You Googled the cost. Every site gave you the same useless answer… “it depends.”
Here’s the thing. That answer is technically true and completely worthless. Like asking how long a rope is. So let’s do this differently. I’m going to show you exactly what your rate depends ON… why the number you got from your current insurance company is a scare tactic, not a quote… and how to find your real price in about ten minutes.
In the video above I give real ballpark ranges. On this page we keep it evergreen — because printed prices go stale, and stale prices are how other sites end up lying to you by accident.
The four things that actually set your FR44 rate
Nobody’s spinning a wheel back here. Your rate comes down to four variables:
1. Your driving record
The DUI is why you’re here. The question is what’s around it. One DUI on an otherwise clean record is a completely different quote than a DUI plus an at-fault accident plus a speeding habit. The cleaner the rest of your record, the softer the landing.
2. Your age
Over 25 helps. Under 25 with a DUI… that’s the hardest quote in the business. Not impossible. We write them every week. Just harder.
3. Your vehicle
You don’t need to trade your truck for a moped. But a full-size truck costs more to insure than a sedan — especially with FR44 limits attached. The car is part of the math.
4. Your zip code
Miami-Dade costs more than Ocala. More cars, more claims, more lawyers. Where the car sleeps at night matters.
That’s it. Those four. Anyone who quotes you a number without knowing all four is guessing — and anyone who publishes a rate table online without knowing YOUR four is guessing about a stranger.
Why is FR44 insurance more expensive in the first place?
Because Florida isn’t asking you to carry normal insurance anymore. Standard Florida bodily injury liability minimums are 25/50/10 — $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 in property damage. After a DUI, the state requires FR44 limits of 100/300/50: $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident in bodily injury, and $50,000 in property damage.
That’s significantly more coverage. You’re not being charged more for the same product… you’re being required to buy a much bigger product, at the exact moment carriers consider you the riskiest person in the room. That combination is the entire reason the price stings.
The four-figure quote — what your current carrier is really telling you
If you called the big-name company you’ve been with for years and they came back with a number that made you laugh out loud… understand what actually happened. Most standard carriers don’t want FR44 business. Some will drop you the moment you say “DUI.” Others do something sneakier — they hand you an absurd quote and hope you leave on your own. That number wasn’t an offer. It was a door closing politely.
And here’s the part we’ll say that most agencies won’t: if your current carrier CAN handle the filing and it’s genuinely your cheapest path… we’ll tell you to stay put. It costs us the sale. It’s also why people trust us with the next three years.
But most of the time, the math works the other way. We work with carriers that actually want high-risk filings — companies that compete for this exact business. We shop 15+ carriers to find your lowest rate. The only way to know your exact price is a free quote, and it takes just a few minutes. Not sure if you need FR44 or SR22? Compare FR44 vs. SR22 here →
Don’t own a car? Your price just dropped.
If you don’t have a vehicle in your name, a non-owner FR44 policy is usually the cheapest way to satisfy the state and get your license back. It covers you, not a specific car — which means the vehicle variable comes off the table entirely. If money is the thing standing between you and reinstatement, start here.
The three-year clock — and when it actually starts
Your FR44 requirement runs three years in Florida. But here’s what trips people up: the clock starts at your reinstatement date. Not the arrest. Not the conviction. The reinstatement. Every month you wait to reinstate is a month added to the far end of this whole thing.
And once you’re in it — do not let the policy lapse. If coverage lapses, your carrier is required to notify the DHSMV, your license gets re-suspended, and the three-year clock can reset. Three years is survivable. Restarting year one because a payment slipped… that’s the unforced error we’re here to help you never make.
When the three years are done, the FR44 comes off and your rates come back down. This is a season. It ends.
What about the filing fee?
Whether there’s an SR22/FR44 filing fee — and how much — is set by your insurance carrier. Some include the filing at no extra charge; others charge a small one-time fee. We’ll tell you exactly what your carrier charges before you buy.
The filing itself happens electronically, usually the same day. Your carrier files it directly with the Florida DHSMV. You don’t mail anything, you don’t stand in a line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Four things — and they hit harder when you’re carrying 100/300/50 limits:
Your driving record. One DUI on an otherwise clean history is a completely different quote than a DUI plus an at-fault accident plus a speeding ticket. The cleaner the rest of your record, the softer the landing.
Your age. Younger drivers generally pay more — that’s amplified with FR-44 limits.
Your vehicle. A newer car with high replacement cost is more expensive to insure. And if you don’t own a vehicle at all… non-owner FR-44 is usually the most affordable option.
Your zip code. Florida rates vary significantly by county. Urban areas with higher accident rates cost more than rural counties.
We shop 15+ carriers because every carrier weighs these four factors differently. The one that’s cheapest for your neighbor might be the most expensive for you.
Two reasons. First… the coverage limits. Florida’s standard bodily injury liability minimum is 25/50/10. FR-44 requires 100/300/50. You’re carrying significantly more coverage. More coverage = more risk for the carrier = higher premium.
Second… the DUI on your record. Many standard carriers don’t want FR-44 business at all — they either decline it outright or quote a number so high that you’ll go somewhere else. Specialized high-risk carriers actually compete for this business, which is why shopping matters more here than anywhere else in insurance.
Many standard carriers don’t want FR-44 business. Some decline it outright; others quote an intentionally high number hoping you’ll walk. Specialized high-risk carriers actually compete for this business — which is why shopping multiple carriers matters more here than anywhere else in insurance.
Usually, yes. A non-owner FR-44 policy covers you rather than a vehicle and is typically the most affordable way to meet the requirement and reinstate your license.
When you bind the policy, you pay a down payment — the amount depends on which carrier gives you the best rate and how they structure their billing. Some carriers take a small down payment with monthly installments; others do a larger first payment with lower monthlies.
We show you the full payment breakdown before you commit to anything. No surprises, no hidden charges. Your monthly payments go directly to the insurance carrier, not to us — we’re the agency that shops and files.
Three years in Florida, starting from your reinstatement date — not your conviction or arrest. Keep the policy active for the full period; a lapse re-suspends your license and can restart the clock.
Whether there’s an SR22/FR44 filing fee — and how much — is set by your insurance carrier. Some include the filing at no extra charge; others charge a small one-time fee. We’ll tell you exactly what your carrier charges before you buy.
DHSMV reinstatement fees vary by offense number and are set by the state. See FLHSMV.gov for the current fee schedule.
As for the FR-44 filing itself: whether there’s an SR22/FR44 filing fee — and how much — is set by your insurance carrier. Some include the filing at no extra charge; others charge a small one-time fee. We’ll tell you exactly what your carrier charges before you buy.
Get your real number
You’ve read enough internet estimates. Your rate exists — it’s a real number, attached to your record, your age, your car, and your zip code. We’ll find it across 15+ carriers and tell it to you straight.
Get Your Free Quote → Call (855) 678-6977Veteran-owned. Serving Florida drivers since 2010. BBB A+. ★ 4.9 on Google.
Three years of higher premiums is expensive. There’s no sugarcoating that. But three years of paying double because nobody told you there was a better option… that’s a choice.