The General FR-44 in Florida: Who They Accept for FR-44

The General accepts first-time DUI convictions in Florida with no additional major violations in the prior 3 years. This includes DUI convictions under Florida Statutes 316.193 and breath-test refusals that trigger FR-44 under the state's implied consent statute. If your conviction is your only alcohol-related offense and your driving record contains no at-fault accidents or additional moving violations in the 36 months before the DUI, you typically qualify for a standard FR-44 policy with The General. They also write policies for drivers who refused the breath test following a traffic stop. Florida law treats breath-test refusal identically to a DUI conviction for FR-44 purposes — both require 100/300/50 liability limits and a 3-year filing period measured from your reinstatement date. The General does not distinguish between conviction and refusal when underwriting, so refusal cases receive the same premium structure as DUI convictions with comparable driving records. Drivers with a single DUI and a commercial driver's license face additional scrutiny. The General may accept the case if the DUI occurred in a personal vehicle and your CDL status is not currently suspended. If the DUI occurred while operating a commercial vehicle, The General typically declines the application and refers you to specialty commercial carriers.

The General automatically declines any applicant with more than one alcohol-related offense in the past 5 years. This includes any combination of DUI convictions, reckless driving with alcohol involvement, or breath-test refusals. A second offense moves you out of The General's underwriting appetite and into the specialty high-risk market served by carriers like Acceptance, Mendota, or GAINSCO. They also decline any case requiring an ignition interlock device as a condition of license reinstatement. Florida courts frequently mandate interlock installation for first-time DUI convictions with a BAC over 0.15 or for any second offense. The General does not write policies that include interlock compliance monitoring, even if you've already installed the device. If your reinstatement letter from the Florida DHSMV mentions interlock requirements, you need a carrier that specializes in interlock cases — typically Bristol West, Direct Auto, or Dairyland. Drivers with an at-fault accident within 6 months of the DUI conviction are usually declined. The combination of an alcohol offense and a recent at-fault claim creates a risk profile The General won't underwrite. This applies even if the accident was unrelated to alcohol and occurred before your DUI arrest. The underwriting system flags the proximity of the two events and generates an automatic decline.

The General's FR-44 premium in Florida typically ranges from $180 to $320 per month for minimum liability coverage, depending on your age, county, and the specifics of your conviction. A 35-year-old driver in Miami-Dade County with a first-time DUI and no other violations usually pays $240 to $280 per month for 100/300/50 liability limits with FR-44 filing. A driver over 50 with the same conviction profile in a lower-density county like Polk or Hernando may see premiums closer to $180 to $220 per month. Rates increase with proximity to the conviction date. If you're quoting coverage within 60 days of your DUI arrest, expect premiums at the higher end of the range. The General applies a conviction surcharge that decreases annually over the 3-year filing period. At reinstatement, your premium reflects the full surcharge. By month 24 of your filing period, that surcharge typically drops by 30 to 40 percent if you maintain continuous coverage with no additional violations. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage to an FR-44 policy with The General raises your monthly premium by $80 to $150, depending on your vehicle's value and your selected deductibles. Most FR-44 drivers carry liability only, but if you're financing your vehicle or want physical damage protection, The General offers full coverage with FR-44 filing. Estimates based on available industry data; individual rates vary by driving history, vehicle, coverage selections, and location.

The General files your FR-44 certificate electronically with the Florida DHSMV within 24 to 48 hours of policy binding. The filing includes your policy number, coverage effective date, liability limits, and your driver's license number. Florida's SR-26 system processes the filing and updates your driver record to reflect active FR-44 compliance. You do not receive a paper FR-44 certificate unless you request one — the electronic filing satisfies the state requirement. You receive email confirmation from The General once the FR-44 is filed. This confirmation includes your policy effective date and the date the DHSMV received the filing. If you're waiting for license reinstatement, check your status on the Florida DHSMV website 3 to 5 business days after The General confirms filing. The state system updates intermittently, and manual review delays are common in high-volume counties like Broward, Hillsborough, and Orange. If your policy lapses or cancels for nonpayment during the 3-year filing period, The General notifies the DHSMV electronically within 24 hours. Florida immediately suspends your license upon receiving the lapse notification. Reinstatement after a lapse requires paying a $15 reinstatement fee, re-filing FR-44 with a new policy, and in some counties, appearing in person at a DHSMV office. The General does not reinstate lapsed FR-44 policies — you must purchase a new policy and restart the filing process.

If The General declines your FR-44 application, you need a carrier in the specialty high-risk market. Bristol West, Direct Auto, and Dairyland write FR-44 policies for drivers The General declines, including second offenses, interlock cases, and recent at-fault accidents combined with DUI convictions. Premiums with these carriers run $250 to $450 per month for minimum FR-44 liability limits, approximately 30 to 50 percent higher than The General's rates. Some drivers declined by The General qualify for state-assigned risk pools, but Florida does not operate a traditional assigned risk program for FR-44 filers. Instead, the Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association serves drivers who cannot obtain coverage in the voluntary market. FAJUA policies carry premiums significantly higher than specialty market carriers — typically $400 to $600 per month for FR-44 liability limits. Exhaust specialty carrier options before applying to FAJUA. If multiple specialty carriers decline your application, consider whether your driving record contains errors or unresolved license issues. Order your complete driving record from the Florida DHSMV and verify all conviction dates, violation codes, and suspension periods. Incorrect data on your MVR triggers automatic underwriting declines that resolve immediately once the record is corrected.