FR-44 After a DUI in Orlando
After a DUI in Orange County you generally need FR-44 at 100/300/50 for about three years. Cases run through the Ninth Judicial Circuit at the Orange County Courthouse; reinstate via the Tax Collector once it is filed.
After a DUI conviction in Orange County, Florida generally requires you to carry FR-44 at 100/300/50 limits before your license is reinstated, and to keep it for about three years. DUI cases here move through county court in the Ninth Judicial Circuit at the Orange County Courthouse, 425 N. Orange Ave, and once you have completed DUI school and the other conditions, your insurer files the FR-44 so you can reinstate.
Do you need FR-44 after an Orlando DUI?
Yes. In Florida, a DUI conviction generally triggers the FR-44 requirement, and that holds for a case handled in Orange County. Before the state restores your driving privilege, you must carry a policy meeting 100/300/50 and have your insurer file the FR-44 certificate with the FLHSMV.
It applies whether or not you own a car. If a vehicle is registered to you, the FR-44 goes on an owner policy; if not, a non-owner FR-44 covers you as a driver. The requirement is administrative, a condition the state attaches to reinstatement, not an extra punishment. For the statewide picture of insurance after a DUI, see DUI insurance in Florida.
We are a licensed Florida agency that helps Orange County drivers meet this requirement, so the filing side is handled for you while you focus on completing the court conditions.
A DUI is one of the more stressful things that can land on a driver, and the paperwork that follows can feel like a maze. It helps to remember that FR-44 is a defined, finite step, not an open-ended penalty. You carry the higher coverage for a set period, keep it continuous, and at the end you return to ordinary insurance. Framing it as a process with a clear finish line makes the road back far less overwhelming.
Where are Orange County DUI cases handled?
DUI cases in Orange County are handled in county court through the Ninth Judicial Circuit, at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando. The FR-44 and license reinstatement are a separate, later step handled through the Orange County Tax Collector, not the court.
Keeping the two tracks straight helps. The Orange County Courthouse on North Orange Avenue is where the criminal case moves, while your driving privilege is restored later through the Tax Collector once the FR-44 is on file and your conditions are met. One does not replace the other, and understanding the order keeps you from missing a step.
Finish DUI school and court conditions first
Reinstatement after an Orange County DUI generally requires completing DUI school, submitting your documentation, filing the FR-44, and paying the state’s reinstatement fees. Getting the court-side conditions done first keeps the insurance and reinstatement steps clean.
What are the steps back to driving?
The path back to a valid Orlando license runs in a clear order: complete DUI school and any court conditions, gather your documentation, have your insurer file the FR-44, then reinstate through the Tax Collector. Each step depends on the one before it.
| Step | What it involves | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Court conditions | Complete DUI school and requirements | Ninth Judicial Circuit |
| 2. Documentation | Gather proof of completion | Your records |
| 3. FR-44 filing | Insurer files 100/300/50 with the state | Your carrier and FLHSMV |
| 4. Reinstatement | Restore your license, pay state fees | Orange County Tax Collector |
The FR-44 sits between the court side and the reinstatement side, which is why placing coverage promptly matters. Once the certificate is accepted by the state, you can finish reinstatement, and in a metro where nearly every trip depends on the car, that final step is what puts you back on I-4, the 408, or the Beachline legally.
A common question is whether you can start the insurance side before the court case is fully wrapped up. In practice, you can get quotes and understand your options at any point, but reinstatement itself waits until the required conditions are satisfied and the FR-44 is filed. Getting your quotes early means that the moment your conditions are complete, the filing can go in without another delay, so lining up coverage in advance is time well spent even while the case is still moving.
What does a DUI do to your rate?
A DUI raises your insurance cost in Orlando, both because insurers treat it as a high-risk event and because the FR-44 requires the higher 100/300/50 limits. There is no flat figure, the increase depends on your record, your Orange County ZIP, your vehicle, and which carrier you choose.
Because carriers weigh a DUI so differently, the same Orlando driver can get widely different quotes, which is exactly why comparison is the strongest way to soften the blow. A non-owner FR-44, if you qualify, is usually the most affordable structure. Our Orlando cost guide and cheap FR-44 in Florida both cover how to bring the number down.
The cost also tends to ease over time. As the DUI ages and you keep continuous coverage with a clean record, your rate generally improves, and once the requirement ends you can shop standard pricing again.
How long does FR-44 last after a DUI?
About three years, measured from the date your license is reinstated. The FR-44 is kept for that period after a DUI, and the requirement is only satisfied if the coverage stays continuous the entire time, with no lapse.
Because the clock starts at reinstatement, not at the arrest, delaying the filing only delays the start of the three years. That is the practical reason to move promptly: the sooner the FR-44 is on file and you reinstate, the sooner the countdown actually begins. A lapse during those years is reported to the state and can reset it, which is the outcome to avoid at all costs.
Once the period is complete and you have driven cleanly, the requirement comes off and you are free to shop ordinary insurance again. Many Orlando drivers find that keeping the coverage continuous, avoiding new incidents, and letting the DUI age is exactly what carries them from high-risk rates back toward standard ones, so the three years are as much a path forward as an obligation to wait out.
In Orange County, the DUI case and the FR-44 are two separate tracks. The court handles the case at the Orange County Courthouse; the Tax Collector reinstates your license once the FR-44 is filed.
How do you get started in Orlando?
Start by getting a quote and placing an FR-44 policy that meets 100/300/50, so your insurer can file it with the state. Once your court conditions are complete and the filing is accepted, you finish reinstatement through the Orange County Tax Collector, online or in person.
You do not have to untangle all of this alone, and you should not wait, since every week without the filing is a week the three-year clock has not started. We place the coverage, file the FR-44 with the FLHSMV, and shop carriers so you pay less, then point you to the right Tax Collector step. Begin from the Orlando hub, or read how to file FR-44 in Orlando for the full walkthrough.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need FR-44 after a DUI in Orlando?
Yes. In Florida a DUI conviction generally triggers the FR-44 requirement, including cases handled in Orange County. Before the state reinstates your license you must carry a policy meeting 100/300/50 and have your insurer file the FR-44 with the FLHSMV, for about three years.
Where are DUI cases handled in Orange County?
In county court through the Ninth Judicial Circuit, at the Orange County Courthouse, 425 N. Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. The FR-44 and license reinstatement are a separate step handled through the Orange County Tax Collector, not the court.
How much does a DUI raise insurance in Orlando?
There is no flat figure. A DUI raises cost both because insurers treat it as high risk and because FR-44 requires the higher 100/300/50 limits. The increase depends on your record, Orange County ZIP, vehicle, and carrier, so comparing insurers is the best way to soften it.
What are the steps to drive again after an Orlando DUI?
Complete DUI school and any court conditions, gather your documentation, have your insurer file the FR-44 at 100/300/50, then reinstate through the Orange County Tax Collector and pay the state's reinstatement fees. Each step depends on the one before it.
How long do I keep FR-44 after a DUI in Orlando?
About three years, measured from the date your license is reinstated. The coverage must stay continuous the whole time, because a lapse is reported to the state and can restart the clock.
Do I need FR-44 after an Orlando DUI if I don't own a car?
Yes. If no vehicle is registered to you, a non-owner FR-44 covers you as a driver at the same 100/300/50 limits and satisfies the requirement. It is usually the most affordable way to comply.
Informational only. Not legal, financial, or insurance advice. FR-44 and SR-22 requirements are set by Florida (FLHSMV) and the courts and can change; verify your specific requirement with the FLHSMV. Pricing shown is illustrative, not a quote. FR44 Insurance of Florida is an independent insurance agency and not a government entity.