The Differences Between SR22 and FR44 Insurance
how to determine the insurance that is right for you.
If you drive a car in almost any state in the nation, you must have some form of car insurance. Most state laws prohibit driving without car insurance; however, some drivers are considered high-risk and have trouble securing auto insurance. They could be considered high-risk because the driver has DWI violations, or perhaps he or she is speedy drivers and have a slew of speeding tickets. The reasons could be endless, but they also can find themselves in this pool of drivers for having one too many accidents on their record.
Whatever the reason, they are high-risk drivers, which makes it almost impossible to obtain any insurance coverage. Luckily, there are options available for high-risk drivers. Once these drivers find the necessary coverage, they either have to request an SR22 or an FR44.
Read more to learn what each of these items is and the differences between them both.
What Is SR22 Insurance?
An SR22 is not actually auto insurance; it is a paper form. This certificate your insurance company provides you upon request shows the DMV you have the state minimum liability coverage. In order to regain driving privileges, you must have this certificate on file with the DMV. Without it, you will not be allowed to drive in most states. The SR22 certificate is available in all states, nationwide.
The most crucial factor in understanding the SR22 is it’s not actually insurance coverage. The SR22 is just a certificate that states you have at least the bare minimum state coverage to drive a vehicle.
This is how it works.
You buy your insurance policy that meets the minimum insurance requirements for your state. Next, upon request, your insurance company issues an SR22 certificate to the DMV. The insurance company, not you, files the document with the DMV. This process eliminates the opportunity for drivers to commit insurance fraud and file false certificates with the DMV.
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What Is FR44 Insurance?
Like an SR22, an FR44 is not actually insurance either. It is a certificate that you have the required insurance coverages to obtain insurance. The FR44 certificate is used in Virginia and Florida only as of today. This certificate shows you carry more than the bare minimum coverage required for the SR22 certificate. The FR44 certificate actually requires you to carry at least double the amount of liability coverage needed for the SR22.
In Florida and Virginia, the DMV must have an FR44 certificate on file if you have a DWI violation or other egregious driving violations before you can own a vehicle or regain your driving privileges. This certificate provides proof that you have the coverage necessary to cover yourself, as a high-risk driver, in case of an accident.
Who Needs an SR22 Insurance Certificate?
If you have lost your driving privileges, you will need an SR22 on file with the DMV in your state. The most common reasons you may have lost your driving privileges include:
- Driving under the influence
- Failure to produce insurance coverage
- Driving without a license
- Excessive speeding tickets
- Unsatisfied judgments
- Falsifying insurance documents
- Manslaughter (voluntary or involuntary)
These actions can lead to convictions. If convicted, you will likely lose your license for six months or longer. Once your license is reinstated, you will be considered a very high-risk driver, which will require an SR22 certificate on file with the DMV to reinstate your driving privileges and register a vehicle for driving.
Why Would You Need an FR44 Insurance Certificate?
An FR44 certificate is restricted to drivers in Florida and Virginia. Therefore, any high-risk drivers in any other state will not require an FR44 insurance certificate. Beyond that difference, here are the most egregious driving offenses that require FR44 certificates in Florida and Virginia:
- Driving under the influence
- Causing severe bodily injury while driving under the influence
- Driving with a suspended license
- Violations of federal, state, or local provisions related to driving with a suspended license or a DUI
What Are the Insurance Requirements Necessary Under an FR44 Certificate?
Florida and Virginia have different coverage amounts necessary to obtain an FR44 certificate. In both states, the required coverage is at least double that required for an SR22 certificate. Virginia requires the following coverages:
- $50,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per person
- $100,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per accident
- $40,000 Property Damage Coverage
These coverages are double the $25,000, $50,000, $20,000 liability minimums required for SR22 certificates.
Florida requires even more coverage to obtain an FR44 certificate:
- $100,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per person
- $300,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per accident
- $50,000 Property Damage Coverage
State minimums in Florida are significantly lower than the coverage required for the FR44 certificate. The reason for such high requirements is the costs related to damage resulting from DUI accidents. Be prepared for your insurance premiums for FR44 certificates to be exponentially higher due to the driving risk. The average person may see an increase of over $500 for insurance premiums.
What Are the High-Risk Insurance Requirements in California?
California is not one of the states requiring FR44 certificates. Therefore, to regain driving privileges in California, you need to carry only the state minimum liability coverage as required for an SR22 certificate. The California state minimum coverage includes:
- $15,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per person
- $30,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per accident
- $5,000 Property Damage Coverage
For more information on SR22 or FR44 Insurance or to receive a free, No-Obligation quote, call us TODAY at 866.822.7755 and we will help you find affordable insurance.