You may be compelled to carry an FR-44 if you travel in Virginia or Florida and are considered a high-risk driver. Generally, an FR-44 is not a kind of insurance. However, this certificate attests to the DMV that you are continuing to have insurance with state-mandated liability limits. In this article, we will explain all you need to know about FR-44s to help you maintain compliance, protect your driver’s license, and stay out of trouble.
What is FR-44 Insurance?
An FR-44 is a certificate indicating a driver has current liability insurance at or above the required minimum. What the “FR” stands for is financial responsibility. Additionally, an FR-44 certificate has stricter liability standards than an SR-22 or state minimum. An FR-44 is a documentation of auto insurance, not a type of auto insurance itself. Whether or not a driver needs an FR44 file for insurance will depend on their driving history and area.
This typical insurance demand may arise from a traffic infraction such as a DWI or DUI, driving without insurance, an accident that causes significant property damage, a citation for operating a vehicle while the license is suspended, or accumulating an excessive number of license points.
What is the FR-44 Form?
FR-44 form is a proof of financial responsibility that is used in Virginia and Florida to verify that you have acquired auto insurance. Your state may require you to provide proof of auto insurance before restoring your license if it has been suspended. The sole version that most states utilize, the SR-22, is comparable to the FR-44. However, the main distinction is that the FR-44 has stricter liability coverage requirements. Most drivers will never require a FR-44 certificate.
It’s only utilized in Virginia and Florida, and it’s usually only necessary for those with serious driving violations. For instance, a FR-44 form may be required for a motorist whose license has been suspended due to a DUI or DWI conviction to have it restored. Find out more about driving insurance following a DUI.
How Much Does FR-44 Cost
The fee to file a FR-44 certificate varies from $15 to $25, based on age, region, and kind of vehicle. Additionally, greater minimum coverage limits for high-risk drivers translate into greater expenses. Drivers in Virginia are required by law to have FR44 coverage with double the minimum liability limits, meaning they need to obtain supplemental liability insurance.
FR-44 in Virginia
Drivers in Virginia need to have liability insurance that covers $60,000, $120,000, or $40,000 for a FR-44. This comprises:
- $60,000 in bodily harm liability per individual.
- $120,000 for each incident involving physical harm.
- $40,000 responsibility for property damage.
The standard essentials for auto insurance in the state are $60,000 for each accident, $30,000 for bodily injury liability per person, and $20,000 for property damage.
FR-44 in Florida
Motorists in Florida who need to get an FR-44 must have minimal liability levels of $100,000, $300,000, or $50,000. This comprises:
- $100,000 per individual responsibility for bodily harm.
- $300,000 is the bodily injury liability per accident.
- $50,000 responsibility for loss of property.
Drivers in Florida often require $10,000 in property damage liability insurance and $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. Moreover, liability coverage for physical injuries is not the same as PIP. While bodily injury liability coverage compensates for harm to others if you are at fault in a collision, it safeguards the driver of the insured vehicle.
How Does FR-44 Affect My Insurance
For high-risk drivers, the effect of an FR-44 on insurance requires careful consideration of many factors. It can get harder to get car insurance, and even if you were accepted, your coverage might not be the best deal because insurance companies raise their premiums to reflect the higher risk. Furthermore, having an FR-44 frequently means getting more comprehensive motor insurance than is necessary. Since high-risk coverage entails more risk and administrative work, certain insurers may additionally demand upfront payments for these plans, either yearly or biannually.
What Are the FR-44 Requirements In Florida
In Florida, you must have liability auto insurance limits of at least 100/300/50 to satisfy the FR-44 standards. This is the meaning of those numerals.
- $100,000 per accident for an individual’s bodily injury and/or death coverage.
- $300,000 in death or physical harm for each incident involving two or more persons.
- $50,000 per occurrence in coverage for property damage.
How To Find Affordable Insurance With FR-44
There are ways to keep your insurance premiums as low as possible, even if they will be higher with a FR-44 than without one.
Look around
Compare rates from several insurance providers first. Your credit score won’t be impacted by obtaining a vehicle insurance quotation, so you have nothing to lose by looking around.
Receive discounts
Additionally, find out what savings you are eligible for from your insurance agent. For instance, if you paid for your coverage annually rather than every six months, might you save money? You might be surprised to learn about some simple strategies to save money.
Remove coverage you don’t need
You may reduce optional coverage like roadside assistance, rental vehicle insurance, and collision/comprehensive coverage on an older car, even though you’ll need to pay the inflated levels that the FR-44 demands.
Increase your deductible
This can help you save money on your premiums as long as you have the cash on hand to cover any property damage. Finally, you can decide to boost your credit rating. Your credit score will rise, which will result in cheaper insurance costs in Virginia and Florida.
How To Submit FR-44
Generally, you won’t submit an FR-44 on your own as your insurance provider will handle it. If your insurance allows drivers with FR-44s, you can inform your agent that you require an FR-44, and they will contact your state’s DMV on your behalf. Additionally, customers with an FR-44 are considered high-risk drivers by some organizations, and you run the danger of being dropped by your present carrier. Furthermore, to prevent any coverage gaps, you would need to locate a firm that will hire you as quickly as feasible.
Final Thoughts
Even while having an FR-44 insurance requirement will likely result in substantially higher insurance premiums, you may shop about and take advantage of any vehicle insurance discounts to discover the best prices for your circumstances. However, it is advisable to obtain online quotes for FR-44 auto insurance from many companies and evaluate them to choose which offers the most affordable coverage.
