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SR-22 vs. FR-44 Insurance: What's Different and Who Needs Which

SR-22 vs. FR-44 insurance explained: what each filing proves, Florida and Virginia FR-44 limits, how long you keep it, lapses and how to compare quotes.

By Policy Compass Editorial Team · Published · 8 min read

SR-22 vs. FR-44: both are certificates your insurance company files with the state to prove you carry required liability coverage. The difference is the amount. An FR-44, used in Florida and Virginia after DUI-type convictions, requires much higher liability limits than a standard SR-22, which usually certifies the state's regular minimum.

Neither one is a type of insurance by itself. Each is a form attached to an auto policy. This guide explains when each applies in Florida and Virginia, what limits and timelines the states publish, what happens if coverage lapses, and how to compare quotes. Rules change, so confirm your own requirements with your state's motor vehicle agency.

SR-22 vs. FR-44 at a glance

SR-22FR-44
What it isA certificate your insurer files proving you carry required liability coverageThe same idea, at higher limits
Where it's usedMany states (Texas and California, for example)Florida and Virginia
Typical triggersVaries by state: crashes without insurance, judgments, insurance violations, points and, in some states, DUIDUI-type convictions
Florida limitsBodily injury liability of 10/20/10 for non-DUI sanctions100/300/50 (or $350,000 combined)
Virginia limitsState minimums: 50/100/25 for policies effective on or after Jan. 1, 2025Double the minimums (100/200/50 on that basis)
Cancellation formSR-26 in many states (Indiana and Virginia, for example)FR-46 in Virginia and Florida

Limits are shown as bodily injury per person / bodily injury per accident / property damage, in thousands of dollars. Sources are linked in the sections below.

What is an SR-22?

An SR-22 is proof of financial responsibility that your insurer sends to the state. The Texas Department of Public Safety describes it as a certificate filed by your insurer showing continued coverage, and says you can't send your insurance card in its place. Triggers differ by state. Texas lists examples including driving while intoxicated, drug offenses, driving while license invalid and multiple no-insurance convictions.

In Virginia, the DMV's certifications page lists SR-22 triggers such as unsatisfied judgments, uninsured motor vehicle suspensions, failing to provide proof of insurance and falsifying insurance certification. SR-22 limits there are the standard minimums in Virginia law.

What is FR-44 insurance?

"FR-44 insurance" is shorthand for an auto policy with an FR-44 certificate attached. It proves you carry the higher liability limits the state requires after certain serious convictions. Florida's motor vehicle agency noted when it introduced its form that it is similar to Virginia's FR-44.

FR-44 insurance in Florida

  • Who needs it: Drivers convicted of DUI (including a guilty or no-contest plea) after October 1, 2007, under Florida Statutes § 324.023.
  • Limits: The FLHSMV says bodily injury liability of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence, plus $50,000 property damage liability, or combined single limits of $350,000.
  • How long: Three years from the date your driving privilege is reinstated. The FLHSMV's DUI FAQ says the FR-44 applies whether you're reinstating a hardship license or a full license.
  • Plus Florida's base coverage: Florida vehicles must carry at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability, according to the FLHSMV's insurance requirements.

SR-22 in Florida

FLHSMV's verification guide refers to SR-22 certificates alongside FR-44s. It lists 10/20/10 bodily injury coverage for non-DUI sanctions such as injury crashes without coverage, non-DUI suspensions, points and habitual traffic offenders, compared with 100/300/50 for DUI sanctions. Ask the FLHSMV how long your SR-22 must stay on file.

FR-44 insurance in Virginia

  • Who needs it: The Virginia DMV lists convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, maiming while under the influence, driving while your license is forfeited for a conviction, and similar federal, out-of-state or local offenses.
  • Limits: Double the minimum limits in Virginia law, per § 46.2-316. The DMV's insurance requirements page lists minimums of $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025. Doubled, that's $100,000 / $200,000 / $50,000.
  • How long: § 46.2-316 bars a license for three years after you otherwise become entitled to one, unless you provide proof of financial responsibility.
  • Living elsewhere: The DMV says that if you live outside Virginia, you may submit a letter on your insurer's letterhead stating the double minimum coverage amounts.

Key differences between SR-22 and FR-44

1. The coverage limits

This is the big one. An SR-22 usually certifies the state minimum, while an FR-44 certifies much higher limits. In Florida, the jump is from 10/20/10 to 100/300/50. The NAIC lists liability limits among the factors that affect your premium, so the FR-44's higher limits are part of what you pay for.

Illustrative example: what the higher limits mean in a crash

The figures below are made up to show how limits work. They aren't typical claim amounts.

Suppose you cause a crash that injures one person, with $40,000 in medical bills, and does $15,000 of damage to their car.

  • At 10/20/10: the policy pays up to $10,000 for the injury and $10,000 for the car. The remaining $30,000 and $5,000 could be claimed from you personally.
  • At 100/300/50: both amounts fall within your limits, so the policy pays them (subject to its terms).

Higher required limits mean more protection for the people you might injure, and for your own finances. Because liability limits are a pricing factor, they're also part of why a policy with an FR-44 can cost more.

2. The reason for the filing

In Florida and Virginia, the FR-44 is tied to DUI-type offenses. The SR-22 covers a broader set of non-DUI financial responsibility problems. In states that don't use the FR-44, a DUI can lead to an SR-22 instead. Texas, for example, lists driving while intoxicated as an SR-22 trigger.

3. The paperwork if coverage ends

Virginia's DMV says insurers use the FR-46 to report cancellation of FR-44 coverage, and Florida adopted the same approach when it introduced its FR-44. For SR-22s, many states use an SR-26 cancellation notice. Either way, the state finds out quickly if your policy ends.

What happens if your SR-22 or FR-44 coverage lapses

Expect consequences. Texas DPS says letting SR-22 coverage lapse means re-suspension, a new SR-22 and a $100 reinstatement fee. In Virginia, the cancellation form exists precisely so the DMV is told. Practical safeguards:

  • Use automatic payments, or pay the full term up front if you can.
  • If you switch insurers, start the new policy and filing before canceling the old one.
  • If you move, ask both states what they require. Virginia lets out-of-state residents prove FR-44 coverage with an insurer letter.

Non-owner FR-44 and SR-22 policies

You don't need to own a car to need a filing. Virginia's FR-44 certificate offers an operator's policy option for vehicles not registered or titled to you. Florida's § 324.023 applies to every "owner or operator." For how these policies work and what they leave out, see our guide to non-owner SR-22 insurance.

How to compare SR-22 or FR-44 insurance quotes

Not every insurer handles these filings. Texas DPS notes that SR-22s aren't offered by all insurance companies. When you compare, the NAIC recommends asking for the same coverages and limits from each company and giving each one the same information.

Have ready:

  • your court or DMV paperwork showing which form (SR-22 or FR-44) and the start date;
  • the exact minimum limits your state requires for that form;
  • your driver's license number, vehicle VINs (if any) and household drivers; and
  • an honest driving history, since a quote based on missing information will change.

Ask each insurer:

  • Do you file FR-44s (or SR-22s) in my state, and how quickly?
  • Do these liability limits meet the FR-44 requirement, and do I need PIP or other required coverages on top?
  • Is there a filing fee?
  • Can I choose limits above the minimum, and what would that cost?
  • What happens to my filing if I add or sell a car mid-term?

Get quotes in writing. If you're turned down repeatedly, the NAIC suggests asking your state insurance department whether there's a program for high-risk drivers.

To understand what higher liability limits protect, read how much car insurance you need. For what drives premiums up at renewal, see why car insurance goes up.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SR-22 and FR-44 insurance?

Both are certificates your insurer files with the state to prove you carry required liability insurance. The FR-44 is used in Florida and Virginia after DUI-type convictions and requires higher limits. In Florida it means 100/300/50 under section 324.023. In Virginia it means double the state minimums.

What are the FR-44 limits in Florida?

At least $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 per crash and $50,000 property damage, or $350,000 combined single limits, according to the FLHSMV. Florida drivers also need the state's required PIP and property damage coverage on their vehicles.

What are the FR-44 limits in Virginia?

Double Virginia's minimum liability limits, under Code of Virginia § 46.2-316. With the minimums the DMV lists for policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 ($50,000/$100,000/$25,000), that works out to $100,000/$200,000/$50,000. Confirm the current figures with the Virginia DMV.

How long do you need an FR-44?

In Florida, the FLHSMV says three years from the date your driving privilege is reinstated. In Virginia, the law ties it to three years after you otherwise become entitled to a license. Your state's notice is the authority for your dates.

Can you get an FR-44 if you don't own a car?

In Virginia, the DMV's FR-44 form includes an operator's policy option for vehicles not registered to you. Florida's statute applies to both owners and operators. Ask insurers whether they write non-owner policies with an FR-44 filing.

Sources

  1. DUI Frequently Asked Questions (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)
  2. Florida Statutes § 324.023: Financial responsibility for bodily injury or death (The Florida Senate, 2026 Florida Statutes)
  3. Quick Reference Guide for Verification Requests (financial responsibility sanctions) (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, September 12, 2020)
  4. FR-44 implementation bulletin (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, December 19, 2007)
  5. Florida Insurance Requirements (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)
  6. Financial Responsibility Certifications (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles)
  7. Insurance Requirements (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles)
  8. Insurance Industry Services: Forms (FR-44 and FR-46) (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles)
  9. Code of Virginia § 46.2-316 (Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System)
  10. FR-44 Uniform Financial Responsibility Certificate (Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles)
  11. Section 9: SR-22 (Proof of Financial Responsibility) (Texas Department of Public Safety)
  12. A Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance (National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 2022)

Sources were accessed on October 6, 2026. Linked pages may have changed since then.

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