Understanding Your Need for a FR-44 Through an Auto Insurance Agency in Florida  

Everyone makes mistakes. Yours are well documented, in the form of a past arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). Now, it's tough to get coverage through an auto insurance agency in Florida. It's even more difficult for that auto insurance to be affordable! After a DUI, car insurance rates typically go up more than 75% according to data. In the state of Florida, the average annual rate for full coverage with clean driving history is $2,532. The average rate for full coverage with one DUI gets bumped up to $3,681. That is a difference of $1,329, or just over an extra $100 a month. That's extra money leaving your bank account every month, for years!

You know that your DUI was a mistake and it will never happen again, but auto insurers will consider you “high risk” for several years. You’ll have to endure higher car insurance rates after a DUI because they see you as more likely to file an insurance claim than most people. Your premium will almost certainly increase. These higher rates will last for several years in most cases, and possibly longer if you don't improve your driving record. During that time, you will not be able to earn a good driver discount.

In many states, your insurer will have to file a form with the state’s motor vehicle or insurance department proving you have car insurance after your DUI. In Florida, you'll need a FR-44. The FR44 is required if you are convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or other intoxicants. If you’re ordered to file this form, you must purchase more than the state minimum. An FR44 is required for driver's license reinstatement and must be maintained for three years.

Essentially, FR-44 are certificates of financial responsibility that the state of Florida requires when you reinstate your driver's license after a DUI. These certificates aren't limited to just alcohol-related driving offenses. They are also related to DWIs (Driving While Intoxication) and OUIs (Operating While Under the Influence). Your chosen auto insurance company must file the FR-44 certificate with the DMV on your behalf.

The good news is that the cost to file an FR-44 is minimal, typically around $25. Now, there is some not so good news. Your greater cost is the higher insurance rates that result from a FR-44. FR-44s are most typically required for high-risk drivers, and insurance companies charge more to cover that risk. It's going to be tough, but not impossible, to get low cost auto insurance in Florida while needing a FR-44 certificate.

It's important to note that not all insurers will file a FR-44 form for their customers. If you are required to have a FR-44 form, you’ll need to find an insurance company that provides this service. This is one reason the car insurance company that was cheapest for you before your DUI may not be the cheapest one for you afterward.