Increased Insurance Rates and the FR-44 Form FR 44 Insurance in Florida

If you need another reason to avoid a DUI conviction, consider the fact that a Florida driver’s license suspension for a Driving Under the Influence ("DUI") conviction will cause your auto insurance rates to increase dramatically for the next five years, and may also make it more expensive to obtain other forms of insurance, including life insurance, medical and disability insurance. Contact a Tampa DUI Attorney to find out more about the effect a DUI conviction will have on your car insurance rates including the requirement for FR 44 insurance

Increased Insurance Premiums

Your Florida auto insurance premiums could increase by 200% to 300% from the amount you paid prior to your DUI arrest. Even worse, your insurance company may cancel or fail to renew your automobile insurance coverage in Florida. If you shop for new automobile insurance after being canceled from your old insurance company, the fact that your auto insurance is canceled will cause an additional increase in insurance premiums.

For many the increase in insurance premiums is so dramatic that maintaining automobile insurance becomes difficult or impossible. Any lapse in insurance will result in an automatic suspension of your driver's license under Florida law.

Higher Policy Limits

On February 2, 2008, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles ("DHSMV") introduced the new financial responsibility certification required under Section 316.193, Florida Statutes. The certification is a form called a Florida FR-44 Form and is similar to the SR-22, which was required prior to February 2, 2008. One of the differences between the new FR-44 form and the old SR-22 form is that higher liability limits are now required.

After a DUI conviction in Florida, your license will be suspended by order of the court. In order to reinstate your Florida driver's license, you will be required to obtain a FR-44 Form which must be maintained for three years. You obtain the FR-44 form from your auto insurance company. As soon as you ask for the FR-44, your auto insurance company will know that your driver's license has been suspended for a Florida DUI conviction, and your status will be changed to "high risk” causing the increased premiums.

The Florida FR-44 Form is a certificate of continuing financial responsibility showing the limits of your automobile liability insurance that must be kept on file with the Florida DHSMV for three years from the ending date of any revocation. The Florida FR-44 form also requires the insurance company to notify the DHSMV if your insurance policy is canceled, terminated, or lapses for any reason.

You must increase your auto insurance policy to comply with Florida FR-44 liability limits, which are 100/300/50. The 100/300/50 limits means that you must have bodily injury liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence and $50,000 property damage liability coverage. To reinstate your Florida driver’s license, you must usually pay a reinstatement fee of $150 (for a first suspension), $250 (for a second suspension), or $500 (for a third suspension).

Find Out More About Avoiding the Hidden Costs of a DUI Conviction

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence ("DUI") in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Polk County or Pasco County, contact an experienced Tampa DUI Attorney to discuss the true costs of a Florida DUI conviction.

Our lawyers handle driving under the influense ("DUI") cases throughout the Tampa Bay Area, including the cites of Tampa, Pinellas, St. Petersburg, Plant City, New Port Richey, Dade City, and Bartow, Florida. Contact the Sammis Law Firm for a free consultation to discuss your Florida DUI arrest and pending DUI charges in Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Polk County or the surrounding areas.

DUI Information Center

Defending Women Against DUI - Read more about special defenses that can be used when a woman is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Information about why the breath test machine is not reliable, reasons an innocent person might refuse to submit to field sobriety exercises or a chemical test of blood, breath or urine.

DUI Refusal Cases - Find out more information about how to fight a DUI case after the arresting officer alleges that you refused to submit to a chemical test of your breath, urine or blood. Read about why evidence of a "refusal" is admissible at trial and how that evidence might be ruled inadmissible by the judge.

DUI Roadblock or Checkpoint Cases - Read more about how your Tampa DUI Attorney can file a motion to suppress any evidence gained during a DUi checkpoint or roadblock.

Felony DUI with Serious Bodily Injury - Felony DUI cases such as DUI with serious bodily injury come with severe criminal penalties, including extensive jail time. Find out more about how to fight a Felony DUI charge throughout the Tampa Bay area.

DUI Administrative Hearings - Find out more about the 10 day rule and why preserving your right to attack the administrative suspension of your driver's license is so important.

Florida's Boating Under the Influence Charges - Boating under the influence cases are becoming more common throughout the Tampa Bay area. Find out the penalties and punishments for these types of cases and how to fight a charge of boating under the influence or BUI.