The FR-44 exists in exactly two states — Florida and Virginia — and it is routinely confused with the SR-22 by websites that should know better. CarInsureLine connects you, for free, with a licensed insurance professional who can explain what the FR-44 requires in your state and how the filing gets done. We are a referral service, not an insurer, and we never quote prices or pressure you into anything.
An FR-44 is a certificate of financial responsibility that an insurance company files with the state to prove you carry required liability coverage. In that sense it works exactly like an SR-22: it is a form attached to a policy, not a policy you can buy on its own, and your insurer must notify the state if the coverage lapses. The difference is scope and severity. The FR-44 exists only in Florida and Virginia, it is generally tied to DUI and other alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions, and it requires liability limits substantially higher than what the state normally demands of drivers. If your conviction happened in one of these two states, the court or DMV paperwork will say which filing you owe. If you are researching from another state, you are almost certainly looking for the SR-22 instead — our SR-22 page covers that filing, and your state page covers local rules.
Only two: Florida and Virginia. No other state issues or requires an FR-44, and that is worth stating plainly because plenty of lead-generation sites imply otherwise to capture searches. If you were convicted in Florida or Virginia, that state can require the FR-44 filing even if you have since moved elsewhere — the obligation belongs to the state that imposed it, and it generally follows you for the full required period. In that case you need an insurer that can file the FR-44 back in Florida or Virginia while covering you where you live now, which not every company can do. Conversely, if your conviction happened in any other state, an FR-44 is not on the table; your state may require an SR-22 or use its own reinstatement process instead. The rules vary by state — see your state page for what applies where you live, and bring your court or DMV paperwork to your free call.
This is where the FR-44 bites. In Florida, an FR-44 requires bodily injury liability of 100/300 — that is, coverage of one hundred thousand per person and three hundred thousand per accident — plus fifty thousand in property damage liability, commonly written as 100/300/50. That is far above Florida's ordinary requirements for most drivers. In Virginia, the FR-44 requires liability limits equal to double the state's standard minimums, and because Virginia's baseline minimums have changed over time, the exact doubled figures depend on when your requirement applies. In both states the point is the same: the legislature decided that drivers with serious alcohol-related convictions must demonstrate a higher level of financial responsibility before driving again. Statutory limits can be amended, so treat these numbers as the widely cited current framework and confirm the exact figures on your court or DMV paperwork and your state page before purchasing anything.
In both Florida and Virginia, the FR-44 is tied to serious impaired-driving offenses. Florida generally requires it after a DUI conviction. Virginia requires it after convictions such as DUI or DWI, driving on a license suspended for an alcohol-related offense, and certain related violations. The requirement is imposed by the court or the state's motor vehicle agency as a condition of getting or keeping driving privileges after the conviction, and your paperwork will state the filing type and the required duration. In Florida the filing period is generally three years; Virginia's period is also typically three years, though how the clock runs can differ. If you owned no vehicle at the time — or sold it after the conviction — both states allow the FR-44 to be attached to a non-owner policy so your license reinstatement is not stuck waiting on a car purchase. Exact triggers and durations vary by state — see your state page and confirm the details on your call.
The process mirrors the SR-22 with one added constraint: the policy behind the filing must carry the FR-44's higher liability limits. First, read your court or DMV paperwork to confirm the filing type, limits, and duration. Second, get a policy that meets those limits from an insurer authorized in Florida or Virginia that files FR-44s — a smaller pool than for standard coverage, which is where a licensed professional saves you time. Third, the insurer submits the FR-44 electronically to the state, which matches it to your driving record; reinstatement of your license usually cannot finish until that filing is on record along with any fees the state charges. Fourth, you maintain the coverage without a lapse for the full required period, because the insurer must report any cancellation and the state can suspend you again. Processing times and reinstatement steps vary by state — see your state page, and ask the professional to walk you through the sequence for your county before you commit.
The consequences are the same in kind as an SR-22 lapse, but the stakes are often higher because the FR-44 sits on top of a serious conviction. If your policy cancels or lapses while the filing is required, your insurer must notify the state, and the state can suspend your license and registration again. Getting reinstated a second time means new fees, new paperwork, and in some cases a restarted or extended filing period, which stretches out the total time you carry the requirement. The practical defenses are simple: keep your payment method current, calendar your renewal dates, and never cancel an FR-44 policy until a replacement filing is confirmed on record with the state — not just purchased, but actually recorded. If you move out of Florida or Virginia mid-requirement, you generally still owe that state the filing, so coordinate any change with an insurer that can file across state lines. Details vary by state — see your state page.
Share the basics: whether your conviction was in Florida or Virginia, what your paperwork says, and whether you currently own a vehicle. We never ask for payment information.
We connect you with a licensed insurance professional experienced with FR-44 filings in your state. CarInsureLine is a referral service — we are not an insurer and we never quote prices.
The professional confirms the required limits and duration, explains owner and non-owner options at FR-44 limits, and answers your questions. No obligation to buy anything.
If you choose a policy, the insurance company submits the FR-44 to Florida or Virginia electronically. Confirm the state has recorded it before treating your reinstatement as complete.
No. The FR-44 exists only in Florida and Virginia. If your conviction happened in any other state, your obligation — if there is one — will be an SR-22 or that state's own reinstatement process, not an FR-44. However, if Florida or Virginia imposed the requirement and you later moved away, you generally still owe that state the FR-44 filing for the full period. Rules vary by state — see your state page for specifics.
Florida's FR-44 requires liability coverage of 100/300/50 — one hundred thousand per person and three hundred thousand per accident in bodily injury liability, plus fifty thousand in property damage liability. That is substantially higher than what Florida requires of most drivers. Statutory figures can change, so confirm the exact limits on your court or DMV paperwork and with the licensed professional on your call before buying a policy.
Virginia requires FR-44 policies to carry liability limits equal to double the state's standard minimum requirements. Because Virginia's baseline minimums have been adjusted over time, the precise doubled figures depend on the rules in effect for your requirement. Your conviction paperwork and the Virginia DMV are the authoritative sources, and the licensed professional you speak with can confirm the exact limits that apply to you. See your state page for current details.
No. Like the SR-22, the FR-44 is a certificate your insurance company files with the state — proof of coverage, not coverage itself. You buy an auto policy that meets the FR-44's higher liability limits, and the insurer submits the filing on your behalf, usually for a small filing fee it sets. Not every insurer writes FR-44 business, so it helps to start with a licensed professional who knows which companies do.
In both Florida and Virginia the requirement generally runs about three years, though how the period is measured — from conviction, from reinstatement, or otherwise — depends on the state's rules and your specific order. A lapse in coverage can extend the timeline and trigger a new suspension. Confirm your exact end date with the state before canceling or changing your policy. Details vary by state — see your state page.
Yes. Both Florida and Virginia allow the FR-44 to be attached to a non-owner policy, which covers your liability when driving vehicles you do not own and satisfies the filing requirement for license reinstatement. This is a practical route if you sold your car after the conviction or are between vehicles. Eligibility conditions apply, such as not having regular access to a household vehicle, so review your situation on the call.
No. CarInsureLine is a free referral service — we are not an insurance company, we hold no licenses, and we never quote prices. Our role is to connect you with a licensed insurance professional who can explain the FR-44 requirement, help you understand policy options at the required limits, and whose company handles the actual filing with Florida or Virginia if you decide to purchase coverage. The decision is always yours.
Generally yes. The state that imposed the requirement expects the filing for its full duration regardless of where you live now, and your new state will separately expect you to meet its own coverage rules. You will need an insurer that can cover you in your current state while filing the FR-44 back in Florida — some can, some cannot. Mention the move at the start of your call. Interstate handling varies by state — see your state page.