How Florida Calculates FR-44 Minimum Liability: 100/300/50

Florida mandates 100/300/50 liability limits for all drivers filing FR-44 after a DUI conviction. The first number — $100,000 — covers bodily injury per person in an accident you cause. The second — $300,000 — caps total bodily injury coverage per accident when multiple people are injured. The third — $50,000 — covers property damage you cause to vehicles, structures, or other property. These limits replaced Florida's former SR-22 requirement, which allowed 10/20/10 minimums. The tenfold increase in bodily injury coverage from $10,000 to $100,000 per person directly explains why FR-44 premiums run $200–$400 per month for most DUI offenders, compared to $80–$120 monthly for standard liability policies at state minimums. Your insurer files the FR-44 certificate with the Florida DHSMV only after you purchase a policy meeting these exact limits. Buying a policy with 50/100/50 or any configuration below 100/300/50 will not satisfy your filing requirement, and the DHSMV will not lift your suspension. The three-year FR-44 clock starts only when the state receives confirmation of compliant coverage from your carrier.

Insurers price bodily injury and property damage coverage using separate actuarial models. Bodily injury claims average $20,000–$50,000 in Florida when they involve hospital treatment, lost wages, or permanent injury — catastrophic injury claims routinely exceed $100,000. Property damage claims for totaled vehicles typically settle for $8,000–$15,000. The exposure gap explains why the 100/300 bodily injury component costs three to five times more than the $50,000 property damage portion. For a 35-year-old male driver in Tampa with a single DUI conviction, a non-owner FR-44 policy might break down as $220 monthly for the 100/300 bodily injury coverage and $60 monthly for the $50,000 property damage — $280 total. The same driver requesting 250/500/100 limits (higher than required) would see bodily injury costs jump to $340–$380 monthly, while property damage rises only to $75–$85. The bodily injury multiplier effect is consistent across carriers. This pricing structure means comparison shopping must isolate the bodily injury quote, not just the total premium. A carrier quoting $310 monthly with $240 allocated to bodily injury offers better long-term value than one quoting $290 with $250 in bodily injury costs, because the former will charge less if you later increase property damage limits or add comprehensive coverage.

Your bodily injury premium for FR-44 coverage starts with your base rate class — determined by age, gender, marital status, and zip code — then applies a DUI surcharge multiplier ranging from 2.0x to 4.5x depending on the carrier. A base rate of $90 monthly for 100/300 limits becomes $180–$405 after the DUI multiplier. Non-standard carriers writing FR-44 policies generally apply lower multipliers (2.0x–2.8x) than standard carriers who reluctantly file FR-44 (3.5x–4.5x). Your conviction details further adjust the rate. A DUI with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08%–0.15% typically incurs the baseline surcharge. BAC above 0.15% adds another 15–30% to the bodily injury premium at most carriers. A DUI involving property damage, injury to another person, or a minor passenger in your vehicle can double the surcharge. Refusal to submit to chemical testing is treated similarly to high BAC by most underwriters. Time since conviction reduces your rate incrementally, but only after the first 12 months. Expect no rate decrease in year one of your FR-44 filing period. Most carriers reduce the DUI surcharge by 10–15% at the first annual renewal if you maintain continuous coverage with no new violations, then another 10–15% at the second renewal. The full surcharge typically remains in effect for 5–7 years from conviction date, extending well beyond your three-year filing obligation.

Florida's $50,000 property damage minimum is five times higher than the old 10/20/10 SR-22 standard, but it remains the least expensive portion of your FR-44 policy. Carriers price property damage coverage based on vehicle density and repair costs in your area, not your DUI conviction. A driver in Miami pays $70–$90 monthly for $50,000 property damage due to high accident frequency and luxury vehicle concentration. The same driver in Ocala pays $45–$60 for identical coverage. Property damage premiums increase linearly with coverage limits, unlike bodily injury. Raising your property damage limit from $50,000 to $100,000 typically adds $15–$25 monthly — a 25–40% increase for double the coverage. Bodily injury limits do not scale as predictably; increasing from 100/300 to 250/500 often costs 60–90% more, not 40%. Some FR-44 drivers carrying the $50,000 minimum face coverage gaps when they cause accidents involving multiple vehicles or commercial property. A collision damaging two newer SUVs can generate $60,000–$80,000 in property damage claims, leaving you personally liable for amounts exceeding your $50,000 limit. Increasing property damage coverage to $100,000 costs less monthly than a single uninsured repair bill and does not affect your bodily injury premium.

Florida drivers who do not own a vehicle still need FR-44 filing to reinstate their license after a DUI suspension. Non-owner FR-44 policies provide the required 100/300/50 liability limits without insuring a specific vehicle, covering you when driving borrowed or rental cars. These policies cost 30–50% less than owner policies because they eliminate collision, comprehensive, and the vehicle-specific portion of liability risk. A non-owner FR-44 policy in Orlando typically runs $150–$250 monthly for a driver with a single DUI conviction. The same driver insuring a 2018 sedan with full coverage would pay $350–$550 monthly for FR-44-compliant limits plus collision and comprehensive. Both policies file the identical FR-44 certificate with the DHSMV and satisfy the three-year filing requirement. Non-owner policies terminate automatically if you purchase a vehicle and switch to an owner policy mid-filing period. You must notify your carrier within 30 days of acquiring a vehicle to avoid a lapse in FR-44 filing. The DHSMV receives electronic notification when your policy cancels, and your license will be re-suspended if you do not have replacement coverage filed within 15 days. Switching from non-owner to owner coverage does not restart your three-year filing clock as long as you maintain continuous coverage.

You cannot lower your 100/300/50 minimums and remain FR-44 compliant, but you can reduce premium by isolating the bodily injury quote across carriers. Request itemized quotes showing bodily injury and property damage as separate line items. A $300 monthly quote with $210 in bodily injury costs beats a $290 quote with $230 in bodily injury, even though the total is higher — the first carrier is pricing your DUI risk lower. Paying your six-month or annual premium in full eliminates installment fees that add 8–15% to your total cost. A policy quoted at $3,000 annually becomes $3,240–$3,450 when paid monthly due to service fees and interest charges. Carriers filing FR-44 often require larger down payments (25–40% of the six-month premium) than standard policies, but the financed balance still accrues fees. Bundling FR-44 auto coverage with renters or homeowners insurance can reduce your auto premium by 5–12% at carriers offering multi-policy discounts. The discount applies to your bodily injury premium, not just property damage or comprehensive. Maintaining continuous coverage without lapses throughout your three-year filing period qualifies you for early renewal discounts at most non-standard carriers — typically 10% off bodily injury rates at the 12-month mark if you have no new violations.