Auto & Driving
SR-22 vs. FR-44 Insurance Explained
FR-44 minimums from MoneyGeek and Progressive; premium-increase ranges cross-confirmed via MoneyGeek and duiinsurancecalculator.com.
They sound like variations on the same form. The liability minimums and the premium impact say otherwise.
Data sourced from MoneyGeek, Progressive
Same purpose, different requirements
Both SR-22 and FR-44 are certificates of financial responsibility your insurer files with your state, so the basic mechanism is identical. What differs is the required liability coverage behind the filing.
FR-44 requires meaningfully higher minimum liability limits than a standard SR-22, and it exists in only 2 states, Florida and Virginia, reserved specifically for alcohol-related driving offenses rather than the broader range of violations that can trigger a standard SR-22.
Florida's FR-44 requires $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, plus $50,000 in property damage coverage. Virginia's FR-44 requires $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident, plus $40,000 in property damage, both well above either state's own standard minimum liability requirement.
The premium impact is bigger too, not just the coverage requirement
A standard SR-22 typically raises premiums by around 9%. FR-44 runs considerably higher, typically 50% to 200%, according to cross-confirmed industry sources. That larger gap reflects two factors compounding together: the DUI-specific high-risk reclassification insurers apply, and the higher mandatory liability limits themselves, which cost more to insure regardless of the driver's specific risk profile.
To compare your own specific cost under each filing type, the SR-22 insurance cost calculator and the FR-44 insurance cost calculator run each state's own requirement directly.
Why this distinction matters beyond just the two states
Someone convicted of a DUI in Florida or Virginia needs to understand they are not simply getting "an SR-22 like everyone else," the requirement is meaningfully stricter on both the coverage limit and the cost side.
Conversely, someone in any other state should not assume an FR-44-level requirement applies to them just because they have heard the term used loosely alongside SR-22, the two are not interchangeable, and only Florida and Virginia use the stricter form at all.
Frequently asked questions
What is the basic difference between SR-22 and FR-44?
Both are certificates of financial responsibility your insurer files with your state, but FR-44 requires meaningfully higher minimum liability limits than a standard SR-22, and it is only used in 2 states, Florida and Virginia, specifically for alcohol-related driving offenses.
Why do Florida and Virginia require something stricter than SR-22?
Both states decided that a DUI conviction specifically warrants a higher mandatory liability minimum than their standard SR-22 requirement, on the reasoning that a driver with an alcohol-related offense presents a higher severity risk that a standard filing's liability minimums do not adequately cover.
Is FR-44 actually more expensive than a standard SR-22?
Yes, meaningfully so. A standard SR-22 typically raises premiums by around 9%, while FR-44 typically raises them by 50% to 200%, according to cross-confirmed industry sources. That gap reflects both the DUI-specific high-risk reclassification and the higher mandatory liability limits stacking together, not one factor alone.
If I move from Florida or Virginia to another state, does my FR-44 requirement follow me?
Generally, you would need to meet whatever your new state's own requirement is, which may be a standard SR-22, no filing at all, or a different mechanism entirely, rather than carrying an FR-44 requirement with you indefinitely.
Confirm the specific transition with your new state's DMV and your insurer directly, since the details can vary based on where the original offense occurred and how long is left on the filing period.