FR44 insurance isn’t something that most Florida drivers think about very often, but once you’re required to get it, it becomes a major part of your life for at least a few years.
So, what is it? Well, it’s a special addition to your insurance policy that is required when you’ve been convicted of a serious crime on the roadway. If you want to get back on the road with legal driving privileges, you’re required to have a policy that meets FR44 insurance requirements.
However, since this is something for when you’ve unfortunately lost your privileges for serious reasons, you likely don’t know much about it.
Today, we’re going to cover six must-know things about FR44 insurance to help you better understand what you’re paying for, why it’s necessary, and a few other things.
1. It’s Not a Policy
First and foremost, FR44 insurance isn’t an insurance policy in and of itself. While it’s often talked about as a separate type of policy from normal insurance, it’s a set of requirements that your insurance must meet if you’ve been deemed a high-risk driver looking to get your driving privileges back.
This is because the state of Florida has determined that, due to your conviction, you are more likely to cause a serious accident on the roadway, and the state wants to ensure that your insurance policy will cover any losses that you cause in the event of an accident. This includes issues such as property damage and even loss of life.
Once you’re required to get FR44 compliant insurance, you’ll inform the insurance provider you’re working with to develop a plan that complies with those requirements.
This applies whether you own a car or not. Non-owner FR44 policies are also available for drivers who need to fulfill state requirements but don’t have a vehicle registered in their name.
2. FR44 Insurance Covers Far More Costly Damages
When you have normal liability insurance, you can get away with some fairly cheap, minimal coverage that doesn’t cost much at all. That’s not necessarily the best route because it leaves you open to financial problems if you have an accident, but it is extremely cheap.
FR44 requirements are hefty, though. Due to you being considered a high-risk driver, the state of Florida requires that your liability insurance policy cover up to $300,000 per accident with bodily injuries, $100,000 per person, and at least $50,000 in property damage for an accident.
That far exceeds most other insurance policies. Including full coverage policies. While this might seem excessive, it ensures that any accident you get in is almost certain to be fully covered by your insurance company, and the financial implications of the accident are minimized for others.
That hefty insurance coverage requirement skyrockets the price of FR44 insurance considerably. After all, the insurance company has to have some financial incentive to risk such high payouts.
Still, one of the lesser-known benefits of getting an insurance plan that meets these standards is that you’re also better protected from costly lawsuits and personal financial ruin following an accident.
3. It’s Not Entirely a Negative Thing
Most people aren’t excited to get FR44 insurance. This is because of the nature of the policy and the reasoning behind it. It means you’ve gotten into major trouble, and you can’t drive without a costly insurance policy.
However, it’s not the negative thing that people make it out to be.
While it costs more, and that can be financially stressful, it’s a remedial process. It allows you to continue driving and fix your driving record.
After an average of 3 to 5 years of successfully avoiding trouble on the roadway with your FR44 insurance, you’ll be eligible to get normal insurance again.
In a way, it’s not just a way to guarantee the state that any damage you cause will be paid off. It also functions as an opportunity to prove you’ve learned from your mistake and can be trusted to drive normally again.
4. It Is Not SR22 Insurance
People often confuse FR44 insurance with SR22 insurance. Both of these are used in Florida for serious roadway violations, and they both function similarly.
However, the reasoning behind them and the specific requirements each one has are different.
SR22 insurance is for major issues such as reckless driving, losing your license due to an accident that was avoidable and had major consequences, etc. FR44 insurance is only for DWI and DUI if you were caught driving under the influence of restricted substances.
While extremely similar, the small details matter.
Also read: 6 Tips for Finding Affordable SR22 Insurance in Florida.
5. Not Maintaining Your Insurance Has Hefty Consequences
Once you get an FR44-compliant policy, you must continuously maintain it until it is no longer required. If you allow the insurance to lapse, even just temporarily, your license will be revoked.
Driving for any reason will then result in you failing your FR44 requirements and facing further legal consequences.
If you do run into a situation where you simply cannot afford your FR44 insurance anymore, or you don’t want to drive for one reason or another, you must notify the DMV in Florida before allowing the insurance to expire or ending your policy.
6. You Can Reduce the Cost
For the last tip, you’re not stuck paying full price for your FR44 insurance. It’s likely to always be more expensive than the cheapest normal liability insurance policy, but you can greatly reduce the price.
There are two great ways to do this.
First, you can take a defensive driving course. This depends on your insurance provider, but most FR44 insurance providers will lower your payments if you take a defensive driving course and prove that you’re doing your best to be a safe driver and regain trust. Some don’t accept this, though. So, make sure you check with your provider before you enroll in a course.
Then, you can increase your deductibles. This is a double-edged sword. You get reduced payments, but if anything happens, you’re on the hook for more financial liability out of pocket before your insurance will help. You have to weigh the pros and cons before you commit to this strategy.
Skip the Hassle and Get FR44 Compliant Insurance Now
Finding FR44 insurance in Florida doesn’t have to be a frustrating or confusing process. At SR22 Direct, we also provide SR22 and non-owner SR22 insurance options to suit a variety of driving situations.
With service areas across the state, including Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and many more, we make it easy to get back on the road legally and with peace of mind.
Contact us today and let our experienced team guide you every step of the way!
