Florida FR-44 Filing Replaces SR-22 for DUI Offenders
You received a DUI conviction in Florida and now need to understand the actual insurance cost you face for the next three years. The number you found online — often cited as $50–$75/month for SR-22 insurance — does not apply to you. Florida is one of only two states that requires FR-44 filing for DUI convictions, not SR-22, and the difference is not just the form name.
FR-44 mandates liability limits of $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 bodily injury per accident, and $50,000 property damage — written as 100/300/50. Standard SR-22 states allow drivers to meet the filing requirement at their state's minimum liability floor, often 25/50/25 or lower. Florida's FR-44 forces you to carry liability coverage three to four times higher than what a DUI offender in Ohio or Texas would be required to purchase. This structural difference drives the cost gap.
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Get Your Free QuoteFlorida FR-44 Liability Floor
$100,000/$300,000/$50,000
These are the minimum liability limits Florida law requires for FR-44 filing after DUI conviction. You cannot satisfy the filing requirement with lower limits, even if you find a carrier willing to write a policy below this floor.
Florida Statutes § 322.28; DHSMV FR-44 filing rules
Monthly Premium Range for FR-44 With DUI
FR-44 policies in Florida for drivers with a single DUI conviction typically cost $180–$320 per month. This range reflects the forced higher liability limits, your DUI conviction surcharge, and the non-standard or standard-tier carrier you choose. Drivers under 25 or with additional violations face premiums at the top of this range or higher. Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary by driving history, vehicle, coverage selections, and location.
The cost breaks into three components. First: the base liability premium for 100/300/50 coverage, which costs more than minimum liability in states without FR-44 requirements. Second: the DUI conviction surcharge, applied by every carrier writing post-DUI policies in Florida. Third: the FR-44 filing fee itself, typically $25–$50 as a one-time or annual charge depending on the carrier. Most carriers bundle the filing fee into the first payment or spread it across the policy term.
Non-standard carriers — Acceptance Insurance, Bristol West, Dairyland, Direct Auto, GAINSCO, The General — write the majority of FR-44 policies in Florida and price at the higher end of the range. Standard-tier carriers like Geico, Progressive, State Farm, and Nationwide write FR-44 for some DUI offenders but underwrite more selectively and may decline drivers with aggravating factors like high BAC, refusal, or accident involvement. When a standard carrier approves your application, the premium often falls $40–$80/month below non-standard quotes for identical coverage.
If you do not own a vehicle, you still need FR-44. Non-owner FR-44 policies cost $80–$160/month and satisfy DHSMV reinstatement requirements without insuring a car you do not drive.
FR-44 Filing Duration and Lapse Consequences
Your carrier electronically files the FR-44 certificate with DHSMV when your policy binds. DHSMV uses the Florida Insurance Tracking System to monitor your coverage in near-real time. If your policy cancels or lapses for non-payment, your carrier notifies DHSMV electronically within days, not weeks. DHSMV then suspends your license again immediately — no grace period applies under Florida law for FR-44 lapses tied to DUI convictions.
Reinstatement after an FR-44 lapse requires paying a $150 reinstatement fee for a first lapse, $250 for a second, and $500 for a third or subsequent lapse within three years. The three-year FR-44 filing period restarts from the new reinstatement date, extending your total filing obligation beyond the original three years. Two lapses within 18 months can push your total FR-44 requirement past five years. Monthly payment plans reduce lapse risk but often add a $5–$10 installment fee per payment.
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Carriers Writing FR-44 in Florida After DUI
Acceptance Insurance, Bristol West, Dairyland, and The General write FR-44 policies for most DUI offenders in Florida and offer online quotes. These non-standard carriers do not require a broker and can bind coverage the same day you apply. Geico, Progressive, State Farm, and Nationwide write FR-44 but underwrite DUI cases more selectively — approval depends on time since conviction, BAC level, whether an accident was involved, and your prior driving record.
Infinity and National General also write FR-44 in Florida and fall between non-standard and standard tiers for pricing. Kemper writes FR-44 but operates through independent agents rather than offering direct online quotes. USAA writes FR-44 for eligible military members and their families. Allstate writes FR-44 in Florida but quotes are typically higher than other standard carriers for DUI cases.
Start with online quotes from Geico, Progressive, and The General. If standard carriers decline or quote above $280/month, request quotes from Acceptance, Bristol West, and Dairyland. These three non-standard carriers compete aggressively for post-DUI business in Florida and often price within $20/month of each other. Do not pay for a broker to shop these carriers — all offer direct quotes online or by phone.
Florida FR-44 Filing Period
3 years
Florida Statutes § 322.28 requires FR-44 filing for three years following DUI reinstatement. This period runs from your reinstatement date, not your conviction or suspension date. Any lapse restarts the clock.
Florida Statutes § 322.28
Business Purpose License and FR-44 Interaction
Florida issues a Business Purpose Only License during your DUI suspension period after you serve the mandatory hard suspension — 30 days for a first DUI conviction with BAC suspension, 90 days for a refusal suspension. The Business Purpose Only License allows driving to and from work, school, church, medical appointments, and for business purposes required by your employer. It does not allow personal errands or recreational driving.
You must carry FR-44 insurance before DHSMV will issue the Business Purpose Only License. Most DUI offenders bind FR-44 coverage during the hard suspension period so the certificate is already on file when the hardship application window opens. DHSMV will not process your hardship application without proof of FR-44 filing. Ignition interlock installation is also required before the Business Purpose Only License is issued for most DUI cases — coordinate installation timing with your FR-44 effective date to avoid paying for coverage while the vehicle sits inoperable.
Compare Carriers Writing FR-44 in Your County
Request quotes from at least three carriers before binding coverage. FR-44 premiums vary by $60–$120/month between carriers for identical coverage and identical driver profiles. Non-standard carriers price competitively against each other but seldom undercut standard carriers when a standard carrier approves your application. If Geico or Progressive quotes below $220/month, that quote will typically beat non-standard options.
Provide accurate information when quoting — your DUI conviction date, BAC level if available, whether an accident was involved, and your complete prior driving record for the past five years. Inaccurate application information discovered during underwriting review will void your quote and force you to restart the process. Carriers verify driving records with DHSMV electronically before binding FR-44 policies. Use the comparison tool on this site to request quotes from multiple carriers simultaneously rather than visiting each carrier's website individually.