What is FR44 insurance? Many states offer an SR22 insurance program that enables drivers to reinstate their licenses after a suspension. Most of the time, people need SR22 insurance due to motor vehicle offenses or legal judgments. However, Florida and Virginia have two high-risk insurance certificates. One (SR22) is for non-alcohol or drug-related suspensions; the other (FR44) is for DUI/DWI-related suspensions.
Virginia was the first state to implement an FR44 insurance program, and Florida was the second state to adopt it. FR44 DUI insurance is a financial responsibility certificate filed with the Florida or Virginia DMV after a DUI or DWI conviction. After the DMV processes your filing, it will reinstate your driving privileges.
We’re all capable of making the wrong decision to drink and drive. If you made that decision, you understand that a DUI conviction has adverse personal and financial effects on your life. Our licensed UltraCar Insurance agents do their best to find you the lowest FR44 insurance rate for your situation. We’ll help make the license reinstatement process as quick and easy as possible.
How does FR44 insurance work?
An FR44 filing allows the reinstatement of your driving privileges. It also guarantees that you’ll maintain the insurance during a specific time. The insurance company closely monitors the insurance policies tied to Virginia and Florida FR44 certificates. If a policy lapses, the insurance provider notifies the state immediately, resulting in license suspension. The state usually requires people to carry this insurance for three years without lapse in coverage.
What happens to your FR44 if you move out of state? You should not cancel your insurance policy before your FR44 obligation has ended. If you anticipate moving from Florida or Virginia to another state, please consult with your insurance provider so you’ll stay in compliance and avoid another license suspension.
How much does FR44 insurance cost?
FR44 insurance costs more than SR22. That’s because the minimum liability coverage requirements are higher after a DUI conviction.
- Minimum liability coverage for Virginia FR44 insurance is $60/$120/$40.
- Minimum liability coverage for Florida FR44 insurance is $100/$300/$50.
Your insurance premiums will increase for FR44 insurance, partly due to the higher minimum coverage requirements. Underwriters also take several individual factors into account when determining your insurance rate. Some of these factors include your driving record, years of driving experience, age, marital status, and where you live (in an urban or rural area).
Ignition Interlock
In some circumstances, you’ll need to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle as part of the license reinstatement process. To assist our customers who need an IID, UltraCar Insurance partners with Intoxalock® ignition interlock services.
Please call us at 888-551-1991 if you have any questions, check our Intoxalock® FAQ page, or go to our partner page on the Intoxalock® site to get a quote.
Owner and Non-Owner Insurance Policies
First, you’ll need a liability-only or full coverage insurance policy if you own a car. The FR44 certificate is an endorsement to the policy.
You can also purchase this insurance without a vehicle. If you don’t own a car, you’ll need to buy a non-owner FR44 policy, which will have liability-only coverage. A non-owner policy cannot contain comprehensive or collision coverage since it does not insure a vehicle.
FR44 Motorcycle Insurance
If you own a motorcycle in Virginia, you can endorse the FR44 certificate to your motorcycle insurance policy.
For more information, don’t hesitate to call us. We’ll help you get the cheapest FR44 insurance rate for your needs. You can also contact us or click the quote button to get started. UltraCar Insurance agents have licenses in Florida and Virginia and offer fast electronic filing of your certificate.
FR-44 Insurance FAQ
FR-44 is an insurance certificate that’s only available in Florida and Virginia. Virginia was the first state to implement an FR-44 insurance program, and Florida adopted it shortly after.
Like the SR-22, it’s a financial responsibility certificate. However, Florida and Virginia use the FR-44 insurance certificate exclusively for license reinstatement after DUI or DWI convictions. Florida drivers who flee or attempt to elude an officer will also have their license suspended, requiring them to file an FR-44 for reinstatement.
The first thing to know is that FR-44 insurance is only available in two states: Virginia and Florida. An FR-44 filing is specifically for DUI and DWI-related license suspensions. However, for suspensions not related to alcohol or drugs, these two states require SR-22 insurance for license reinstatement. Typical reasons for SR-22 insurance are to reinstate a driver’s license after suspension for:
- Multiple routine traffic violations
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without a valid license
Other states require SR-22 insurance for all license suspensions reasons. Those reasons range from routine violations that add too many points to a driver’s record to DUI/DWI convictions.
In Florida and Virginia, minimum liability coverage requirements differ between SR-22 and FR-44 insurance.
Virginia, for instance, has twice the minimum liability coverage for FR-44 than SR-22. Virginia FR-44 insurance policies must have minimum liability coverage of:
- $60,000 bodily injury per person
- $120,000 bodily injury per accident
- $40,000 property damage per accident
On the other hand, Florida’s minimum liability coverage for FR-44 insurance is significantly higher. Florida FR-44 policies require minimum coverage of:
- $100,000 in bodily injury per person
- $300,000 in bodily injury per accident
- $50,000 in property damage per accident
- $20,000 uninsured motorist property damage
UltraCar Insurance will find you the lowest possible rate for your FR-44 insurance requirement.
It’s important to understand that an FR-44 insurance certificate doesn’t replace your auto insurance. You’ll still need auto insurance to drive. The FR-44 certificate is an endorsement to your auto or non-owner insurance policy. It’s a financial responsibility form that proves you meet your state’s increased minimum liability coverage requirement.
The bad news is that your insurance premiums will significantly increase since the state and insurance providers treat DUI and DWI offenses seriously. You can expect your insurance premiums to rise by 50 to 80 percent when you carry FR-44 insurance.
In conjunction with requiring FR-44 insurance, it’s typical for courts to order installation of an ignition interlock device in the vehicle you drive as part of the license reinstatement process.
The ignition interlock’s breathalyzer connects to the ignition of your car. You must blow into it before starting the engine. If the breathalyzer sample detects any measurable alcohol, the engine will not start.
UltraCar Insurance partners with Intoxalock to make it easy for our customers fulfill their IID requirements. Intoxalock is the industry leader in ignition interlock devices and has over 5,000 locations nationwide.
Non-owner FR-44 insurance serves the same role as owner-operator FR-44 insurance. The difference is that non-owner insurance allows drivers who don’t own a vehicle to reinstate their license. It covers the policyholder when they operate a borrowed car. If you plan to drive any non-owned vehicle after a DUI/DWI license suspension, you’ll need to carry non-owner FR-44 insurance.
Non-owner FR44 insurance is not blanket coverage for any car you drive. Non-owner insurance coverage is specific and limited in scope. It’s for drivers who don’t own a vehicle but may occasionally borrow a car from someone who doesn’t live in the same household. The driver must ensure the borrowed vehicle has insurance coverage. Ensuring that the vehicle’s insurance card and registration are in the glove compartment is also important. It is against the law to operate an uninsured vehicle – even if you have non-owner FR44 insurance. A non-owner FR44 policy only covers bodily injury and property damage to the other party if you cause an accident. Because non-owner insurance does not cover a borrowed vehicle, you cannot get it with comprehensive and collision coverage.
Florida’s minimum liability coverage for non-owner FR-44 insurance is the same as FR-44 auto insurance. However, Virginia’s required FR-44 coverage slightly differs. FR-44 non-owner insurance must have minimum coverage of:
- $50,000 in bodily injury per person
- $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
- $40,000 in property damage per accident
UltraCar Insurance provides same-day filing for non-owner FR-44 insurance in Virginia and Florida.
This article was last updated on January 8th, 2023 by UltraCar Insurance
