What Is an FR-44? Florida & Virginia’s Stricter Cousin
- An SR-22 is a form your insurer files with the state — it is not a separate insurance policy.
- Expect a one-time filing fee (often $15–$50) plus a premium increase that reflects the underlying violation.
- You must keep the policy continuous for the state's full requirement period, usually 1–3 years.
An FR-44 is functionally an SR-22 with double the liability minimums. Only two states use it — Florida and Virginia — and only for alcohol-related driving offenses. Where an SR-22 certifies state-minimum coverage, an FR-44 certifies 100/300/50 (bodily injury per person / per accident / property damage): roughly triple the standard minimums. The practical consequence is cost: an FR-44 policy is more expensive than an SR-22 in the same state not because the filing is harder, but because the coverage it certifies is much larger. Expect the FR-44 period (three years in both states) to be the most expensive insurance of your life, and compare quotes aggressively — the spread between carriers on FR-44 business is wider than on standard policies. See the Florida and Virginia state guides.