What Is an FR-44? Florida and Virginia's DUI Insurance Filing

An FR-44 is a certificate an insurance company files with the state to show that a driver convicted of a DUI-related offense carries liability coverage above the normal state minimum. Florida and Virginia are the two states covered here that use it ¹⁴. It works like an SR-22, in that the insurer certifies the coverage to the state, but the coverage limits it certifies are higher.

In Florida, the FR-44 requirement comes from Section 324.023 of the Florida Statutes and generally lasts at least three years ¹. In Virginia, the DMV says FR-44 limits are double the SR-22 limits, and state law ties the requirement to a three-year period ⁴⁵. As with any filing a state orders, the DMV and the court involved are the authorities for an individual case.

Both are certifications an insurer provides to the state, and the Virginia DMV, for example, accepts financial responsibility certifications from insurers electronically ⁴. Both confirm that a liability policy is in force. The difference is the amount of coverage behind them.

An SR-22 generally certifies that a driver carries the state's minimum liability coverage. An FR-44 certifies coverage well above that minimum, because state law requires drivers convicted of DUI-related offenses to carry more liability coverage ¹⁵.

Neither form is a type of insurance by itself. The policy is the insurance; the filing is the insurer's report to the state.

Section 324.023 applies to the owner or operator of a vehicle registered or located in Florida who was found guilty of, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, a DUI charge under Section 316.193 after October 1, 2007, whether or not adjudication was withheld ¹. Those drivers must carry liability coverage of at least ¹:

• $100,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in one crash ¹
• $300,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one crash, subject to the one-person limit ¹
• $50,000 for property damage in one crash ¹

A driver who uses a certificate of deposit instead of a policy must deposit at least $350,000 ¹.

For comparison, Florida's general proof of financial responsibility amounts in Section 324.021 are $10,000 for bodily injury to one person, $20,000 for two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage ².

How long in Florida. The statute says the higher limits must be maintained for at least three years. A driver is exempt once three years pass from the date driving privileges were reinstated without a further DUI or felony traffic conviction ¹.

Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also warns that a gap in required coverage can lead to suspension of the driving privilege and license plate for up to three years and a reinstatement fee of up to $500 ³. More on how Florida regulates auto insurance is on our Florida page.

The Virginia DMV lists the convictions that require an FR-44: maiming while under the influence, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while a license is forfeited, and similar violations of federal, other-state or local laws ⁴. The requirement applies to convictions on or after January 1, 2008 ⁴.

The DMV says "FR-44 liability insurance coverage limits are double the SR-22 insurance coverage limits." ⁴ Section 46.2-316 of the Code of Virginia sets the rule: limits "not less than double the minimum limits" in Section 46.2-472 ⁵. For policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, Virginia's minimums are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage ⁶. An FR-44 policy must carry at least twice each of those minimum limits, and the insurer filing the FR-44 can confirm the exact limits that apply ⁴⁵.

How long in Virginia. Under Section 46.2-316, the DMV may not issue or reinstate a license for a period of three years after the driver otherwise becomes eligible unless the driver provides proof of financial responsibility in the future at those doubled limits ⁵.

An FR-44 policy may cost more than a minimum-limits policy for two reasons. The limits are higher, and the DUI-related conviction behind the filing is part of the driving record insurers use in pricing. Not every insurer may offer FR-44 filings, so it is worth asking specifically.

Before buying, it helps to confirm three things with the state and the insurer:

1. Which form the state requires (FR-44 or SR-22) and the exact start and end date of the requirement.
2. That the policy's liability limits meet the FR-44 amounts, not only the state minimum.
3. That a new filing will be in place before any old policy ends, so there is no gap the insurer has to report.

This page is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, contact the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the Virginia DMV, or the court that handled the conviction. For background on the more common SR-22, see what is an SR-22.

• ¹ Official record: Florida Statutes 324.023, who must carry FR-44 limits, the $100,000, $300,000 and $50,000 limits, the $350,000 certificate of deposit option, the three-year period and the exemption, checked October 11, 2026.
• ² Official record: Florida Statutes 324.021(7) general proof of financial responsibility amounts of $10,000, $20,000 and $10,000, checked October 11, 2026.
• ³ Official record: Florida HSMV statement that a coverage gap can lead to a suspension of up to three years and a reinstatement fee of up to $500, checked October 11, 2026.
• ⁴ Official record: Virginia DMV list of FR-44 convictions, the January 1, 2008 applicability date and the statement that FR-44 limits are double the SR-22 limits, checked October 11, 2026.
• ⁵ Official record: Code of Virginia 46.2-316(C), the requirement of limits "not less than double the minimum limits" in 46.2-472 and the three-year period after eligibility, checked October 11, 2026.
• ⁶ Official record: Code of Virginia 46.2-472 minimum liability limits of $50,000, $100,000 and $25,000 for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025, checked October 11, 2026.