FR-44 Insurance in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Updated August 2026
Fort Lauderdale runs on its evenings — Las Olas, the beachfront bars along A1A, the marina crowd — and Broward's DUI enforcement runs right alongside. When a DUI-related conviction lands, Florida responds with the FR-44: a certificate only Florida and Virginia use, requiring liability limits of 100/300/50 for what is typically a three-year stretch. It's a heavier obligation than the SR-22 most people have heard of, and it exists specifically for DUI cases.
Here's the piece that keeps the situation workable: no two insurers read a DUI the same way. On an identical Fort Lauderdale record, one carrier's quote can dwarf another's — so the driver who compares several companies before buying almost always ends up in a different financial position than the driver who takes the first yes.
The sequence: from conviction to driving legally again
Getting back on I-95 legally follows an order, and skipping steps wastes weeks:
- Confirm the requirement — the DHSMV notice specifies FR-44 (DUI-related) versus SR-22 (everything else)
- Buy a policy with 100/300/50 limits from a Florida-authorized carrier: $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, $50,000 in property damage
- The insurer transmits the FR-44 certificate to the state electronically
- Clear the state's own reinstatement requirements and fees
- Maintain the policy without a single lapse for the full filing period, typically three years
What Broward drivers should expect on price
Fort Lauderdale full coverage already averages about $3,756 a year per MoneyGeek — above Florida's typical statewide range of roughly $2,786–$2,953 — before any DUI enters the file. Layer on FR-44 limits and DUI-rated pricing and the bill climbs: ValuePenguin data shows minimum-coverage FR-44 policies averaging around $318 a month. Numbers like that are exactly why the quote spread matters more here than almost anywhere; when the baseline is high, the gap between carriers turns into real dollars.
One structural note: Florida regulators approved rate cuts from the state's five largest auto insurers for 2026. The biggest brands still may not want DUI risk — but a moving market is one more reason not to assume last year's quotes still stand.
Life during the filing: commutes, hardship licenses, lapses
Most Broward drivers can't simply stop driving — the county's jobs stretch from the airport and Port Everglades logistics belt to the office parks off Cypress Creek, and I-595, the Sawgrass Expressway, and Federal Highway are how you reach them. Florida's hardship-license process exists for exactly this reason, and an FR-44 filing is generally part of qualifying for one after a DUI: the insurance has to be in place before the limited license can be.
During the filing period, the policy is load-bearing. A cancellation or lapse gets reported to the state and can bring the suspension back, which is why setting up autopay and treating the renewal date like a court date is standard advice from anyone who has been through this.
Why comparing beats loyalty after a DUI
The carrier you've had for years may be the worst-priced option you can see, because loyalty pricing and DUI underwriting come from different departments with different appetites. Florida records tens of thousands of DUI arrests a year, and an entire segment of the non-standard market competes for exactly these filings. Getting several of those companies to quote the same record — through licensed agents such as the partners we work with, rather than one brand's call center — is the lever that actually moves the number.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get a hardship license in Broward County with an FR-44?+
Florida's hardship-license route generally requires the FR-44 filing to be in place first; eligibility itself is decided by the state and, in some cases, the courts. A licensed agent can handle the insurance piece, but confirm the license questions directly with the DHSMV.
What happens if my FR-44 policy lapses?+
The insurer is required to notify the state, and your license can be suspended again — potentially adding time and reinstatement costs on top of what you've already paid. Continuous coverage for the full filing period is the one non-negotiable rule.
Will my rates come back down after the FR-44 ends?+
No outcome is guaranteed, but once the state releases the requirement you're free to requote without the 100/300/50 mandate, and the conviction generally weighs less on pricing as it ages. Most drivers treat the end of the filing period as the moment to re-shop everything.
Do I need an FR-44 if my violation wasn't a DUI?+
Probably not — non-DUI violations like driving without insurance typically trigger an SR-22 instead, which rides on Florida's normal minimums of $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL. The state's notice names the exact certificate your case requires.
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