Whenever you get into trouble on Florida’s roadways and lose your license, there are certain requirements you have to meet before you can start driving again. It’s not a permanent punishment, but it can be costly.
Unfortunately, it’s also not as simple as it could be. Insurance is one of the determining factors in whether you can get back on the road, and there are two primary types of insurance that you might need.
SR22 and FR44 insurance are both designed to help you get back on the road, but they vary in significant ways. Here are the differences between the two and some guidance on choosing between SR22 insurance vs FR44 insurance policies.
What are SR22 and FR44 Insurance Meant for?
What is SR22 insurance? And FR44 insurance? They are both extremely similar in their core purpose, and this is what leads to a lot of confusion when it comes time to get one or the other.
In general, if you need one of these to get back on the road, it’s because you committed some sort of traffic crime.
This can stem from driving around without insurance and getting caught or not meeting legally required qualifications for your driving privileges, or it can mean something far more serious such as driving intoxicated and harming someone.
These are not insurance policies that random people need to acquire, just like any other type of insurance. They both function as guarantees that a high-risk driver is taking necessary precautions to protect the public, essentially.
They’re not all bad, though. They’re also remedial. Your driving record and ability to get good insurance after a major traffic violation are considerably damaged. SR22 and FR44 insurances give you the opportunity to correct that over a few years and then get your good name back when you go for another insurance policy.
In any case, the drivers who end up looking into SR22 and FR44 absolutely need them to drive again. These aren’t optional due to the nature of their purpose.
Neither is Actually an Insurance Policy
This is another confusing point for many Florida drivers looking to get their licenses back. Neither is actually an insurance policy. At least not in technical terms.
SR22 insurance in Florida and FR44 are actually agreements between your insurance provider and the government ,ensuring that the policy you’ve purchased meets government requirements for you to get your license back. The SR22 form is filed by your insurance provider when you go to purchase an insurance policy.
They’re simply called “policies” because they are attached to various insurance policies you purchase, and those policies have to meet the SR22 and FR44 insurance to be valid in your situation.
What’s the Difference Between SR22 and FR44 Insurance?
There’s one key difference between these two insurance requirements, and it boils down to the cause of you losing your license.
SR22’s importance is that it covers the vast majority of traffic issues. Maybe you were uninsured and got into a wreck, didn’t pay your child support lost your license because of it, or simply kept getting tickets.
These all make you a high-risk driver, but they’re not situations that typically mean you’re a life-threatening risk to other drivers.
In comparison, FR44 insurance is otherwise known as “DUI insurance”, and that’s for a good reason. It covers very serious traffic violations that cause you to lose your license. For example, you drove intoxicated and got into an accident. Due to the nature of your offense, you are considered a much more serious risk on the roadway. At least, for now, that’s the case. Remember, these are remedial insurance policies, and you can redeem yourself in the eyes of insurers.
Also read: 5 Insurance Benefits You Need to Know About
The Functional Difference Between SR22 and FR44 Insurance
The difference between SR22 and FR44 insurance types requirements isn’t just the nature of the offense that caused them to be needed in the first place. It’s also what your insurance policy is required to have to meet those requirements.
Being a generally less serious offense, although SR22 is still a requirement, it doesn’t require you to have as much coverage.
For example, when it comes to bodily injury or death of one person and property damage coverage, SR22 plans must cover $10,000 worth of liability. If deaths amount to more than 2 people in an accident, the coverage must be more than $20,000.
That might sound relatively low for something such as death being the topic, but remember that SR22 covers things such as uninsured accidents and not paying child support.
FR44 requires much more coverage. It must cover at least $100,000 worth of liability for the death of one person in an accident and $300,000 worth of liability for multi-death accidents. It must also cover at least $50,000 worth of property damage.
The reasoning for this high coverage demand is that, assuming you had a relevant offense, you have demonstrated being at higher risk of causing those issues.
This makes it much harder to get a cost-effective FR44-compliant policy, too. The coverage amounts are extremely high for an already high-risk client.
Meanwhile, getting an SR22-compliant policy is typically more expensive than an equivalent policy that doesn’t have to meet SR22 standards, but it’s still not too much to adjust to.
How to Choose Between SR22 VS FR44 Insurance
Determining whether you need SR22 VS FR44 insurance is fairly straightforward. You’ll typically be informed during the license reinstatement process, but in general, the reason for your license suspension can help you figure it out. If your suspension was due to a DUI-related offense or a serious violation, FR44 insurance is likely required. Most other drivers will need an SR22-compliant policy.
It’s also important to maintain continuous coverage for the entire duration of your SR22 or FR44 requirement. If your policy lapses, or if the SR22 or FR44 designation is removed too soon or incorrectly, you could end up back in the same legal situation, struggling to reinstate your license.
So while obtaining SR22 or FR44 insurance is the first step, keeping it active for the required 2-5 years is just as crucial.If you’re unsure which type of policy you need or you’re ready to secure coverage, SR22 Direct is here to help. We provide our services in Miami, Tampa, and many other locations across Florida. Contact us today, and we’ll guide you through the process to get you back on the road!
