The General FR-44 in Florida: When They Compete vs When They Don't

The General's Florida FR-44 underwriting targets drivers with a single DUI conviction and at least 12 months of continuous prior insurance before the violation. If your license was suspended immediately after your DUI and you've been uninsured for more than 90 days, most broker submissions are declined. Drivers who receive approval typically meet these criteria: one DUI with no additional moving violations in the past three years, no at-fault accidents in the past five years, and proof of continuous coverage before the suspension. The General does not publish these guidelines publicly, but broker feedback confirms the pattern. If you have multiple DUIs, a refusal to submit to chemical testing, or a DUI combined with an at-fault accident, The General's underwriting system auto-declines in most cases. You'll need a carrier that writes deeper into the non-standard market.

When The General does accept an FR-44 applicant in Florida, monthly premiums typically range from $180 to $320 per month for minimum FR-44 liability limits of 100/300/50. Rates vary based on your county, age, gender, and how long ago your DUI conviction occurred. That range positions The General in the middle tier of Florida's FR-44 market. Progressive's non-standard division and National General often quote $20–$40 per month higher for identical coverage and driver profiles. Regional carriers writing FR-44 in Florida — like Dairyland and Bristol West — sometimes quote $30–$50 lower, but accept fewer applicants. The General does not offer the lowest FR-44 rate in Florida, but their broker network provides faster placement than carriers requiring paper applications and manual underwriting. For drivers who qualify, speed matters when your reinstatement deadline is 30 days out.

If you call The General directly about FR-44 coverage and do not meet their underwriting criteria, their call center refers you to their broker network or to a third-party aggregator. This referral is not a quote. It's a handoff to a broker who will shop you to whatever carriers accept your risk profile. Brokers referred by The General typically submit your application to 3–5 carriers simultaneously: The General, National General, Bristol West, Dairyland, and sometimes Hugo. If The General declines but another carrier in the broker's portfolio accepts you, you receive a quote from that carrier — not The General. The referral process adds 24–72 hours to your timeline. If your Florida license reinstatement deadline is within two weeks, a direct-accept carrier like Progressive's non-standard division or a regional broker specializing in FR-44 insurance may be faster.

The General does not file FR-44 certificates on behalf of direct applicants because they do not accept direct FR-44 applications. Only policies written through their broker channel trigger the electronic filing to the Florida DHSMV. This creates a filing gap if you assume calling The General's 1-800 number results in FR-44 coverage. Brokers appointed with The General submit your application through the company's agent portal. If approved, the broker binds coverage, collects your down payment, and The General files your FR-44 electronically within 24 hours. The DHSMV updates your driving record 2–5 business days after the filing is received. If you're declined, the broker must place you with a different carrier that accepts your risk profile and writes FR-44 business in Florida. That carrier files the FR-44, not The General. The filing entity must match the insurance carrier on your declaration page.

The General writes non-owner FR-44 policies in Florida, but only through their broker channel and only for drivers who meet the same underwriting criteria as standard FR-44 applicants. If you do not currently own or operate a vehicle and need FR-44 filing solely for license reinstatement, non-owner coverage is the correct product. Non-owner FR-44 premiums through The General typically run $120–$210 per month in Florida, roughly 30–40% lower than standard FR-44 policies with vehicle coverage. The liability limits are identical — 100/300/50 — but the policy excludes physical damage coverage because no vehicle is listed. The filing obligation is the same. The General electronically files your FR-44 with the DHSMV, certifying continuous liability coverage for the full three-year filing period. If you purchase a vehicle during the filing period, you must convert to a standard policy and notify the broker immediately to avoid a lapse.

If The General cancels your FR-44 policy for non-payment, your Florida driver license is automatically re-suspended. The company electronically notifies the DHSMV of the cancellation within 24 hours, and your reinstatement is revoked. The three-year FR-44 filing period resets from the date you obtain replacement coverage and file a new FR-44. Florida does not allow grace periods for FR-44 lapses. A single missed payment that results in cancellation restarts your entire filing obligation. If your policy cancels 18 months into your three-year requirement, you do not resume at 18 months when you reinstate — you start over at day one. The General issues a 10-day cancellation notice for non-payment in Florida. If you make payment within that window, the policy is reinstated and no lapse occurs. If the 10 days expire, the cancellation is reported to the DHSMV and your license suspension is reinstated immediately.