A Florida DUI conviction commonly raises auto insurance premiums and brings a requirement for FR-44 proof of insurance, which carries higher liability limits than standard coverage. The exact effect on rates depends on the insurer and the driver.
FR-44: the Florida requirement after a DUI conviction
After a DUI conviction, Florida requires the driver to carry FR-44 proof of insurance. The FR-44 shows that the driver has liability coverage at higher limits than a standard policy requires.
Drivers who have dealt with insurance in other states may have heard of a different form used elsewhere. For a Florida DUI, the form is FR-44.
Why premiums tend to rise after a conviction
Insurers price risk, and a DUI conviction is one of the factors that commonly pushes premiums up. Higher liability limits under FR-44 also mean more coverage, and more coverage generally costs more by itself. Some insurers may decline to renew a policy after a conviction, which can send a driver looking for coverage elsewhere.
No general article can give a reliable number. The change depends on the company, the driver's age and record, the vehicle, where the driver lives and the coverage selected.
Arrest versus conviction: when insurance changes
The FR-44 requirement is tied to a conviction, not to the arrest. A pending charge is a different situation from a conviction, and how insurers treat a pending case varies.
A DUI conviction stays on the Florida driving record for 75 years, and insurers commonly look at driving records when pricing coverage. That long record is part of why a conviction can matter to insurance long after the sentence ends.
How the outcome of the criminal case connects to coverage
Because the insurance consequences follow the conviction, the outcome of the criminal case matters. Depending on the evidence, a DUI case may in some situations be resolved as a lesser charge such as reckless driving, which is a different offense from DUI. That result is never automatic.
Questions about a specific policy belong with an insurance agent or the insurer. DUI Lawyers Shield Firm can explain how the criminal case and the FR-44 requirement fit together in a free case review.
Keep reading
- How a Florida DUI Conviction Affects Your Employment
- DUI With Drugs in Florida: When Prescription Medication Becomes a Charge
- Arrested for DUI in Florida as an Out of State Driver: What to Do
General information only, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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