Why Your SR-22 Quote Request Was Rejected
You called three carriers asking for SR-22 quotes. Two told you they don't offer SR-22 in Florida. The third said they do SR-22 but transferred you to a specialist who explained you actually need something called FR-44. You're now wondering whether your reinstatement letter was wrong, whether the carriers are confused, or whether you've been searching for the wrong product for the past two weeks.
Florida is one of only two states that uses FR-44 certificates instead of SR-22 for DUI-related financial responsibility filings. The form itself is nearly identical — both prove you carry continuous liability coverage — but FR-44 requires substantially higher liability limits: $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage. Standard SR-22 states allow 25/50/25 or even 10/20/10 minimums. Not all carriers writing SR-22 policies nationwide are licensed to file FR-44 in Florida, which is why your quote requests hit dead ends.
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Get Your Free QuoteFlorida FR-44 Minimum Limits
100/300/50
FR-44 liability requirements are double or triple the minimums in standard SR-22 states. This drives Florida DUI insurance premiums significantly higher than comparable violations in states requiring only SR-22 filing.
Florida Statutes § 322.28, DHSMV FR-44 program rules
Nine Carriers File FR-44 Statewide in Florida
Only nine national and regional carriers are confirmed to file FR-44 certificates with Florida DHSMV across all counties: Geico, Progressive, State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate, National General, The General, Acceptance Insurance, and Bristol West. Geico, Progressive, and State Farm dominate the preferred and standard tiers. National General, The General, Acceptance, and Bristol West write non-standard policies for drivers with recent DUI convictions, multiple points, or prior lapses.
Carriers like Dairyland, Infinity, and Kemper write FR-44 policies in Florida but may restrict availability by county or require broker placement rather than direct online quotes. USAA writes FR-44 for eligible military members and their families. Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Travelers, Hartford, and Mercury General are not confirmed FR-44 writers in Florida based on carrier-published product pages — their SR-22 programs do not extend to FR-44 filing.
The carrier you choose determines whether you can get a bindable quote online in under 15 minutes or whether you'll spend three days waiting for a broker callback. It also determines whether your premium sits at $140/month or $340/month for identical coverage limits and driving history.
Most national carriers advertising SR-22 cannot file FR-44 in Florida. Requesting SR-22 quotes from the wrong carrier wastes days you may not have before your hardship hearing or reinstatement deadline.
Preferred and Standard Tier FR-44 Carriers
Geico writes FR-44 policies for first-offense DUI drivers with otherwise clean records and for drivers suspended due to insurance lapse or administrative violations. Geico's Florida FR-44 product page explicitly confirms statewide availability. Monthly premiums for a 35-year-old male with one DUI and no other violations typically range $165–$240/month for 100/300/50 liability-only coverage. Geico allows online binding for most applicants and files FR-44 electronically the same business day. Their standard tier positioning means underwriting is stricter than non-standard carriers — two DUIs within five years or a DUI combined with reckless driving may push the application to declination.
Progressive writes FR-44 across standard and non-standard tiers through their main brand and their non-standard subsidiary. Progressive's FR-44 page states availability for current and new customers in Florida and Virginia. Monthly premiums for identical driver profiles range $155–$230/month, often slightly below Geico for drivers with one violation. Progressive's Snapshot telematics program is available to FR-44 policyholders, which can reduce premiums 10–15% after the monitoring period if driving behavior qualifies. State Farm writes FR-44 for preferred-tier drivers — typically first-offense DUI with no prior violations and no lapses in the past three years. State Farm's SR-22 page confirms FR-44 filing in Florida and Virginia for situations requiring high-risk proof of insurance. Premiums for eligible drivers range $150–$210/month. State Farm requires agent contact for FR-44 quotes; online quoting is not available for high-risk filings.
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Non-Standard Tier Carriers for Multiple Violations
Drivers with two or more DUIs, a DUI combined with reckless driving or excessive points, or a DUI plus prior insurance lapse typically cannot bind coverage with Geico, Progressive, or State Farm. Four non-standard carriers write Florida FR-44 policies specifically for high-violation profiles: The General, National General, Acceptance Insurance, and Bristol West.
The General specializes in non-standard auto insurance and explicitly lists Florida DHSMV on their SR-22 state contact page, confirming FR-44 filing capability. Monthly premiums for a driver with two DUIs within five years range $280–$420/month for 100/300/50 liability. The General offers online quoting and allows monthly payment plans with no down payment requirement in most cases, which matters when reinstatement costs already include $45 base reinstatement fees plus DUI school enrollment.
National General writes FR-44 for DUI, reckless driving, and after-suspension drivers. Their DUI insurance page states SR-22/FR-44 availability and confirms multi-violation underwriting. Premiums for drivers declined by standard carriers range $260–$390/month. National General allows online binding but requires higher down payments than The General — typically 20–25% of the six-month premium.
Acceptance Insurance confirms Florida FR-44 capability on their blog and writes policies for drivers with DUI, suspended license history, and lapses. Monthly premiums range $290–$440/month depending on county and violation count. Acceptance operates through local agents rather than a centralized online portal, so quoting requires phone or in-person contact. Bristol West writes SR-22 and FR-44 policies nationwide, including Florida. Their auto-insurance product page confirms FR-44 filing. Premiums are comparable to Acceptance. Bristol West requires broker placement in most Florida counties — direct online quoting is not available.
Florida FR-44 Premium Range
$150–$440/mo
Rates vary by carrier tier, violation count, county, age, and coverage selections. First-offense DUI drivers with clean prior records pay $150–$240/month through standard carriers. Two or more DUIs push premiums to $280–$440/month through non-standard carriers.
Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary
Filing Speed and Electronic Certificate Delivery
DHSMV receives FR-44 certificates electronically through the Florida Insurance Tracking System. Geico, Progressive, State Farm, The General, and National General file electronically within one business day of policy binding. Your DHSMV record updates automatically — you do not need to mail or deliver a paper certificate unless you are filing out-of-state and Florida requires manual submission.
Acceptance Insurance and Bristol West may require 2–3 business days for electronic filing depending on local agent workflow. If your hardship license hearing is scheduled within five business days or your reinstatement window closes soon, confirm filing speed with the agent before binding. Some drivers have had hardship applications denied because the FR-44 certificate had not yet posted to their DHSMV record at the time of the hearing, even though the policy was bound three days prior.
Compare Rates Across All FR-44 Carriers in Your County
FR-44 premiums vary by $100–$180/month between carriers for identical coverage and driver profiles. The General may quote $320/month for a two-DUI driver in Hillsborough County while Progressive quotes $195/month for the same driver — or Progressive may decline entirely and The General becomes the only bindable option. You won't know which carrier offers the lowest rate until you request quotes from all nine confirmed FR-44 writers.
Start with Geico, Progressive, and State Farm if you have one DUI and no other violations in the past three years. Request quotes from The General, National General, and Acceptance if standard carriers decline or quote above $250/month. Confirm the carrier can file FR-44 electronically and ask how many business days filing takes before you bind. Your DHSMV reinstatement or hardship eligibility depends on that certificate posting before your deadline.