The General SR-22 Insurance in Florida — Cost and Filing
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The General Writes FR-44 in Florida, Not SR-22
You searched 'The General SR-22 Florida' because your suspension notice or court order told you to file proof of financial responsibility, and you're calling carriers you recognize. The General does write high-risk policies in Florida and does handle financial responsibility filings — but Florida doesn't use SR-22. Florida uses FR-44, a structurally different filing that requires $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 property damage. When you call The General's Florida line and say 'I need SR-22,' the agent will correct you and quote FR-44 instead.
This article walks The General's FR-44 filing process in Florida, cost structure specific to FR-44's higher minimums, and when The General is a realistic option versus when you'll need to shop non-standard carriers with broader FR-44 appetite. If you have a single DUI suspension and no prior lapses, The General is a strong FR-44 option. If you're reinstating after an HTO revocation or a second DUI within 5 years, The General may decline — we'll name the carriers that won't.
“Florida doesn't use SR-22. When you call The General's Florida line and say 'I need SR-22,' the agent will correct you and quote FR-44 instead.”
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Florida FR-44 Minimums
Florida Statutes § 324.023 sets FR-44 liability floors at double the bodily injury requirement of most SR-22 states. The $100k per-person floor is the reason FR-44 premiums run $80–$140/month higher than equivalent SR-22 policies in Georgia or South Carolina.
Florida Statutes § 324.023
FR-44 Applies to DUI, FTA, and Most Reinstatement Paths
Florida requires FR-44 for DUI convictions, refusal suspensions under implied consent law, and most administrative suspensions triggered by driving without insurance or license. The structural difference between SR-22 and FR-44 is liability floor: SR-22 states typically require $25,000 bodily injury per person; Florida's FR-44 demands $100,000. This triples the insurer's exposure on every policy, and carriers price accordingly.
The General's Florida FR-44 policies cover the same suspension triggers as their SR-22 offerings in other states: first-offense DUI with no prior lapses, points-related suspensions, uninsured motorist violations, and failure-to-appear suspensions where the underlying charge is resolved. The General does not write FR-44 for habitual traffic offender revocations, second DUI within 5 years of the first, or suspensions with active unpaid reinstatement fees exceeding $500. If your DHSMV account shows multiple stacked suspensions, The General may refer you to a specialty broker.
If you're reinstating after a non-DUI suspension — unpaid tickets, child support arrears, failure to appear for a civil infraction — verify with DHSMV whether FR-44 is actually required. Not all Florida suspensions trigger FR-44. License suspensions for unpaid child support under § 322.058 do not require financial responsibility filings unless the suspension also involved a driving-related violation. The General's agents will ask whether DHSMV specifically named FR-44 on your reinstatement letter.
If DHSMV's reinstatement letter does not explicitly say 'FR-44 required,' call DHSMV's reinstatement unit before paying for a policy — some suspensions reinstate with proof of liability only, no filing needed.
Cost Structure: FR-44 Adds $80–$140/Month Over Standard Liability
The General's Florida FR-44 policies typically cost $180–$310/month for suspended drivers with a first-offense DUI and no prior lapses. That range reflects the FR-44 liability floor ($100k/$300k/$50k) plus underwriting load for the suspension trigger. Drivers reinstating after points-related suspensions with no DUI see lower premiums, typically $140–$220/month, because the conviction severity is lower even though the FR-44 filing requirement is identical.
FR-44's cost delta over standard liability is structural. A 35-year-old Florida driver with a clean record pays approximately $95–$130/month for Florida's minimum PIP and property damage coverage without FR-44. The same driver, post-DUI, reinstating with FR-44, pays $180–$310/month with The General. The $80–$140 increase reflects higher bodily injury limits, suspension-trigger underwriting load, and the 3-year filing-period risk the carrier now carries. If you lapse FR-44 coverage during the 3-year period, DHSMV suspends your license again automatically — carriers price that lapse risk into every FR-44 policy from day one.
The General offers 6-month and 12-month FR-44 policy terms in Florida. Twelve-month terms lock your rate for the full year and avoid mid-term non-renewal risk, but require paying the full annual premium upfront or financing at 18–22% APR. Six-month terms renew twice per year, and The General recalculates your rate at each renewal based on your claims and violation history during the prior term. If you complete DUI school and maintain zero violations for 12 months, your second renewal premium typically drops 15–25%. The General does not offer usage-based telematics discounts on FR-44 policies in Florida.
3 years
Florida FR-44 Filing Period
Florida Statutes § 322.28 requires 3 years of continuous FR-44 coverage from the date of reinstatement for DUI convictions. The clock starts when DHSMV processes your reinstatement and restores your license — not from the conviction date or suspension start date. If you lapse coverage during the 3-year period, DHSMV suspends your license again, and the 3-year clock resets when you reinstate the second time.
Florida Statutes § 322.28
When The General Declines FR-44 and Where to Go Next
The General declines FR-44 applications for habitual traffic offender (HTO) revocations, second DUI convictions within 5 years of the first, and suspensions with unresolved administrative holds exceeding $500 in unpaid reinstatement fees. HTO revocations under Florida Statutes § 322.264 require a formal DHSMV hearing after a mandatory 1-year hard revocation period, and most standard non-standard carriers — including The General — do not underwrite policies during the hardship license phase of an HTO case. If your DHSMV record shows an HTO designation, expect The General to refer you to a specialty broker.
If The General declines your FR-44 application, contact Acceptance Insurance, Bristol West, Dairyland, or Infinity directly. All four write FR-44 in Florida for second-offense DUI, HTO hardship license holders, and drivers with stacked suspensions. Acceptance and Dairyland also write non-owner FR-44 policies for suspended drivers who do not currently own a vehicle but need to satisfy DHSMV's filing requirement to reinstate. Non-owner FR-44 costs $110–$190/month with these carriers and covers you when driving a borrowed or rental vehicle, meeting Florida's reinstatement condition without requiring you to insure a car you don't have.
Compare The General Against Acceptance, Dairyland, and Bristol West
The General is one option among several Florida FR-44 carriers. Acceptance Insurance, Bristol West, Dairyland, and Infinity all write FR-44 in Florida and all serve the same suspended-driver population. Premiums vary by $40–$90/month between carriers for identical coverage, and the lowest-cost carrier changes depending on your county, age, and conviction type. If you have a first-offense DUI in Hillsborough County and you're 28 years old, Dairyland typically quotes $20–$35/month lower than The General. If you're 42 and reinstating in Miami-Dade after a points suspension, The General often quotes lower than Bristol West.
Get quotes from all four before committing. Each carrier pulls the same DHSMV record, underwrites the same FR-44 filing requirement, and files electronically through FITS — the product is identical, only the price and payment-plan terms differ. Use Florida Suspended License Insurance's comparison tool to request quotes from all four carriers simultaneously. You'll answer the underwriting questions once, and each carrier returns a bindable quote within 24 hours.
The General's Florida FR-44 Quote and Filing Process
Start the quote at thegeneral.com or call The General's Florida line at 800-280-1466. You'll answer standard underwriting questions — license number, suspension trigger, conviction date, current address — and the system will pull your Florida driving record directly from DHSMV. The General underwrites FR-44 policies manually in Florida; expect the quote to take 10–15 minutes on the phone or 5–7 minutes online if your record is straightforward. If you have a DUI conviction in the past 12 months, the online tool may route you to a licensed agent for manual review.
Once the policy is active and premium is paid, The General files FR-44 electronically with DHSMV the same business day. Florida uses the Florida Insurance Tracking System (FITS), a real-time electronic link between carriers and DHSMV. You do not need to request the filing separately or carry a paper certificate — DHSMV receives the FR-44 data automatically and updates your reinstatement eligibility within 48 hours. The General will email a copy of the FR-44 certificate to you for your records, but DHSMV does not require you to present it. Your license record updates when FITS confirms the filing.
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Get My Florida Suspended License Insurance QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does The General file SR-22 in Florida?
The General does not file SR-22 in Florida because Florida does not use SR-22. Florida requires FR-44, a separate filing with higher liability minimums: $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 property damage. The General files FR-44 electronically with DHSMV for Florida suspended drivers.
How much does The General FR-44 cost in Florida?
The General's Florida FR-44 policies typically cost $180–$310/month for suspended drivers with a first-offense DUI. Drivers reinstating after points-related suspensions with no DUI see lower premiums, typically $140–$220/month. Cost depends on county, age, and conviction type.
How long does The General's FR-44 filing take in Florida?
The General files FR-44 electronically with DHSMV the same business day your policy activates. Florida's Insurance Tracking System (FITS) updates your reinstatement eligibility within 48 hours of the filing. You do not need to request the filing separately.
Does The General write non-owner FR-44 in Florida?
Yes. The General writes non-owner FR-44 policies in Florida for suspended drivers who do not own a vehicle but need to satisfy DHSMV's filing requirement to reinstate. Non-owner FR-44 with The General typically costs $140–$230/month and covers you when driving a borrowed or rental vehicle.
Will The General insure me if I have a second DUI in Florida?
The General declines FR-44 applications for second DUI convictions within 5 years of the first. If your second DUI occurred more than 5 years after your first, The General may quote, but approval depends on your full driving record. Acceptance Insurance, Dairyland, and Bristol West write FR-44 for second-offense DUI with no waiting period.
What happens if I let my General FR-44 policy lapse in Florida?
DHSMV suspends your license automatically when your FR-44 policy lapses. Florida uses real-time electronic reporting through FITS — the suspension happens within 48 hours of the lapse date. You must purchase a new FR-44 policy, pay a $150–$500 reinstatement fee depending on lapse count, and restart the 3-year FR-44 filing period from the new reinstatement date.
Can I switch from The General to another FR-44 carrier in Florida?
Yes. You can switch FR-44 carriers at any time during your 3-year filing period. The new carrier files FR-44 with DHSMV electronically, and the old carrier cancels your policy. There is no gap in your filing as long as the new policy activates before the old policy cancels. DHSMV tracks continuous coverage, not carrier loyalty.