
1.40 – 2.00×
Annual addition
$800 – $2,200 over clean-record rate
Filing fee
$15 – $50 (one-time per filing)
Typical duration
3 years from license reinstatement (Florida) or conviction date (Virginia)
Source: state DMV reinstatement orders, NAIC carrier-rate filings, and editorial review of 2024-2026 non-standard underwriting data.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Progressive
See live rates
Highest FR-44 volume in both Florida and Virginia. Typically anchors the FR-44 market price. Snapshot telematics can offset 10-15% of the FR-44 surcharge for confident drivers.
The General
See live rates
Non-standard specialist with deep FR-44 underwriting in FL and VA. Often the cheapest published FR-44 rate when Progressive declines a specific profile.
Dairyland Insurance
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Selective FR-44 underwriter. Stronger in Virginia than Florida due to underwriting model differences.
Direct General Insurance
See live rates
Florida-headquartered non-standard carrier. Among the lowest FR-44 quotes in Florida specifically; less competitive in Virginia.
Run the numbers
Predict your FR-44 premium
Plug in your age, ZIP, FICO band, and violation type to model the FR-44 surcharge above clean-record baseline in Florida or Virginia.
Open calculatorFR-44 Insurance FAQs
Is FR-44 only used in Florida and Virginia?
Yes. Florida and Virginia are the only US states that use FR-44. All other states use SR-22 (or in 3 states, alternative state-specific forms). If you have a DUI in Florida or Virginia, the court will specify FR-44 in your reinstatement order; if you move to another state during the FR-44 period, the new state will typically accept SR-22 from your new carrier to satisfy the original FR-44 obligation.
How much higher is FR-44 vs. SR-22?
5-15 percentage points more in premium surcharge, because the underlying liability limits are 4× higher. A Florida SR-22 buyer with otherwise identical profile would pay 30-60% above clean-record; the FR-44 equivalent typically pays 40-75% above. The exact gap depends on whether you'd have been carrying high liability limits anyway.
Why does Florida require 100/300/50 instead of state minimum?
Florida's standard minimum is 10/20 property damage liability + PIP (Personal Injury Protection) — among the lowest in the nation. After a DUI conviction, the state mandates FR-44's 100/300/50 to reflect the heightened risk. Virginia operates similarly: the standard state minimum is 30/60/20; the FR-44 requirement is 60/120/40.
Can I file FR-44 with my current insurance carrier?
Only if they write FR-44 — which GEICO, State Farm, and Allstate typically don't for new FR-44 cases. If you're with one of the major directs and need an FR-44 filing for a new DUI, you'll likely need to switch carriers to Progressive, The General, or a non-standard specialist who underwrites FR-44.
What happens to my FR-44 if I move out of Florida or Virginia?
Move during the FR-44 period: the new state's DMV typically accepts SR-22 from your new carrier as a substitute (SR-22 reciprocity is universal). Your original FR-44 obligation continues for the prescribed duration, but the filing form changes to whatever the new state uses. Notify the Florida DHSMV or Virginia DMV of the move within 30 days so they can update the file.
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