Both are certificates of financial responsibility filed by your insurer. But FR44 is only used in Florida and Virginia, carries far higher coverage requirements, and costs significantly more than SR22.
An SR22 is not an insurance policy — it's a certificate of financial responsibility that your insurance carrier files electronically with your state's DMV. It certifies that you carry the state's minimum required liability coverage.
SR22 is required in most U.S. states and can be triggered by a wide range of violations:
Requirement period: Typically 2–3 years depending on the state and violation. The clock restarts if coverage lapses at any point.
FR44 is a certificate of financial responsibility used exclusively in Florida and Virginia. Like SR22, it's filed by your insurer with the state. Unlike SR22, it's reserved specifically for DUI and alcohol-related offenses and requires much higher liability coverage minimums.
In Florida and Virginia, non-DUI violations still use SR22 — FR44 is triggered only when alcohol or drugs were involved in the offense.
Requirement period: 3 years in both Florida and Virginia. Coverage lapse restarts the clock from zero.
The certificates work the same way — the differences are in where, when, and how much coverage is required.
| SR22 | FR44 | |
|---|---|---|
| States used | Most U.S. states (48) | Florida and Virginia only |
| What triggers it | DUI, uninsured driving, excessive violations, suspension | DUI / alcohol-related offenses only |
| Who files it | Your insurance carrier, electronically | Your insurance carrier, electronically |
| Florida minimums | 10/20/10 ($10k / $20k / $10k) | 100/300/50 ($100k / $300k / $50k) |
| Virginia minimums | 25/50/20 | 50/100/40 — double the SR22 requirement |
| Relative cost | Lower — meets state minimums | Higher — 2–3× more due to elevated minimums |
| Required duration | 2–3 years (varies by state) | 3 years (FL and VA) |
| Lapse consequence | License re-suspended, clock restarts | License re-suspended, clock restarts |
| Non-owner option | Yes — available in most states | Yes — available in FL and VA |
Florida's FR44 requirement is the strictest in the country. A DUI conviction triggers an automatic license suspension, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) requires FR44 before reinstatement.
The required liability minimums under FR44 are 10× higher than Florida's standard SR22 minimums — $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident / $50,000 property damage. This is intentional: Florida legislators designed FR44 to impose a significant financial penalty on DUI offenders.
First-offense DUI in Florida carries a minimum 180-day license revocation. Second offense within 5 years: minimum 5-year revocation. FR44 must be maintained for 3 years from the reinstatement date.
Florida note: Florida also requires FR44 for DUI manslaughter convictions — these cases carry additional restrictions and may require extended FR44 periods beyond 3 years.
Virginia's FR44 requirement applies after DUI or DWI convictions under Virginia Code § 18.2-268.3. The Virginia DMV requires FR44 on file before a suspended license can be reinstated after an alcohol-related offense.
Virginia FR44 minimums are double the state's SR22 minimums — $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident / $40,000 property damage versus the SR22 requirement of 25/50/20.
Virginia DUI first offense: 1-year license suspension. Second offense: 3-year revocation. FR44 required for 3 years from reinstatement.
Virginia note: Virginia uses both SR22 (for non-DUI violations like uninsured driving) and FR44 (for DUI/DWI). Make sure you know which one your reinstatement letter requires — they are not interchangeable.
Not sure which one applies? Call us — a licensed agent will confirm in under a minute.
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