Getting Car Insurance After a DUI in Florida
Jenisffer Bravo
Licensed Agent · Updated April 12, 2026
A DUI conviction in Florida has consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom. It affects your driving record, your license, and your ability to find affordable car insurance, sometimes for years.
While the situation is challenging, it is not hopeless. Drivers do get covered after a DUI and gradually rebuild their records. This guide explains what to expect, including Florida's FR-44 requirement, and how to move forward.
How a DUI Affects Your Insurance
After a DUI, insurers classify you as a high-risk driver, which leads to significantly higher premiums. Some carriers may decline to renew your policy or refuse new coverage altogether.
This does not mean you cannot get insured. Specialized and high-risk carriers exist precisely for drivers in this situation, and an independent agent can help you find one that will write your policy.
Understanding Florida's FR-44 Requirement
Florida is unusual in that DUI convictions typically trigger an FR-44 rather than the more common SR-22. Like an SR-22, an FR-44 is a certificate of financial responsibility filed with the state, but it requires substantially higher liability limits.
The higher limits required by an FR-44 mean your policy will cost more than a standard one. This is one of the key reasons DUI-related insurance is more expensive in Florida.
SR-22 vs. FR-44: The Key Difference
Both certificates prove financial responsibility, but they apply in different situations and carry different limits.
- SR-22: Often required after non-DUI violations, at standard minimum liability levels.
- FR-44: Typically required after a DUI, with significantly higher liability limits than the state minimum.
- Both: Require continuous coverage with no lapse, generally for about three years in Florida.
How to Get Covered After a DUI
The first step is to work with an agent who understands high-risk and FR-44 filings. Not every carrier offers them, and rates vary widely, so comparison shopping matters even more than usual.
Once you secure a policy that meets the FR-44 limits, your insurer files the certificate with the state, allowing you to reinstate your driving privileges and get back on the road legally.
Rebuilding Toward Lower Rates
A DUI does not have to define your insurance costs forever. Maintaining continuous coverage, driving safely, and avoiding further violations gradually rebuilds your record and reputation with insurers.
Over time, as the violation ages and your clean driving continues, rates typically improve. Kapital Insurance Group helps Florida drivers navigate FR-44 filings and find the most competitive coverage available. Call (305) 749-8219 to get started.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. While a DUI makes you a high-risk driver and raises rates, specialized and high-risk carriers will write coverage. An independent agent can help you find one and handle the required FR-44 filing.
Both are certificates of financial responsibility filed with the state. In Florida, a DUI typically triggers an FR-44, which requires significantly higher liability limits than the SR-22, making the policy more expensive.
Generally about three years, during which you must maintain continuous coverage at the required higher limits without any lapse.
Typically yes, over time. As the violation ages and you maintain continuous coverage with safe driving, rates usually improve. Patience and a clean record are key.