SR-22 is not a type of Florida auto insurance. It is the name of the form used by automobile insurance companies to certify the compliance of persons who must maintain minimum liability insurance limits. Auto insurance companies submit Form SR-22 to the Florida Office of Financial Responsibility for policyholders who are required to provide proof of liability insurance.
For most residents, Florida’s minimum mandatory auto insurance, as outlined in the Florida No-Fault Law, is $10,000 personal injury protection and $10,000 property damage liability. Bodily injury liability listed on an SR-22, in addition to the No-Fault Act requirement, is for people who meet certain criteria. Drivers who fail to provide proof of insurance after an accident, or who have accumulated too many points on their license, may require an SR22. Drivers with a DUI conviction require Florida FR44 insurance, not SR22.
The minimum bodily injury liability limits to comply with Florida SR-22 are $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident. A combined single limit of liability in the amount of $30,000 would also satisfy the SR-22 requirement. As of October 1, 2007, a driver convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence (DUI) will need to secure higher limits and submit proof through an FR44 filing, not an SR22.
The bodily injury liability insurance premium is the same from your insurance company, regardless of the SR-22 filing requirement. The only additional cost to the SR-22 insured in Florida is a $15.00 filing fee. However, drivers who are required to file an SR-22 generally pay more than other drivers for their insurance premium due to the reason for the SR-22, such as an at-fault car accident or a conviction for driving under the influence.
Once you are required by the Office of Financial Responsibility to have an SR-22 on file, failure to do so may result in the suspension of your driver’s license and/or vehicle registration. Reinstatement of your driver license and/or registration will only occur after certified proof of required liability insurance is filed with the Office of Financial Responsibility in the form of an SR-22. Reinstatement fees will apply in addition to the $15.00 filing fee. SR-22 and FR-44 forms are filed (filed) by the insurance company. Submissions are transmitted electronically and 15 days is the time allowed for the company to file a return after a policy begins.