FR44 Insurance in Florida Call Northside Insurance Agency 813-960-5225
An FR-44 insurance policy is similar to an SR-22, in that it's an auto insurance policy with an endorsement. The insurer electronically files a certificate of financial responsibility with the state of Florida to show proof that you're carrying the required liability insurance coverage. And if there's a lapse in coverage, such as if your policy is canceled or lapses due to nonpayment, your insurer must notify the state that coverage is no longer in place.
However, FR-44 insurance is generally only required if you've been found guilty of driving under the influence (a DUI) or driving while intoxicated (a DWI), as you're considered a higher-risk driver. Therefore, FR-44 insurance is sometimes referred to as "DUI insurance." DUI convictions are considered quite serious, and the liability insurance requirements for FR-44 insurance in Florida are significantly greater than those for SR-22 insurance. In addition to PIP (personal injury protection) coverage, you'll need to have a policy with liability limits of at least:
- $100,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person injured in an accident
- $300,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $50,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident
The amount of time you'll need to carry FR-44 insurance in Florida will vary depending upon your particular situation, so it's good to confirm, but the filing is generally required for three years from the date of your conviction. And, unlike SR-22 insurance, you'll need to have the FR-44 form in place for three consecutive years with no lapses in coverage. Otherwise, your license will no longer be reinstated and you will need to start the three-year period over again.
Florida also has stricter requirements for drivers with regard to paying for FR-44 insurance. Unlike SR-22 insurance, you can't make monthly payments for a FR-44 policy. Instead, you'll generally need to pay premiums for at least six months at a time, though this requirement may be relaxed upon renewal.
Non-Owner SR-22 and FR-44 Insurance in Florida
If you're required to obtain a SR-22 or FR-44 filing to reinstate your license in Florida, but don't have a car registered in your name, you can fulfill this obligation through a non owners insurance policy.
A non owner SR-22 or FR-44 insurance policy is similar to a standard owners auto insurance policy, in that it includes bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. It offers coverage whenever you drive a car that you don't own, such as if you borrow a friend's vehicle. And your insurer can add an SR-22 or FR-44 endorsement to a non owners policy and submit a filing to the state, meaning you can fulfill the requirement to have your license reinstated.
The key differences are that a non owners insurance policy doesn't require PIP coverage, just liability coverage, and a non owners policy can be significantly less expensive than an owners policy. You just need to make sure that the liability limits of your non owners policy meet Florida's requirements for SR-22 or FR-44 insurance.