The Filing Florida Actually Requires After a DUI
If you got a DUI in Florida and started searching for SR22 insurance, you are looking for the wrong filing. Florida does not accept SR22 for DUI convictions. The state requires a completely different certificate called FR44, and the coverage limits are drastically higher.
Most states use SR22 for everything — DUI, driving without insurance, reckless driving, too many points. Florida is different. Florida splits its filing requirements based on what you did wrong:
- DUI/DWI conviction → FR44 required (liability limits: 100/300/50)
- Non-DUI violation (driving uninsured, excessive points, reckless driving) → SR22 required (liability limits: 10/20/10)
That is not a small difference. FR44 requires ten times the bodily injury coverage of a standard SR22 filing.
SR22 vs FR44: The Numbers Side by Side
| SR22 (Non-DUI) | FR44 (DUI) | |
|---|---|---|
| When required | Driving uninsured, excessive points, reckless driving | DUI / DWI conviction |
| Bodily injury per person | $10,000 | $100,000 |
| Bodily injury per accident | $20,000 | $300,000 |
| Property damage | $10,000 | $50,000 |
| Required duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| States that use it | Most states | Florida (100/300/50) and Virginia (100/200/50) |
What Happens If You File the Wrong One
If you file an SR22 after a Florida DUI, the Florida DHSMV will reject it. Your license will not be reinstated. You will have paid for a policy that does not satisfy the state requirement, and you will need to start over with the correct FR44 filing.
This is not a technicality the state overlooks.
Why FR44 Costs More
FR44 insurance costs more than SR22 because the coverage limits are significantly higher. You are buying ten times the bodily injury coverage. The carrier is taking on more risk, and the policy premium reflects that.
On top of the higher limits, a DUI conviction already places you in a high-risk category. Carriers factor both the conviction and the increased liability requirements into the rate.
Whether there's an SR22 filing fee — and how much — is set by your insurance carrier. Some include the filing at no extra charge; others charge a small one-time fee. We'll tell you exactly what your carrier charges before you buy.
How to Get the Right Filing
The process is straightforward once you know what you actually need:
- Confirm your violation type. Check your DHSMV records or court paperwork. If it is a DUI/DWI, you need FR44. If it is anything else (driving uninsured, reckless driving, points), you need SR22.
- Find a carrier that files FR44 in Florida. Not every insurance company handles FR44 filings. We compare 15+ carriers that do.
- Get the policy bound and filed electronically. The carrier files the FR44 certificate directly with the DHSMV. Same-day electronic filing is standard.
- Maintain continuous coverage for 3 years. Any lapse — even for a single day — triggers an automatic notification to the DHSMV. Your license gets re-suspended, and the 3-year clock may restart.
Non-Owner FR44
You do not need to own a car to satisfy the FR44 requirement. A non-owner FR44 policy provides the required 100/300/50 liability coverage when you drive borrowed, rented, or shared vehicles. It satisfies the DHSMV filing requirement without vehicle ownership and typically costs less than an owner policy.
If you acquire a vehicle during your FR44 period, you must switch to an owner policy immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Florida requires FR44 for DUI/DWI convictions, not SR22. FR44 mandates liability limits of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage — significantly higher than the standard 10/20/10 minimums. SR22 in Florida is only for non-DUI violations like driving without insurance.
SR22 covers non-DUI violations (driving uninsured, excessive points) and uses Florida's standard 10/20/10 minimum liability limits. FR44 is required specifically for DUI convictions and mandates much higher limits: 100/300/50. Filing the wrong one means your license reinstatement will be rejected by the Florida DHSMV.
Whether there's an SR22 filing fee — and how much — is set by your insurance carrier. Some include the filing at no extra charge; others charge a small one-time fee. We'll tell you exactly what your carrier charges before you buy. FR44 policies themselves cost more than SR22 because of the higher required coverage limits.
Florida requires FR44 for 3 continuous years from your license reinstatement date. Any lapse in coverage during that period triggers immediate notification to the DHSMV, license re-suspension, and the 3-year clock may restart.
Yes. A non-owner FR44 policy provides the required 100/300/50 liability coverage when driving borrowed, rented, or shared vehicles. It satisfies the DHSMV filing requirement and typically costs less than an owner policy. You must switch to an owner policy if you acquire a vehicle.
FR44 exists in only two states: Florida and Virginia. Virginia's FR44 requirements are slightly different (100/200/50 limits). Every other state uses SR22 for all violation types, including DUI.
Need FR44 or SR22 in Florida?
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