If you got a DUI in another state but hold a Florida license, you face FR-44 filing requirements that most carriers and even court clerks don't understand. Here's what Florida DMV actually requires.
Does an Out-of-State DUI Trigger Florida FR-44 Requirements?
Florida DMV requires FR-44 filing for an out-of-state DUI conviction only if the offense would have triggered FR-44 under Florida Statutes §322.291 had it occurred in Florida. That means BAC of 0.15 or higher, a second DUI offense within 5 years, or a DUI involving injury or property damage. A first-offense DUI in Georgia with a 0.10 BAC does not trigger Florida FR-44, even though Georgia suspended your privilege to drive there.
The Interstate Driver's License Compact requires Florida to honor suspensions from member states, but FR-44 filing is a separate Florida-specific requirement tied to offense severity, not conviction location. Most national carriers and out-of-state court clerks don't distinguish between these requirements. You'll receive conflicting guidance: the convicting state may tell you to file SR-22, Florida DMV may issue a notice requiring FR-44, and your carrier may say neither applies.
Under current Florida law, your license status after an out-of-state DUI depends on three factors: whether the convicting state suspended your Florida driving privilege through the Compact, whether Florida independently suspended your license for the same offense, and whether the offense severity meets Florida's FR-44 threshold. These determinations run on separate timelines and through different bureaus within Florida DHSMV.
How Florida DMV Processes Out-of-State DUI Convictions
Florida receives notification of your out-of-state DUI conviction through the Interstate Driver's License Compact within 30 to 90 days of the conviction date. DHSMV Bureau of Records reviews the conviction details — BAC level, injury involvement, prior offense history — and determines whether Florida will impose an independent suspension and whether FR-44 filing is required. You receive a notice by mail to your address of record, typically 60 to 120 days after the out-of-state conviction.
If Florida determines FR-44 is required, the notice will state "FR-44 certificate of insurance required for reinstatement" and list the reinstatement fee, DUI program completion requirement, and the 3-year FR-44 filing period. The filing period begins on your Florida reinstatement date, not the out-of-state conviction date. If you don't reinstate immediately, the 3-year clock doesn't start.
Florida does not accept SR-22 filings from the convicting state as a substitute for FR-44. Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama all use SR-22 for DUI offenses. If you complete SR-22 filing to satisfy those states but ignore Florida's FR-44 requirement, your Florida license remains suspended even after the other state reinstates your driving privilege there.
Get FR-44 insurance quotes from carriers that file in Florida and Virginia
FR-44 requires higher liability limits than SR-22 — compare carriers that understand the difference.
Get Your Free Quote✓ FR-44 Filing Included✓ No Obligation✓ Licensed Carriers✓ FL & VA Specialists
Which Carriers Will File FR-44 for Out-of-State DUI Convictions
Most major carriers — State Farm, Geico, Allstate, Progressive, Travelers — will file FR-44 for existing Florida customers with out-of-state DUI convictions, but they typically non-renew the policy at the next renewal after filing. The FR-44 filing itself appears on your driving record as a compliance marker, making you uninsurable in the standard market for the entire 3-year filing period regardless of which carrier submitted the original filing.
Non-standard carriers that write FR-44 policies from the start include Bristol West, Direct Auto, Dairyland, GAINSCO, The General, and Acceptance. Premiums run $200 to $400 per month for Florida's required 100/300/50 liability minimums. Out-of-state DUI convictions are underwritten identically to in-state convictions once Florida DMV imposes the FR-44 requirement.
If you maintain valid insurance in the convicting state and Florida simultaneously — common for drivers who split time between states — you need separate FR-44 filing in Florida and separate SR-22 filing in the other state if both require proof filings. One policy cannot satisfy both states. Carriers licensed in both states can write two separate policies with two separate filings, but you'll pay full premium in each state.
What Happens If You Move to Florida After an Out-of-State DUI
If you received a DUI in another state, completed that state's requirements, and now apply for a Florida license for the first time, Florida DHSMV will review your out-of-state driving record during the license application process. If the DUI conviction meets Florida's FR-44 threshold and occurred within the past 3 years, Florida will require FR-44 filing before issuing your Florida license, even if the other state's suspension period has ended.
This requirement catches drivers moving to Florida for retirement or relocation who assume a years-old out-of-state DUI is resolved. A 2-year-old DUI from Ohio with a 0.16 BAC will trigger Florida FR-44 filing even though Ohio's SR-22 requirement ended after 1 year. You'll need to obtain FR-44 coverage from a Florida-licensed carrier, maintain it for the remainder of the 3-year period measured from your Florida license issue date, and pay non-standard market rates during that period.
Florida does not reduce or credit the filing period for time already served under another state's SR-22 or FR-44 requirement. The 3-year clock starts when Florida issues or reinstates your license, regardless of when the underlying conviction occurred.
Managing Dual-State FR-44 and SR-22 Requirements Simultaneously
If you hold licenses in both Florida and Virginia — the only two FR-44 states — and receive a DUI in a third state, you may face FR-44 requirements in both states simultaneously if the conviction meets each state's independent threshold. Florida requires 100/300/50 minimums; Virginia requires 50/100/40 minimums. You must maintain separate policies with separate FR-44 filings in each state, and each state's DMV monitors compliance independently through the SR-26 electronic verification system.
A lapse in either state triggers immediate suspension in that state, even if the other state's filing remains active. Carriers cannot combine filings across state lines. If you move from Virginia to Florida mid-compliance, you must cancel the Virginia FR-44 policy, obtain a new Florida FR-44 policy, and restart the 3-year period under Florida's rules unless Virginia's requirement period has already ended.
Most drivers in this situation maintain a single primary residence and surrender the out-of-state license to avoid dual filing. Maintaining two licenses with two FR-44 filings costs $400 to $800 per month in combined premiums with no underwriting benefit.
Court Documentation You Need to Provide Florida DMV
Florida DHSMV may request certified copies of your out-of-state DUI conviction documents if the Compact notification is incomplete or if you dispute the FR-44 requirement. Required documents include the final judgment of conviction, the official BAC test result, the court docket showing disposition, and proof of completion of any court-ordered DUI program in the convicting state.
Florida DMV does not accept uncertified printouts, lawyer summary letters, or screenshots of online court records. You must request certified copies directly from the clerk of court in the convicting jurisdiction. Processing time for out-of-state certified documents runs 2 to 6 weeks depending on the state. Missing or incomplete documentation delays your Florida reinstatement regardless of whether you've completed all other requirements.
If you completed DUI school in the convicting state, Florida may still require completion of a Florida-licensed DUI program before reinstatement. This requirement is discretionary and depends on whether the out-of-state program meets Florida's 12-hour or 21-hour course standards under Florida Statutes §322.282. Expect to re-complete DUI school in Florida if your out-of-state conviction occurred more than 12 months before you apply for Florida reinstatement.
