Does FR44 Insurance Cover Rental Cars in Florida?

Yes — FR44 insurance covers rental cars in Florida, but with important limitations. Your FR44 liability coverage follows you as a driver, not your specific vehicle. When you rent a car, your FR44 policy’s liability limits ($100,000/$300,000/$50,000) extend to the rental vehicle for damage you cause to other people and property. However, FR44 does NOT cover damage to the rental car itself. This 2026 guide explains exactly what’s covered and what you need to purchase separately.

What FR44 Covers When Renting a Car

Coverage Type	Covered by FR44?	Details
Bodily injury to others	✅ Yes (up to $100K/$300K)	FR44 liability follows the driver
Property damage to others	✅ Yes (up to $50K)	Covers damage to other vehicles, buildings, etc.
Damage to rental car	❌ No	FR44 is liability-only; no collision/comprehensive
Theft of rental car	❌ No	Not covered by liability insurance
Medical payments for you	❌ No (unless PIP applies)	Florida PIP may extend to rentals; check your policy
Towing/loss of use	❌ No	Rental company charges for downtime while car is repaired

What You Need to Buy at the Rental Counter

Because FR44 is liability-only, you need additional coverage for the rental vehicle itself. Options at the rental counter:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) / Loss Damage Waiver (LDW): Covers damage to the rental car and theft. Typically $10-$30/day. This is what you need most — FR44 won’t cover it.
• Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): Increases liability limits above your FR44 limits. Usually $10-$15/day. Since FR44 already has high limits ($100K/$300K/$50K), this is less critical for FR44 holders than for standard insurance holders.
• Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): Covers medical expenses for you and passengers. $3-$7/day. Consider if you don’t have health insurance.
• Personal Effects Coverage: Covers stolen belongings from the rental car. $2-$5/day. Usually unnecessary if you have homeowners/renters insurance.

Credit Card Rental Car Coverage + FR44

Many credit cards offer secondary rental car collision coverage when you pay for the rental with the card and decline the rental company’s CDW. This can fill the gap left by FR44 insurance. Key points:

• Chase Sapphire, Amex Platinum/Gold, Capital One Venture X: Provide primary rental car coverage (pays before your personal insurance)
• Most other cards: Provide secondary coverage (pays after your personal insurance)
• Since FR44 has no collision coverage, secondary card coverage effectively becomes primary for the rental vehicle — but confirm with your card issuer
• Exclusions apply: Luxury vehicles, exotic cars, trucks, vans, and rentals over 15-31 days are typically excluded
• Always decline the rental company’s CDW to activate credit card coverage

Renting a Car During FR44 — Step by Step

1. Verify your FR44 policy is active — Confirm no lapse before renting
2. Check your credit card benefits — Know if you have primary or secondary rental coverage
3. At the counter, decline CDW/LDW if using credit card coverage — But accept it if your card doesn’t have rental coverage
4. You can decline Supplemental Liability — FR44 already provides high liability limits
5. Keep your FR44 insurance card with you — You’ll need it if pulled over or in an accident
6. The rental company does not need to know about FR44 — Your insurance card shows the coverage, not the FR44 designation

Renting Out of State with Florida FR44

Your FR44 liability coverage generally extends to rentals in other US states. However:

• Verify out-of-state rental coverage with your insurer before traveling — Most FR44 policies cover nationwide, but confirm
• Canada and Mexico: Most US FR44 policies do NOT cover rentals in Canada or Mexico. Purchase local rental insurance or the rental company’s coverage
• State minimum liability laws still apply: If the rental state has higher minimums than Florida, your FR44 limits may still satisfy them (FR44 limits are already high)

FAQ: FR44 and Rental Cars

Can a rental company deny me a car because of FR44?

Generally, no. FR44 is a filing between your insurer and DHSMV — it does not appear on your insurance card. Rental companies check that you have valid insurance, not the specific filing type. However, if your driver’s license is still suspended, you cannot rent a car — FR44 is required for reinstatement, but the license must be active.

Does non-owner FR44 cover rental cars?

Yes — non-owner FR44 policies are actually ideal for rental cars because they’re designed to cover the driver regardless of vehicle. The liability coverage extends to any vehicle you drive, including rentals. You still need CDW/LDW for damage to the rental car itself.

What if I get in an accident in a rental car — does FR44 cover it?

Your FR44 liability coverage will pay for damage/injuries you cause to others — same as if you were driving your own car. Damage to the rental vehicle is not covered by FR44 (liability only). If you purchased the rental company’s CDW or have credit card coverage, those will handle the rental vehicle damage.

Is renting a car with FR44 more expensive?

The rental car base rate is the same regardless of your insurance type. The difference is in the add-ons: since FR44 is liability-only, you’ll need CDW/LDW ($10-$30/day) that someone with full coverage auto insurance might skip. Budget an extra $10-$30/day for rental car damage coverage.

Need FR44 insurance or have questions about coverage? Call 1-800-229-7131 or get a free quote online.