Do I Need FR-44 or SR-22 After a DUI?
After a DUI in Florida you generally need an FR-44, not an SR-22. The FR-44 requires 100/300/50 limits, double an SR-22's bodily injury, and supersedes an SR-22 when a DUI applies. Confirm your terms with the FLHSMV.
After a DUI conviction in Florida, you generally need an FR-44, not an SR-22. The FR-44 is the filing built for DUIs, and it requires 100/300/50 liability limits, double an SR-22’s bodily-injury coverage. The SR-22 is reserved for lesser violations. You carry only one filing at a time, so when a DUI applies, the FR-44 takes precedence. Confirm the exact terms with the FLHSMV.
Do you need FR-44 or SR-22 after a DUI?
For a DUI conviction, the answer is almost always the FR-44. Florida ties the higher-limit FR-44 filing specifically to DUIs, while the SR-22 is the filing for lesser violations, so a DUI points to the FR-44 rather than the SR-22.
The difference is not cosmetic. The FR-44 requires 100/300/50 liability, and its bodily-injury limits are double what an SR-22 certifies. The state asks for that extra coverage precisely because a DUI is treated as a more serious event than the offenses that call for an SR-22. So the filing that applies to you is set by the seriousness of the violation on your record.
You will not be asked to carry both. A driver holds one filing at a time, and when a DUI is involved, the FR-44 supersedes an SR-22. For the side-by-side breakdown of the two, see FR-44 vs SR-22.
| Your situation | Filing you generally need | Required limits |
|---|---|---|
| DUI conviction | FR-44 | 100/300/50 |
| Lesser violation (no DUI) | SR-22 | Lower limits |
| DUI plus a prior SR-22 need | FR-44 (supersedes the SR-22) | 100/300/50 |
| No triggering violation | Neither filing | Standard coverage |
Why is FR-44 the one for a DUI?
Because Florida assigns the higher-limit filing to the more serious violation, and a DUI qualifies. The SR-22 covers a range of lesser offenses that still require proof of financial responsibility, but a DUI sits above that threshold.
The extra coverage is the whole point. Moving from an SR-22 to an FR-44 means doubling the bodily-injury limits and requiring $50,000 in property damage, so there is far more protection in place before a driver returns to the road after a DUI. The state is matching the amount of required coverage to the risk it associates with the conviction.
That is also why you cannot opt for the cheaper SR-22 to save money after a DUI. The violation determines the filing, and the FR-44 is what a DUI calls for. If you are still working out whether a DUI even requires a filing in your case, read whether FR-44 is required after every DUI.
How do you confirm which filing your case needs?
By verifying your reinstatement terms with the FLHSMV rather than guessing. A DUI is a strong signal that an FR-44 applies, but the specific filing, limits, and term attached to your license are confirmed in your individual case.
The safe sequence is to treat the FR-44 as the expected requirement after a DUI, confirm it through the state or your reinstatement paperwork, and only then buy a policy that carries the right 100/300/50 coverage and files the certificate. Buying before you confirm risks purchasing the wrong filing.
Keep the one-filing rule in mind throughout. If any part of your history might have called for an SR-22, the DUI’s FR-44 takes its place, so you are not juggling two certificates. In practice the question after a DUI is not FR-44 versus SR-22 as equals, it is confirming that the FR-44 is the filing your reinstatement requires.
Why does the FR-44 filing cost more than an SR-22 would?
Because the FR-44 you need after a DUI carries higher required limits and follows a more serious violation. Both of those push the premium above what the same driver would pay on the lower-limit SR-22 used for lesser offenses.
The limits are the first factor. An FR-44 must carry 100/300/50, with bodily-injury coverage double an SR-22’s. That is real protection standing behind your license, but more coverage always means more premium, so the requirement itself lifts the price before anything else is weighed. It is not a fee; it is the cost of insuring at a higher level.
The DUI is the second factor. Insurers price a DUI as one of the higher-risk events on a record, so the rate on the policy behind the filing is elevated on its own. A higher rate applied across higher limits is what makes the after-DUI cost feel steep, and it is why an FR-44 policy generally runs above a comparable SR-22 policy.
The part you can influence is the carrier. High-risk insurers weigh a DUI very differently, so the same driver can be quoted quite different FR-44 prices. The filing is a small administrative step either way, so comparing several carriers, not chasing a cheaper filing that does not apply, is where the real saving lives.
It also means the after-DUI price is not fixed the day you reinstate. As the DUI ages and you keep a clean record with continuous coverage, the risk portion of the premium tends to ease, even though the required limits stay at 100/300/50 for the term. So the cost you see at the start is usually the high point, not a flat rate for all three years. Comparing carriers early, then re-comparing as your record improves, is how drivers keep the FR-44 as affordable as a DUI-based filing can reasonably be, rather than accepting the first number they are quoted.
A DUI points to FR-44, but confirm it
The violation decides the filing, and a DUI points to the FR-44. Still, verify the exact requirement and term with the FLHSMV before buying, so your policy matches the certificate the state is actually asking for.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need FR-44 or SR-22 after a DUI in Florida?
Generally an FR-44. It is the filing tied to a DUI conviction and requires 100/300/50 limits, while the SR-22 is for lesser violations at lower limits. Confirm the exact terms with the FLHSMV.
Can I use a cheaper SR-22 instead after a DUI?
No. The violation decides the filing, not cost. A DUI calls for the FR-44, and the FR-44 supersedes an SR-22, so you cannot substitute the lower-limit filing to save money.
Do I carry both filings after a DUI?
No. You keep one filing at a time. If a DUI applies, the FR-44 takes the place of any SR-22, because the higher-limit filing absorbs the lower one.
How do I know for sure which filing I need?
Verify your reinstatement terms with the FLHSMV. A DUI strongly points to an FR-44, but the specific filing and term for your license are confirmed in your own case, so check before buying a policy.
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.