What companies offer non-owner car insurance in Florida?

FR-44 insurance in Florida is required by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles after a conviction for DUI or DWI. If your driver’s license is suspended, you’ll need this insurance to get a limited hardship license or regain your full driving privileges.

The minimum coverage levels for FR-44 liability insurance are higher than what’s normally required of Florida drivers. Combined with your now riskier driving record, your new coverage levels are likely to at least double your insurance premiums.… read full answer

Plus, Florida law prohibits making monthly payments on FR-44 policies. So your budget will also take the hit of paying in full upfront for either a 6-month or full-year policy, depending on your insurer.

Florida FR-44 Insurance vs Standard Coverage

As a “no-fault” state, Florida allows its residents to drive legally without bodily injury liability insurance. However, Florida’s no-fault law is limited—it doesn’t apply when an injured victim’s medical bills and/or lost income exceed $10,000, or if the injuries are considered “permanent” under Florida law. In these cases, a victim can sue an at-fault driver for losses.

Drivers are required to provide a minimum level of financial coverage when any accident with injuries occurs. If the at-fault driver has no bodily injury insurance, they’re required to post a bond equal to the state’s minimum coverage amount. This changes with an FR-44, however. An FR-44 requires a driver to carry bodily injury liability insurance.

Other Key Things to Know About Florida FR-44 Insurance

If you file an FR-44 form, you will need to maintain your higher coverage for about three years. Your insurance company must file your FR-44 directly with the state, certifying that you have an active policy with the required coverage. If your policy is cancelled or you allow it to lapse through nonpayment, your insurer will have to inform the state of Florida and your license will be suspended. You will also have to begin the three-year coverage period all over again to get your license reinstated.

For violations other than a DUI or DWI, Florida requires the SR-22 form that is used by most states. An SR-22 form only requires the same level of coverage as safe drivers. Florida is the only state besides Virginia that uses Form FR-44—and its higher required coverage levels—for DUI/DWI convictions.

An FR-44 form is a document of financial responsibility that is required in Florida and Virginia to verify that drivers convicted of a DUI have sufficient car insurance coverage. FR-44s require drivers to have additional coverage beyond the minimum amount required by state law, unlike SR-22 forms.

When an FR-44 Is Required… read full answer

Drivers are often required to file an FR-44 in order to reinstate a suspended license after a DUI. To get an FR-44, you need to contact your car insurance company and ask them to file one with the state on your behalf. If you don’t already have enough coverage to meet the state’s FR-44 requirements, then you will need to purchase additional insurance.

Cost of an FR-44

You should expect your insurance company to charge an FR-44 filing fee between $15 and $25. Since an FR-44 classifies you as high-risk and means that you have to purchase additional coverage, it will raise your rate by an average of 66%. But the good news is that an FR-44 only lasts for three years. Once you no longer need an FR-44, your premium will start to decrease if you practice good driving habits and maintain continuous coverage.

Florida car insurance laws require everyone who registers a car in the state to carry at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL). This is not much coverage. In fact, Florida has the lowest insurance requirements in the U.S. (except for New Hampshire, which requires no insurance).… read full answer

Minimum Coverage Required by Florida Car Insurance Laws

• Personal Injury Protection: $10,000 of coverage is required.
• Property Damage Liability: $10,000 of coverage is required.

Florida Car Insurance Laws for Seasonal Residents

In addition to all cars registered in Florida, Florida’s car insurance laws apply to any car that is driven in the state for more than 90 days in a 12-month period. This means Florida’s large seasonal population must meet Florida’s insurance requirements as well.

Seasonal residents often need to add PIP to their out-of-state policies, since this type of insurance is only required in 12 no-fault states. Residents of the few states with lower mandatory PDL limits also may need additional property damage liability coverage to drive legally in Florida.

How Florida Car Insurance Laws Work

Florida requires its drivers to carry PIP insurance

PIP pays the policyholder’s basic medical expenses, no matter who causes an accident. However, Florida doesn’t require bodily injury liability—the insurance that pays for the other party’s injuries.

Florida’s no-fault law is limited

“Fault” becomes an issue in Florida when injuries are permanent or serious (costing over $10,000 in medical bills and/or lost income). In these cases, victims can sue the at-fault driver. To ensure victims can be paid, the at-fault driver in an accident has to provide proof of “financial responsibility.” The most common proof is bodily injury liability insurance. Drivers also have the option of posting a bond of up to $20,000.

Florida’s PDL requirements are relatively low

Property damage liability insurance pays for damages a driver causes to other people's property in a crash. The damage can be to cars or other property such as fences or buildings. Florida’s PDL requirements are also relatively low. Most states require higher minimum limits, although there are some that require $10,000 like Florida and four that require only $5,000—California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.