SR-22 in Florida: When FLHSMV Requires One, How Long, and What It Costs
Florida doesn't make most drivers carry bodily injury liability. The SR-22 is what happens when that gamble goes wrong. Cause a crash where someone is hurt, get charged with a moving violation, and have no bodily injury coverage that day, and FLHSMV will suspend your license and registrations until you file an SR-22 for $10,000/$20,000/$10,000 in liability coverage, keep it for three years, settle with the injured people (or post a security deposit), and pay a $15 reinstatement fee if the suspension has taken effect.
That's the main case. It isn't the only one: Florida uses the term in more than one way. FLHSMV also calls the filing it requires after a conviction for driving without proof of insurance an "SR-22," and that one is about PIP and property damage, runs two years, and has nothing to do with the 10/20/10 limits. Meanwhile, the insurance cancellation (FR7) letter, which FLHSMV lists among its most common notices, doesn't list an SR-22 at all.
Source: s. 324.021; s. 324.071; s. 324.0221; FLHSMV, Involved in a crash (accessed Oct. 22, 2026).
What an SR-22 is in Florida
FLHSMV's definition: "an insurance filing certifying bodily injury liability (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL) to comply with the reinstatement requirements of the Florida Financial Responsibility Law." That law is Chapter 324 of the Florida Statutes, the Financial Responsibility Law of 1955 (s. 324.251).
So an SR-22 is proof, filed by your insurer, that you carry the required liability policy. It isn't a separate kind of coverage. The policy behind it is an ordinary auto liability policy with at least these limits under s. 324.021(7):
- $10,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in one crash
- $20,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one crash
- $10,000 for property damage in one crash
You don't send the form yourself. FLHSMV says your insurance company must certify the filing with the department, and for the no-proof-of-insurance case it says the insurer "must file the SR-22 certificate electronically with FLHSMV." The law allows other ways to prove financial responsibility (s. 324.031), such as self-insurance, which for an individual requires a net unencumbered worth of at least $40,000 (s. 324.171). For almost everyone, the insurance filing is the practical route.
To register a private passenger car in Florida you only need $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL); see the Florida car insurance requirements. The SR-22 is how the state makes BI mandatory for drivers who caused an injury without it.
Which situation are you in?
Start with the letter. FLHSMV's Notice of Suspension shows an "FR Sanction" number, and the department says the first digit of that number tells you what kind of financial responsibility sanction you have. If you've lost the letter, you can view a copy by creating an account on the MyDMV Portal. When people search for a "Florida SR-22 case number," this FR sanction number is usually what they need.
| Situation (FLHSMV letter) | What FLHSMV requires | How long | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injury crash, you charged with a moving violation, no BI coverage (FR100) | SR-22 at 10/20/10; signed releases or a security deposit; $15 fee if already suspended | 3 years from the original suspension date | ss. 324.051, 324.071 |
| Unpaid court judgment from a crash | Satisfy the judgment (or pay in court-approved installments) and file proof of financial responsibility | Suspended until satisfied (FLHSMV: up to 20 years); proof kept 3 years | ss. 324.121, 324.131 |
| Convicted of driving without proof of insurance (FR200) | "PIP six-month, non-cancellable form SR-22" policy, or surrender the plate | 2 years from license reinstatement | ss. 316.646, 324.0221 |
| PIP/PDL cancelled, no other policy on file (FR7) | New Florida PIP/PDL policy reported by the insurer, or plate surrender; $150/$250/$500 fee | No SR-22 listed by FLHSMV | s. 324.0221 |
| Insurance you gave at registration denied by the insurer (FR8) | PIP/PDL policy or plate surrender; reinstatement fee | No SR-22 listed by FLHSMV | s. 324.0221 |
| Property-damage-only crash, no PIP/PDL (FR900) | Proof of current insurance or plate surrender; releases or a security deposit | No SR-22 listed by FLHSMV | s. 324.051 |
| DUI conviction | FR-44 at 100/300/50, not an SR-22 | At least 3 years | s. 324.023 |
Source: FLHSMV FR100; FLHSMV FR200; FLHSMV FR7; FLHSMV FR8; FLHSMV, Sanction notices; FLHSMV FR900; FLHSMV, Involved in a crash; s. 324.023; s. 324.131 (accessed Oct. 22, 2026).
Two more routes can lead to a proof requirement. When FLHSMV suspends or revokes a license under s. 322.26 or s. 322.27 (the second one covers points suspensions, for example 12 points in 12 months), s. 324.072 also suspends the registrations of every vehicle in your name unless you had the required coverage on the date of the latest offense or you give and keep proof of financial responsibility. I couldn't find an FLHSMV page that states how long the proof must be kept in those conviction cases, so I won't guess. Your letter will say.
The main case: an injury crash without bodily injury coverage
This is the classic Florida SR-22, and the statute behind it is s. 324.051. FLHSMV puts it simply: if the at-fault driver was charged with a moving violation and injuries or possible injuries were noted on the crash report, Chapter 324 required full liability coverage at the time of the crash. Without it, the at-fault party has to:
- Buy a 10/20/10 policy and have the insurer file an SR-22, kept "for three years from the designated suspension date."
- Get signed releases from the other parties, or post a security deposit in the amount shown on the suspension notice. FLHSMV's forms are the Release in Full of All Claims (HSMV 74014) and the Agreement of Repayment (HSMV 74036).
- Pay the $15 reinstatement fee, if the suspension has already taken effect.
The security deposit is set by FLHSMV at an amount it considers enough to cover the injuries, but never more than the 10/20/10 limits (s. 324.061). It's released when the injured people sign off, a court finds you weren't liable, or a year passes with no lawsuit the department knows about.
A repayment agreement has a catch: FLHSMV says that if the at-fault party defaults, "the department does not take action and the other party must take the dispute to court." That sends you into the judgment rules below.
| Step | What the law says | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Crash reported | Drivers must notify police of a crash with injury, death or at least $2,000 of apparent property damage (was $500 before Oct. 1, 2026) | s. 316.065 |
| FLHSMV sends notice | Each owner and operator must furnish evidence of liability insurance within 14 days after FLHSMV provides notice of the crash; the insurer has 20 days to confirm or deny | s. 324.091 |
| Suspension | 30 days after FLHSMV receives notice of the crash, it suspends the operator's license and all of the owner's registrations, after notice and a chance to be heard, unless an exemption applies | s. 324.051(2)(a) |
| Reinstatement | SR-22 at 10/20/10, releases or a security deposit, and the $15 fee | ss. 324.051, 324.071 |
| Next 3 years | Keep the SR-22 policy in force; FLHSMV won't renew or reissue the license or registration within 3 years of reinstatement unless you keep complying | s. 324.071 |
Source: s. 316.065; s. 324.091; s. 324.051; s. 324.071; FLHSMV, Involved in a crash (accessed Oct. 22, 2026).
If you did have bodily injury coverage on the crash date, don't let the FR100 letter scare you into buying a new policy. FLHSMV asks you to confirm your policy number, the five-digit company code on your ID card, the VIN and your address with your insurer, then send that information (or a letter from the insurer on letterhead showing BI limits and dates). FLHSMV verifies it. Do it within the deadline: if coverage isn't confirmed, FLHSMV says "your driver license will be suspended immediately." It also says not to send a declarations page.
And note what the statute exempts. The crash suspension doesn't apply if the vehicle was legally parked, if it was government-owned, or if you had a liability policy at 10/20/10 or higher on every registered vehicle at the time (s. 324.051(2)).
The other "SR-22": driving without proof of insurance
Florida requires every owner to carry proof of PIP and PDL while driving (s. 316.646). If you're cited without it and can't show the court that the coverage was in force, your license and registration are suspended and can be reinstated only under s. 324.0221.
FLHSMV's FR200 letter covers the case where you're found guilty and you owned the uninsured car. It gives two options. One is to buy "a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) six-month, non-cancellable form SR-22 (certification of liability insurance) policy" before the suspension takes effect, and keep it "for two years from the date of the reinstatement of your driver license." The other is to surrender the plate. If you surrender it and then re-register the car or reactivate the plate within two years of reinstatement, the PIP SR-22 comes back as a requirement.
That "non-cancellable" wording is FLHSMV's; the statute doesn't use it. What s. 324.0221(3) does say is that anyone reinstating under that section must also secure coverage as described in ss. 324.021(8), 324.023 and 627.7275(2), present proof on a department form, and maintain that proof for 2 years. Insurers make reinstatement policies available, subject to their underwriting, for at least six months (s. 627.7275(2)(b)), and the insurer reports to FLHSMV that the policy is in force.
Unpaid judgments
If someone you injured sues and wins, and the judgment goes unpaid, they can send FLHSMV a certified copy of the judgment plus the crash report once 30 days have passed from the final judgment date. Under s. 324.121, FLHSMV then suspends your license, registrations and any nonresident driving privilege. FLHSMV describes the length bluntly: "for 20 years or until the judgment is satisfied."
The suspension ends when every judgment is stayed or paid, either in full or up to the 10/20/10 limits, and you file proof of financial responsibility, "such proof to be maintained for 3 years" (s. 324.131). Installments are the other way out:
- Installments. You can ask the court to let you pay in installments. While you keep up the payments and keep proof of financial responsibility on file, FLHSMV won't suspend you, or will restore your privileges. Miss a payment and the suspension returns until the judgment is paid (s. 324.141).
No car? The non-owner (operator's) SR-22
Florida law recognizes an operator's policy: it covers the named person's liability while using any motor vehicle he or she doesn't own, in the U.S. and Canada, at the same limits as an owner's policy (s. 324.151(1)(b)). That's the statutory basis for what people call a "non-owner SR-22." Whether a given insurer sells it is that insurer's call. Two points about it:
- It covers liability only, and only for cars you don't own. If you buy a car, you need an owner's policy with PIP and PDL to register it, and the filing has to move with you. Tell the agent before you drive the new car.
- It also works as prevention. The crash suspension in s. 324.051(2)(b)2 doesn't apply to a driver who isn't the owner if, at the time of the crash, a 10/20/10 policy covered his or her operation of cars he or she doesn't own. If you regularly drive a car that isn't yours and the owner carries no BI, that's worth thinking about.
If the SR-22 policy lapses
An insurer that wrote a policy to get your license or registration back can't cancel it without giving 10 days' notice of cancellation to FLHSMV, on the department's form, and to you (s. 324.181). The 2007 FLHSMV bulletin to insurers refers to cancelling an SR-22 "with an SR-26." Once FLHSMV has that notice, your proof is gone, and the suspension machinery restarts.
The law is strict about what happens next. Anyone whose license or registration is suspended, or whose required policy is cancelled, must immediately return the license and registrations to FLHSMV; refusing can lead to a warrant for a second-degree misdemeanor (s. 324.201(1)). If an officer stops you driving your own car on a Chapter 324 suspension that's at least 30 days old, the officer "shall immediately seize the license plate" (s. 324.201(3)).
And there's no workaround. FLHSMV says: "There are no provisions for a temporary or hardship driver license for insurance-related suspensions."
What I'd do: put the policy on automatic payment, and when you switch insurers, get the new filing on record before the old policy ends. Under s. 324.181, a later policy furnished as proof ends the earlier one for any vehicle on both, so there's no reason to leave a gap.
SR-22 vs FR-44
The FR-44 is Florida's DUI filing. After a DUI finding of guilt or a plea of guilty or no contest under s. 316.193 after October 1, 2007, s. 324.023 requires much higher liability limits for at least 3 years. A certificate of deposit of at least $350,000 is the alternative. When the FR-44 rules started, FLHSMV's 2007 bulletin told insurers that an SR-22 received for a DUI case had to be replaced with an FR-44 at the higher limits. FR-44s deserve their own post; here's how the limits compare.
| Register a car (no filing) | SR-22 | FR-44 (DUI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury, one person | Not required | $10K | $100K |
| Bodily injury, two or more people | Not required | $20K | $300K |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 | $10K | $50K |
| PIP | $10,000 | $10,000 if you register a car | $10,000 if you register a car |
| How long | Continuously while registered | 3 years (crash and judgment cases) | At least 3 years |
| Non-insurance alternative | FLHSMV self-insurance certificate (s. 627.733(3)(b)) | Deposit or self-insurance (s. 324.031) | $350,000 certificate of deposit |
Source: s. 324.021; s. 324.023; s. 324.031; s. 627.733; FLHSMV, Insurance requirements (accessed Oct. 22, 2026).
Source: ss. 324.021(7) and 324.023, Florida Statutes (2026); FLHSMV, accessed Oct. 22, 2026
Show the numbers
| Item | Minimum |
|---|---|
| FR-44 (DUI) | $300K |
| SR-22 | $20K |
What the state charges
Florida sets the reinstatement fees in statute. It doesn't set what an insurer charges to file the SR-22, and I didn't find any such fee in Chapter 324, s. 627.7275 or FLHSMV's fee schedule. That charge is the insurer's, so ask for it in writing with the quote.
Source: ss. 324.071 and 324.0221(3), Florida Statutes (2026); FLHSMV FR100 letter page, accessed Oct. 22, 2026
Show the numbers
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| PIP/PDL suspension, 3rd or later within 3 years | $500 |
| PIP/PDL suspension, 2nd within 3 years | $250 |
| PIP/PDL suspension, 1st | $150 |
| Crash, judgment or conviction (FR) reinstatement | $15 |
| Tax collector service fee (in-person) | $6.25 |
The $15 fee covers reinstatement after a crash, conviction, judgment or similar Chapter 324 suspension, and it's one fee per person no matter how many licenses and registrations are involved (s. 324.071). The PIP/PDL fee climbs with repeat suspensions: $150 the first time, $250 the second, and $500 for each one after that during the 3 years following the first. If no second reinstatement happens within 3 years, it goes back to $150 (s. 324.0221(3)).
Example: say your PIP/PDL lapses for the second time within three years of the first and you clear it in person at a county tax collector's office for immediate clearance. That's $250 plus the $6.25 service fee FLHSMV says tax collector offices charge: $256.25, before anything you pay for the policy itself.
What changed in 2026 (and what didn't)
Senate Bill 488 (ch. 2026-39, Laws of Florida) took effect October 1, 2026. It raised the property damage threshold for reporting a crash to police from $500 to $2,000 (s. 316.065). FLHSMV's "Involved in a crash?" page still showed $500 when I checked on October 22, so go by the statute. In Chapter 324 its changes were minor: wording in s. 324.091 (notice now runs from FLHSMV "providing" notice instead of "mailing" it) and a commercial-vehicle self-insurer provision in s. 324.171. The SR-22 limits, the 3-year and 2-year periods and the fees didn't change.
PIP is still law, too: the 2026 repeal bills, one of which would have required 25/50/10 BI on every registered vehicle, died in committee in March. The Florida PIP repeal post tracks that.
Why Florida leans on this system at all: the Insurance Research Council estimated that 20.6% of Florida motorists were uninsured in 2023, seventh highest among the 50 states and D.C., against 15.4% nationally. The IRC's method compares uninsured motorist claims with bodily injury claims, so it's an estimate, not a head count.
Source: Insurance Research Council, via Triple-I (accessed Oct. 2026)
Show the numbers
| Uninsured motorists | |
|---|---|
| Florida 2015 | 26.7% |
| Florida 2019 | 20.4% |
| Florida 2023 | 20.6% |
| U.S. 2023 | 15.4% |
If you're on the other side of this, the person hit by a driver with no BI, the coverage that protects you is your own uninsured motorist coverage. The Florida uninsured motorist coverage explainer covers how it works.
What I'd do, step by step
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| The letter arrives | Read the FR sanction number and letter code (FR100, FR200, FR7...). It tells you whether an SR-22 is required at all. Check the deadline. |
| You had insurance that day | Confirm the policy number, five-digit company code, VIN and address with your insurer, and send the proof FLHSMV asks for. No declarations page. |
| You need an SR-22 | Get a policy from an insurer that will file a Florida SR-22 electronically: an owner's policy if you have a car, an operator's policy if you don't. |
| Injury crash | Get signed releases or a repayment agreement on FLHSMV's forms, or post the deposit on your notice. |
| Pay and verify | Pay the fee on the MyDMV Portal (Driver License tab, Sanction Inquiry) or in person. Mail and fax take about ten business days; then check the Driver License Check tool. |
| For 2 or 3 years | Automatic payments, no gaps between policies, and tell the agent before you buy or add a car. |
| At the end | Calendar the end date from your suspension or reinstatement date, and confirm with FLHSMV before dropping the filing. |
Source: FLHSMV FR100; FLHSMV FR7; FLHSMV, Involved in a crash; FLHSMV Driver License Check (accessed Oct. 22, 2026).
FLHSMV's public Driver License Check shows your status, and its motor vehicle check shows an open financial responsibility sanction on a car as an "Insurance Related Stop" (pending sanctions don't show). The Customer Service Center is (850) 617-2000. For the basics on PIP, PDL and optional coverages, our Florida auto insurance page and the Florida no-fault law explainer cover them. If you want to talk through a letter, contact us.
FAQ
Does Florida require SR-22 insurance?
Only in specific cases. The main one is an injury crash where you were charged with a moving violation and had no bodily injury liability coverage; FLHSMV also requires a PIP SR-22 after a conviction for driving without proof of insurance in an uninsured car you own. A simple PIP/PDL lapse usually needs only a new policy and a reinstatement fee.
How long do I need an SR-22 in Florida?
After an injury crash without bodily injury coverage, three years from the original suspension date. After an unpaid judgment, proof is kept 3 years once the judgment is resolved. The PIP SR-22 after a no-proof-of-insurance conviction lasts two years from license reinstatement.
What are the SR-22 limits in Florida?
$10,000 bodily injury for one person, $20,000 for two or more people, and $10,000 property damage per crash, under s. 324.021(7). An FR-44 after a DUI requires 100/300/50.
Can I get an SR-22 in Florida without a car?
Yes. Florida law allows an operator's policy that covers your liability when you drive vehicles you don't own, at the same limits as an owner's policy. Whether a given insurer sells one is up to that insurer.
What happens if my Florida SR-22 policy is cancelled?
The insurer must give FLHSMV and you 10 days' notice before cancelling, and you must return your license and registrations. FLHSMV says there is no hardship license for insurance-related suspensions.
This is general information about Florida law. Your FLHSMV letter, your policy wording and the statutes control. Confirm your own situation with FLHSMV, a licensed agent or the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, and for questions about a lawsuit, a judgment or a criminal charge, talk to an attorney.
Sources
- FLHSMV: Insurance requirements (SR-22 definition, no hardship license)
- FLHSMV: Involved in a crash? (financial responsibility, judgments)
- FLHSMV: Received a letter (FR sanction number)
- FLHSMV: FR100 letter
- FLHSMV: FR200 letter
- FLHSMV: FR7 letter
- FLHSMV: FR8 letter
- FLHSMV: Sanction notices (FR7, FR8)
- FLHSMV: FR900 letter
- FLHSMV: Financial Responsibility FAQs for insurers
- FLHSMV: Fees
- FLHSMV: Driver License Check
- FLHSMV bulletin to insurers, Dec. 19, 2007 (FR-44, SR-26)
- Laws of Florida, ch. 2026-39 (SB 488)
- s. 316.065, Florida Statutes: crash reports
- s. 316.646, Florida Statutes: proof of insurance
- s. 316.193, Florida Statutes: DUI
- s. 322.26, Florida Statutes: mandatory revocation
- s. 322.27, Florida Statutes: points suspensions
- s. 324.021, Florida Statutes: definitions and minimum limits
- s. 324.0221, Florida Statutes: PIP/PDL suspensions and reinstatement fees
- s. 324.023, Florida Statutes: DUI liability limits (FR-44)
- s. 324.031, Florida Statutes: ways to prove financial responsibility
- s. 324.051, Florida Statutes: crash suspensions
- s. 324.061, Florida Statutes: security deposits
- s. 324.071, Florida Statutes: reinstatement and $15 fee
- s. 324.072, Florida Statutes: suspension after conviction
- s. 324.091, Florida Statutes: evidence of insurance after a crash
- s. 324.121, Florida Statutes: judgment suspensions
- s. 324.131, Florida Statutes: period of judgment suspension
- s. 324.141, Florida Statutes: installment payment of judgments
- s. 324.151, Florida Statutes: owner's and operator's policies
- s. 324.171, Florida Statutes: self-insurers
- s. 324.181, Florida Statutes: cancellation notice
- s. 324.201, Florida Statutes: return of license and plate seizure
- s. 324.251, Florida Statutes: Financial Responsibility Law of 1955
- s. 627.733, Florida Statutes: required PIP security
- s. 627.7275, Florida Statutes: reinstatement policies
- Triple-I: Facts + Statistics, Uninsured motorists (Insurance Research Council data)
- Triple-I table archive: uninsured motorists by state (Insurance Research Council)
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax or insurance advice. Coverage depends on the actual policy, its terms, conditions and exclusions, and state law. Maru Insurance · WA License (WAOIC) #1365574 · FL License #G363233 · NPN 22261820.