FR-44 filing is required in only two states—Florida and Virginia—and each sets different liability minimums that standard SR-22 coverage won't satisfy. Most drivers learn this after their carrier rejects the policy they just bought.
FR-44 filing exists in exactly two states: Florida and Virginia
Florida and Virginia are the only states that require FR-44 certificates of financial responsibility. All other states use SR-22 filing for high-risk drivers, including DUI offenders. The FR-44 was created specifically for DUI-related suspensions and requires higher liability limits than SR-22.
Florida issues FR-44 requirements for DUI convictions, refusal to submit to chemical testing, and convictions for driving with a suspended license due to DUI. Virginia requires FR-44 for DUI convictions and for certain administrative license suspensions triggered by refusal or failed breath tests. Both states mandate FR-44 filing before license reinstatement can proceed.
If you were convicted in a state other than Florida or Virginia, you need SR-22 filing, not FR-44. The two filings are not interchangeable. Carriers that write FR-44 policies understand the state-specific liability floors and will structure the policy correctly.
Florida FR-44 liability minimums are $100,000/$300,000/$50,000
Florida requires FR-44 policies to carry minimum liability limits of $100,000 per person for bodily injury, $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage. These limits are expressed as 100/300/50. This is substantially higher than Florida's standard minimum liability requirement of 10/20/10 for drivers without an FR-44 obligation.
The higher limits exist because Florida statute treats DUI offenders as higher financial-responsibility risks. If your policy shows 10/20/10 or even 25/50/25 limits, the carrier cannot file a valid FR-44 certificate on your behalf. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will reject the filing and your reinstatement application will stall.
Florida FR-44 duration is typically three years from the reinstatement date for first-offense DUI. The filing period clock does not start until your license is reinstated. If you let the policy lapse or cancel coverage during the three-year FR-44 period, the carrier notifies Florida DHSMV immediately and your license is suspended again the same day.
Find out exactly how long SR-22 is required in your state
Virginia FR-44 liability minimums are $60,000/$120,000/$40,000
Virginia requires FR-44 policies to carry minimum liability limits of $60,000 per person for bodily injury, $120,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, and $40,000 for property damage. These limits are expressed as 60/120/40. Virginia's standard minimum liability for drivers without an FR-44 requirement is 30/60/20, so the FR-44 mandate doubles the floor.
Virginia DMV will reject any FR-44 filing that does not meet the 60/120/40 threshold. If you purchase a policy with Florida's 100/300/50 limits and file it in Virginia, it will be accepted because the limits exceed Virginia's minimums. The reverse is not true: a Virginia-compliant 60/120/40 policy filed in Florida will be rejected because it falls below Florida's 100/300/50 requirement.
Virginia FR-44 filing is required for three years after a DUI conviction or administrative refusal suspension. The filing period begins on the date your license is reinstated, not the conviction date. Virginia allows hardship or restricted licenses during the suspension period, but FR-44 filing must be in place before the restricted license is issued.
Non-owner FR-44 policies exist but not all carriers write them
If you do not own a vehicle at the time of reinstatement, you can satisfy the FR-44 filing requirement with a non-owner liability policy. Non-owner FR-44 policies provide the required liability limits and allow the carrier to file the certificate on your behalf, but they do not cover a vehicle you own, lease, or regularly use.
Non-owner FR-44 premiums are typically lower than standard FR-44 policies because the carrier assumes you are not the primary operator of a vehicle. If you later purchase or lease a vehicle during the FR-44 period, you must notify the carrier immediately and convert to a standard policy. Failing to disclose vehicle ownership can void coverage and trigger a lapse notification to the state.
Not all carriers that write FR-44 policies offer non-owner versions. Non-standard and high-risk carriers are more likely to write non-owner FR-44 than regional standard carriers. If you need a non-owner FR-44 policy in Florida or Virginia, expect to shop multiple carriers before finding one that will issue the policy.
FR-44 premiums reflect both the DUI surcharge and the higher liability limits
FR-44 auto insurance costs more than SR-22 coverage because the liability minimums are higher and the filing itself signals a DUI-related suspension. Typical FR-44 premiums in Florida range from $180 to $320 per month depending on age, county, prior insurance history, and whether the policy is non-owner or standard. Virginia FR-44 premiums typically range from $160 to $290 per month under similar variables.
The DUI conviction itself triggers a surcharge that lasts three to five years with most carriers, separate from the FR-44 filing requirement. Even after your three-year FR-44 period ends, the DUI surcharge may continue for an additional one to two years depending on the carrier's underwriting rules. This means your premium will remain elevated beyond the date your FR-44 obligation expires.
Some carriers front-load the annual premium and require full payment or a large down payment before issuing the policy. Others offer monthly payment plans but charge installment fees. Expect to pay a filing fee of $15 to $50 when the carrier submits the FR-44 certificate to the state, separate from the policy premium.
Standard carriers typically will not write FR-44 policies immediately post-reinstatement
Most standard auto insurance carriers—State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate—either decline to write FR-44 policies entirely or require a waiting period of one to three years after reinstatement before they will consider an application. This is a business decision based on actuarial risk, not a legal restriction.
Non-standard auto insurance carriers specialize in high-risk drivers and are the primary market for FR-44 policies immediately after reinstatement. These carriers include Bristol West, Dairyland, Acceptance, The General, and regional providers in Florida and Virginia. Non-standard carriers charge higher premiums but they will issue the policy and file the FR-44 certificate within days of application approval.
After your FR-44 period ends and your driving record stabilizes, you can shop for standard-market coverage again. Switching carriers mid-FR-44 period is allowed, but the new carrier must file an FR-44 certificate before the old policy is canceled. Any gap in FR-44 coverage—even one day—triggers automatic suspension in both Florida and Virginia.
