Car Insurance After a DUI in Florida: What You Actually Need
If you’ve just received a DUI in Florida and are searching for “car insurance after a DUI” — you’ve found the right place, but with one important clarification: Florida doesn’t call it “DUI insurance.” What you actually need is FR44 insurance, and it’s a specific Florida requirement with specific coverage minimums. Here’s everything you need to know.
There’s No Such Thing as “DUI Insurance” — Here’s What Exists
“DUI insurance,” “high-risk insurance,” and “SR22 insurance” are informal terms people use to describe what’s actually required after a DUI. In Florida, the formal requirement is an FR44 Certificate of Financial Responsibility — a filing your insurance company submits to FLHSMV proving you carry specific minimum liability coverage. The underlying auto insurance policy is standard. The FR44 is the certificate that gets filed.
What Florida Requires After a DUI
| Requirement | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bodily Injury — Per Person | $100,000 |
| Bodily Injury — Per Accident | $300,000 |
| Property Damage | $50,000 |
| How long required | 3 years from license reinstatement |
| What it’s called | FR44 (not SR22 — those are different) |
Why It Costs More After a DUI
The FR44 certificate itself costs $15-35 to file. That’s not the expensive part. After a DUI conviction, you become a high-risk driver — and insurers price that risk into your premium. The DUI surcharge typically adds 50-150% to your annual premium. On top of that, the FR44 requires higher liability limits (100/300/50) than a standard Florida policy, which adds further premium cost.
What you can control: shopping the non-standard insurance market (insurers who specialize in DUI drivers), choosing minimum required coverage, and paying annually rather than monthly. These strategies together can reduce your premium by 30-50% compared to the first quote you get.
How to Get Car Insurance After a DUI in Florida
- Get an FR44 policy — your insurer must offer FR44 filing. Not all standard carriers do. Non-standard carriers who specialize in DUI drivers handle this routinely.
- Choose 100/300/50 limits — the state minimum for FR44. You can carry more if you want, but 100/300/50 is the floor.
- Your insurer files the FR44 electronically with FLHSMV — you don’t submit it yourself. Most filings process same-day.
- FLHSMV updates your record — you can then proceed with your hardship license or reinstatement application.
Can You Get Car Insurance Without SR22 or FR44?
After a DUI conviction, FLHSMV requires FR44 as a condition of license reinstatement. You can technically purchase auto insurance without FR44, but your license will remain suspended — you cannot legally drive without FR44 on file with FLHSMV. Some drivers carry insurance on a household vehicle but delay reinstatement; that’s legal but means you cannot drive.
Non-Owner FR44: For Drivers Without a Car
If you don’t own a vehicle, you can still meet the FR44 requirement with a non-owner policy. It provides the required 100/300/50 liability coverage when you drive borrowed or rented vehicles. Non-owner FR44 in Florida typically runs $35-85/month — significantly less than insuring a car you don’t own.
How Much Does FR44 Cost in Florida?
First DUI, one offense, standard driving history:
- South Florida (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale): $2,400-$4,200/year owner; $660-$1,200/year non-owner
- Central Florida (Orlando, Tampa): $1,600-$3,100/year owner; $480-$930/year non-owner
- North Florida (Jacksonville, Gainesville): $1,100-$2,400/year owner; $330-$720/year non-owner
Get Covered and Get Your License Back — Same Day
We specialize in Florida FR44 for DUI drivers and file electronically with FLHSMV the same day you get covered. Most filings process within 30 minutes of payment. Call (407) 506-4611 or complete our form — we’ll shop 15+ carriers to find your lowest rate.