The Fr-44 is a document that proves you have minimum coverage requirements after a serious driving violation. Getting one is simple, but expect higher premiums

Written by Jacoba Bood

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

What is it?
How to get
Cost
Violations requiring FR44
How long do I need it?
FR44 vs. SR22
FR44 non-owner insurance
Finding affordable coverage

Load full table of contents

If you recently got a traffic violation or were caught driving without car insurance, you may be asked to provide an FR44. An FR44 isn’t actually

car insurance

. Rather, it is a document to prove that you carry insurance.

With that in mind, the free car insurance shopping app

Jerry

has put together all the information that you need to know about FR44 insurance.

Dealing with a license suspension is never fun, but Jerry will help you find the best rates to mitigate the costs, so an FR44 doesn’t end up costing more than it has to.

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What is an FR44?

The FR-44 is used to prove to the state that you have purchased the state minimum

liability car insurance coverage

—even if your

license is suspended

. The "FR" in FR44 stands for financial responsibility.

The FR44 insurance system is only used in two states—Florida and Virginia—but it functions much the same as the

SR22

form used in other states.

Florida

and

Virginia

also use

SR22s

, reserving the FR44s for more serious violations.

As you can imagine, an FR44 comes with lofty insurance premium increases. All the more reason to use

Jerry

to help you save!

Remember, if you have questions about your coverage, Jerry’s friendly agents are here to answer your questions and provide advice on the best coverage options. As your life changes, your insurance changes—and Jerry is ready to make those adjustments for you.

MORE:

How to lower car insurance premiums

How to get an FR44

If you end up with a suspended license and are required to submit an FR44, you will need to contact your insurance provider to get the process underway.

If you haven’t already, you will have to purchase the

minimum amount of insurance

required by your state. Your insurance company will then submit an FR44 to your local DMV so you can get your license reinstated.

If you happen to be between companies, you have to inform the insurance company that you need an FR44. Most companies will write it into your policy for you, but you can expect a

steep rate increase.

What happens if your FR44 policy lapses?

If you cancel your policy or

policy lapses

after submitting an FR44 form, your insurance provider will notify the DMV. It’s a scenario that you probably want to try to avoid. The DMV will suspend your license and you could face severe restrictions or fines.

If you want to save headaches, use

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to handle your insurance shopping for you. Jerry also takes care of renewals so that your renewal date will slip you by. At the same time, you get the peace of mind of knowing you are paying the best price possible on your car insurance.

Key Takeaway An FR44 is a form that you might be required to submit with your insurance if you live in Virginia or Florida and have a more serious violation on your driving record.

How much does FR44 insurance cost?

The filing fee for an FR44 is usually about $25.

The downside is that you can expect to see significant rate hikes on your insurance premiums once you are labeled a

high-risk driver

. You might be required to carry more coverage than you otherwise would, too.

Your driving record isn’t the only thing that insurance companies look at when determining your insurance rates, but it will almost always have a significant effect on the rates you pay. The average rate increase for a

DUI

is a whopping 90%, just to give you an idea.

The good news is that some insurance companies will assign less weight to your driving record when they calculate your premiums.

This means that shopping around and comparing quotes can pay off, especially true if you have an intuitive tool like

Jerry

at your fingertips to make a tough job easy.

After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?

Key Takeaway The filing fee for an FR44 is inexpensive, but the insurance rate hikes that accompany it will be considerable.

What violations require an FR44?

FR44 forms are typically only required for serious violations. If you have any of the following offenses on your driving record, you might be asked to provide an FR44:

DUI/DWI convictions

Driving or causing an accident without insurance

Driving recklessly

Driving with a

suspended license

MORE:

DUI vs DWI

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How long will I need to carry an FR44?

FR44 requirements usually last between 1 and 4 years for first-time offenses. If it is your second FR44 offense, your requirements might last even longer.

Your specific requirements will depend on the state you live in, as well as what type of violations you have.

If you have to submit an FR44, your local DMV or court will notify you of the FR44 requirements you will need to fulfill to reinstate your driving license. They will also advise how long you will need to keep an FR44 form attached to insurance.

Even if you have fulfilled all of your requirements, it’s a good idea to check in with your local DMV to ensure that you are entirely in the clear before you drop the form or switch providers.

FR44 state requirements

The minimum amount of insurance that you will have to carry under an FR44 depends on the state you live in.

FR44 insurance Florida

If you are considered a risky driver, you will have to carry a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 worth of

bodily injury liability

and $50,000 of

property damage liability

insurance.

This goes well beyond the $10,000 in personal injury protection insurance and $10,000 in property damage liability that low-risk drivers are required to carry.

FR44 insurance Virginia

In Virginia, an FR44 will mean that you need to carry a minimum of 50,000/$100,000 worth of bodily injury liability and $40,000 of property damage liability coverage.

What is the difference between an FR44 and an SR22?

The main difference between an FR44 and the SR22 form is that the FR44 will require you to purchase more

liability insurance

The FR44 is generally reserved for drivers who have committed more serious offenses, and only two states use this form. By contrast, you could be asked to provide an SR22 for minor offenses like traffic tickets.

For example, in Florida, you will only have to purchase $10,000 of bodily injury liability per person / $20,000 of bodily injury liability per accident and $10,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident to meet the SR22 requirements.

This is a lot less than the minimum of $100,000/$300,000 worth of bodily injury liability and $50,000 of property damage liability insurance that comes with the SR44 requirements.

Essentially, you will end up paying a lot more for your insurance policy with an FR44 than you would if you had an SR22.

Key Takeaway An FR44 will require you to purchase more insurance than an SR22.

FR44 non-owner insurance

It’s possible to have an FR44 requirement even if you don’t own a vehicle. If you live in one of the two states where FR44s are issued and your license is suspended for a major violation, you will have to purchase insurance even if you don’t have a car of your own to insure.

If this is the case, you can purchase non-owner insurance to meet your liability coverage requirements. Non-owner insurance does not include full-coverage options like

collision insurance

and

comprehensive insurance

Extra coverage options are useless if you don’t have a car.

It might seem silly to have to purchase insurance if you don’t have a vehicle, but it’s important to keep up on your policy payments to get your driver's license reinstated.

Your insurer will file an FR44 with your non-owner policy, but your license will be suspended again if you let your policy lapse or cancel your coverage.

MORE:

Everything you need to know about non-owner car insurance

How to find affordable FR44 insurance coverage

Dealing with an FR44 can be a real pain, but Jerry can help you find the most affordable coverage options fast.

If you’re shopping for

car insurance

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