Florida SR-22 & FR-44 Insurance: Rules, Costs, Filing

By SR22 Helper · Updated October 2026 · Last reviewed: October 2026 · Sources checked

Florida is one of only two states that split high-risk filings in two - and filing the wrong one will stall your license reinstatement. If your violation didn't involve DUI, you'll likely need an SR-22, which certifies Florida's standard financial-responsibility limits. But if you were convicted of DUI, Florida requires the stricter FR-44 instead, with liability limits roughly ten times higher. Both are certificates your insurer files with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) - neither is an insurance policy by itself. FLHSMV

The numbers tell the story. An SR-22 in Florida typically certifies 10/20/10 liability limits plus $10,000 in personal injury protection - the same minimums tied to the state's financial responsibility law. An FR-44 after a DUI must certify $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash in bodily injury liability plus $50,000 in property damage (or $350,000 combined single limits), and it has to stay on file for three years from the date your driving privilege is reinstated. FLHSMV FLHSMV

This guide explains both filings side by side: which one applies to your situation, who needs each, what they cost, how long they last, the exact limits, non-owner options, the step-by-step filing process, and what happens if your coverage lapses. All rules below come from FLHSMV's official pages; cost figures come from published 2026 comparisons. General information only - your FLHSMV notice controls your specific case.

SR-22 and FR-44 in Florida: the basics

Both the SR-22 and the FR-44 are certificates of financial responsibility filed by your insurer with FLHSMV - official proof that you're carrying the liability coverage the state demands after a serious violation. Neither one is a standalone insurance product. You buy an auto policy (or non-owner policy) with the required limits, and the insurer certifies those limits to the state with the appropriate form. Filing the wrong form - say, an SR-22 when your DUI requires an FR-44 - won't satisfy the requirement and will delay your reinstatement. FLHSMV

Florida's split dates to late 2007. For DUI convictions after October 1, 2007, state law requires the higher FR-44 limits instead of the old SR-22 standard - a deliberate move to make drivers convicted of impaired driving carry far more coverage. The SR-22 remains in use, but strictly for non-DUI situations: uninsured crashes, driving without insurance, and other license actions unrelated to alcohol or drugs. FLHSMV

One more Florida fundamental: the state is a no-fault state, so every driver must carry $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) plus $10,000 in property damage liability just to register a car. The SR-22 and FR-44 filings sit on top of that baseline - they add the bodily-injury liability certification that Florida's financial responsibility law demands after qualifying violations. FLHSMV

SR-22 vs FR-44 in Florida: which one do you need?

The dividing line is simple: DUI means FR-44; most other serious violations mean SR-22. If you were convicted of driving under the influence after October 1, 2007, FLHSMV requires form FR-44 with the elevated 100/300/50 limits, maintained for three years from the date your driving privilege is reinstated. There's no opting for the cheaper SR-22 instead - the statute sets the FR-44 as the required proof for DUI cases. FLHSMV

The SR-22 covers the non-DUI side: at-fault crashes while uninsured, driving without the required insurance, and license suspensions tied to financial-responsibility violations. In the crash scenario FLHSMV describes in detail, an at-fault driver in an injury crash who lacked proper coverage must buy 10/20/10 liability coverage plus an SR-22 filing for three years from the suspension date. Same three-year theme, very different limits. FLHSMV

Here's a comparison at a glance:

• **Trigger:** SR-22 for non-DUI violations (uninsured crash, no insurance, suspensions); FR-44 for DUI convictions after 10/1/2007.
• **Bodily injury limits:** SR-22 certifies $10,000 per person / $20,000 per crash; FR-44 certifies $100,000 per person / $300,000 per crash (or $350,000 combined single limit).
• **Property damage:** SR-22 certifies $10,000 per crash; FR-44 certifies $50,000 per crash.
• **Duration:** SR-22 for three years from the suspension date in crash cases; FR-44 for three years from reinstatement.
• **Reinstatement fee:** around $15 in SR-22 crash cases; $150 to $500 for DUI/FR-44 reinstatement.

FLHSMV FLHSMV

When in doubt, read your FLHSMV letter literally. If it says FR-44, buy the FR-44 limits. The department checks the certified limits against the statute, and a shortfall means starting over.

Who needs an SR-22 in Florida (non-DUI cases)

Florida's SR-22 is aimed at drivers whose violations show they can't be trusted to carry insurance on their own - but didn't involve impaired driving. The clearest example comes straight from FLHSMV's crash guidance: if you're the at-fault driver in a crash with injuries (or possible injuries) noted on the report, and you didn't have the required full liability coverage in effect, the department requires you to buy 10/20/10 coverage plus an SR-22 filing for three years from the suspension date. Your insurer must certify that filing directly with the department. FLHSMV

Driving without insurance is the other classic SR-22 trigger. Florida requires every registered vehicle to carry PIP and property damage liability, and getting caught without it - or having your registration suspended for a lapse - can lead to an SR-22 requirement as part of getting your driving privilege back. License suspensions tied to financial-responsibility violations generally work the same way: the state wants monitored proof before it hands you back your license. FLHSMV

Note the crash-case extras. In the at-fault injury-crash scenario, the SR-22 isn't the only requirement - FLHSMV also requires you to get releases from the other parties for their damages or post a security deposit with the department in the amounts on your suspension notice, plus pay a $15 reinstatement fee where applicable. The SR-22 proves future responsibility; the releases or deposit settle the past crash. FLHSMV

If your case involved DUI, stop here and read the FR-44 sections instead - an SR-22 won't satisfy a DUI reinstatement, no matter what limits it certifies.

The filing fee in Florida

The certificate filing itself is inexpensive: insurers typically charge a one-time $15 to $25 fee to prepare and submit the SR-22 or FR-44 to FLHSMV. That fee is separate from your premium and is paid when the policy is issued. WalletHub

The state fees are where Florida gets more expensive than the filing fee suggests. In SR-22 crash cases, FLHSMV lists a $15 reinstatement fee. For DUI reinstatements requiring the FR-44, the reinstatement fee runs between $150 and $500 depending on the violation history - plus administrative fees, revocation reinstatement fees, and license fees on top. A first-time DUI also brings a six-month to one-year revocation before you can even apply for reinstatement. FLHSMV FLHSMV

DUI cases carry further costs beyond the department: required DUI program enrollment or completion, possible ignition interlock device installation, and court fines. When budgeting for an FR-44, the $15-$25 filing fee is the least of it - plan for the reinstatement fees, the program costs, and the substantially higher premiums that come with 100/300/50 limits. And as always, a lapse means paying filing and reinstatement fees all over again.

How long each filing lasts in Florida

Three years is the rule for both filings, but the clocks start at different moments. For the SR-22 in crash-related cases, FLHSMV requires the filing for three years from the designated suspension date - the date the department's action took effect, not the date you got around to buying the policy. For the FR-44 after a DUI, the three years run from the date of reinstatement of your driving privilege. FLHSMV FLHSMV

That distinction matters for planning. In a DUI case, the revocation period (six months to a year for a first offense, longer for serious-injury cases) comes first; the three-year FR-44 clock starts when you actually get your privilege back, whether through a hardship license or full reinstatement. Don't count the revocation months toward the three years. FLHSMV

The no-lapse rule applies in full. If your policy cancels mid-period, your insurer notifies FLHSMV, your license and registration can be suspended again, and you'll be re-filing and re-paying fees. At the end of the three years, confirm with FLHSMV that the requirement is satisfied before you let the filing drop - the department's records, not your calendar, are what counts.

One caution for DUI drivers considering waiting it out: the FR-44 requirement doesn't evaporate with time. If you want your driving privilege back, the filing is part of the reinstatement package whenever you apply - there's no shortcut around the three years of certified coverage.

Minimum limits: SR-22 vs FR-44 in Florida

Here's where the two filings diverge dramatically. For the SR-22, FLHSMV's crash guidance sets the requirement at minimum limits of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per crash in bodily injury liability, plus $10,000 in property damage liability per crash - with $10,000 in personal injury protection per person per crash alongside. That's the 10/20/10 plus PIP package tied to Florida's financial responsibility law. FLHSMV

For the FR-44 after a DUI conviction (post-October 1, 2007), the bar jumps roughly tenfold: bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash, plus $50,000 in property damage liability per crash - or combined single limits of $350,000. Those are the figures in section 324.023 of the Florida Statutes, and FLHSMV enforces them at reinstatement. Your insurer's FR-44 certification has to show every one of those numbers. FLHSMV

For context, Florida's baseline for ordinary drivers is just $10,000 PIP and $10,000 property damage liability - bodily injury liability isn't even required for a standard registration. The SR-22 adds the 10/20/10 bodily injury certification; the FR-44 catapults it to 100/300/50. That gap is exactly why FR-44 premiums run so much higher than SR-22 premiums: the insurer is on the hook for up to ten times the bodily injury payout. FLHSMV

When you buy the policy, verify the declarations page matches your required filing line by line before the insurer certifies it. An FR-44 filed on 10/20/10 limits is a wasted filing.

Violations that trigger each filing in Florida

On the SR-22 side, the triggers are serious but non-alcohol-related. The textbook case is the at-fault injury crash without proper insurance: FLHSMV's financial responsibility law requires the at-fault owner or driver to have had full liability coverage in effect at the time of the crash, and failing that test brings the three-year SR-22 requirement plus the releases-or-deposit and fee obligations. Driving without the mandatory PIP/property-damage coverage, repeat insurance violations, and license suspensions rooted in financial-responsibility failures round out the SR-22 list. FLHSMV

On the FR-44 side, the trigger is a DUI conviction. FLHSMV's DUI guidance is explicit: for convictions after October 1, 2007, reinstatement requires form FR-44 at the elevated limits, maintained for three years from reinstatement. A first-time DUI brings a six-month to one-year revocation (at least three years if serious injury was involved), and before the revocation ends you may apply for a hardship license - but the FR-44 is still part of the package when your privilege is restored, hardship or full. FLHSMV

DUI reinstatement also involves steps beyond insurance: required exams, administrative and reinstatement fees, and proof of DUI program enrollment or completion (with cancellation of the license if the course isn't completed within 90 days after reinstatement). An ignition interlock device may be required as well. The FR-22 filing proves financial responsibility; the other steps prove you've addressed the underlying offense. FLHSMV

Bottom line: match the filing to the violation. Non-DUI financial-responsibility cases get the SR-22 at 10/20/10; DUI convictions get the FR-44 at 100/300/50. Your FLHSMV notice names the right one.

Non-owner SR-22 and FR-44 options in Florida

You can satisfy either filing without owning a car. Florida insurers offer non-owner policies - liability-only coverage that follows you as a driver rather than covering a specific vehicle - and both the SR-22 and FR-44 certifications can be attached to one. That's the compliant path for drivers whose license was suspended but who need to drive borrowed or rented cars, for example to get to work. WalletHub

The limits don't shrink just because the policy is non-owner. A non-owner SR-22 still certifies the 10/20/10 plus PIP package, and a non-owner FR-44 still has to certify the full 100/300/50 (or $350,000 combined single limit). The savings come from the policy structure - no vehicle means no collision or comprehensive exposure for the insurer - not from reduced liability limits. Because the FR-44 limits are so high, a non-owner FR-44 still costs substantially more than a non-owner SR-22. FLHSMV

Practical notes: not every Florida insurer handles non-owner filings, so ask specifically whether the carrier can certify an SR-22 or FR-44 on a non-owner policy with FLHSMV. The three-year clock and the no-lapse rule apply identically. And if you acquire a vehicle during the requirement period, convert to an owner policy immediately and have the filing re-certified - a non-owner certificate doesn't cover a car you own.

For DUI drivers facing the FR-44, the non-owner route is often the most affordable way to satisfy the requirement while suspended, since you're paying for high limits without also insuring a vehicle.

Typical SR-22 and FR-44 costs in Florida

Florida's SR-22 premiums are among the lowest in the country in published comparisons - the lowest-cost carrier surveyed for a minimum-coverage SR-22 policy in Florida averaged $295 per year. But that's the cheapest option found for the standard SR-22, not a typical bill and definitely not an FR-44 price. Nationally, SR-22 coverage averages roughly $741 to $1,465 per year versus about $720 for standard coverage, with the violation behind the filing driving most of the variation. WalletHub WalletHub

Expect FR-44 premiums to run much higher than SR-22 premiums for the same driver. The math is straightforward: the insurer's maximum bodily-injury exposure jumps from $20,000 per crash to $300,000, and property damage from $10,000 to $50,000. Higher limits plus a DUI conviction - one of the most expensive rating factors in auto insurance - compound into a substantially larger premium. No published average captures your price; it depends on the insurer, your record, your age, and where in Florida you live. FLHSMV

What you can control: shop at least three Florida-licensed insurers that handle your specific filing (some carriers don't write FR-44s at all), ask about every available discount, consider a non-owner policy if you don't have a car, and re-shop at each renewal. DUI program completion and a clean record during the three years help rates recover afterward. And budget the full picture - reinstatement fees of $150 to $500, DUI program costs, and possible interlock expenses sit on top of the premium for FR-44 drivers. FLHSMV

How to get filed in Florida: step by step

Step 1: Read your FLHSMV notice and identify the filing Confirm whether you need an SR-22 or an FR-44, the required limits, the start date of your three-year period, and any reinstatement fees. If it says FR-44, everything you buy must meet the 100/300/50 standard. [FLHSMV](https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/dui-and-iid/dui-faqs/)

Step 2: Find a Florida-licensed insurer that handles your filing Not all carriers write SR-22s, and fewer write FR-44s. Ask directly whether the insurer can certify your specific form with FLHSMV before you get deep into quoting. [WalletHub](https://wallethub.com/edu/ci/best-sr22-insurance/96954)

Step 3: Buy a policy at the required limits For an SR-22: at least 10/20/10 liability plus $10,000 PIP. For an FR-44: at least 100/300/50 (or $350,000 combined single limit). Non-owners buy a non-owner policy at the same limits. Pay the $15-$25 filing fee. [FLHSMV](https://flhsmv.gov/insurance/involved-in-a-crash/) [WalletHub](https://wallethub.com/answers/ci/geico-sr22-cost-1000128-2140749906/)

Step 4: The insurer certifies the filing with FLHSMV The insurer - not you - submits the SR-22 or FR-44 certification to the department's Bureau of Motorist Compliance. In crash cases, separately handle the releases or security deposit and the $15 reinstatement fee; in DUI cases, complete the required exams, pay the $150-$500 reinstatement fee, and show DUI program enrollment or completion. [FLHSMV](https://flhsmv.gov/insurance/involved-in-a-crash/) [FLHSMV](https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/education-courses/dui-and-iid/dui-faqs/)

Step 5: Verify, then maintain for three years Confirm FLHSMV shows your filing as accepted and your privilege as valid before you drive. Keep the policy continuously active - autopay, early renewals, current address - for the full three years, and confirm the end date with the department before dropping the filing.

What happens if your coverage lapses in Florida

A lapse during your filing period unwinds everything. Your insurer notifies FLHSMV that the certified coverage ended, and the department can suspend your driver license, tags, and registration until a new filing is in place. You'll need a fresh SR-22 or FR-44 certification, new reinstatement fees, and you'll effectively be restarting the compliance clock - all while unable to drive legally. FLHSMV

For FR-44 drivers the fallout is worse because the restart is so expensive. Re-establishing 100/300/50 coverage means another round of high premiums, another $150-$500 reinstatement fee, and another three years of monitored coverage from the new reinstatement date. A single missed payment can easily cost thousands of dollars in total consequences - which is why autopay and renewal reminders aren't optional extras for FR-44 filers. FLHSMV

Lapses are usually mundane: an expired card, a renewal notice missed during a move, a carrier switch where the old policy was canceled before the new filing was confirmed. Florida's system is particularly unforgiving of the carrier-switch gap because the department tracks filings directly - if the new certification isn't on file when the old one cancels, the suspension machinery starts. Always confirm the replacement filing is accepted before canceling anything.

If money gets tight, call your insurer before you miss a payment. Adjusting a payment schedule or restructuring the policy is almost always cheaper than a lapse, and some insurers would rather work with you than file the cancellation. For crash-case SR-22 drivers, remember the lapse also jeopardizes whatever release or deposit arrangements you made - keep every piece of the compliance package intact for the full three years.