SR-22 Insurance in Florida Explained

Drivers with vehicles registered in the Sunshine State are legally required to carry a minimum limit of car insurance coverage. Those who fail to have the minimum legal coverage or commit other traffic violations like driving under the influence or otherwise recklessly may require an SR-22 form to be filed on their behalf.

An SR-22 is a form an insurer files with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on behalf of a high-risk driver to certify they have an active and adequate Florida insurance policy. Drivers who have committed serious crimes on the road are most likely to require an SR-22.

Let’s take a look at precisely what filing an SR-22 might entail, how to find a cheap one, and how you can still find an excellent policy with one on your record.

An SR-22 in Florida isn’t a specific type of insurance policy or coverage but rather a form insurers file on behalf of a high-risk driver. With this form, insurers verify with the state that a high-risk driver has an active insurance policy that meets the state’s minimum requirements. The form is filed on behalf of a high-risk driver who has made poor decisions on the road that led them to face legal penalties like license or registration suspension.

The minimum legal coverage in the Sunshine State is $10,000 of property damage liability and $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) since Florida is a no-fault state. Those who finance or lease their vehicles may also be required to have collision and comprehensive coverages as part of their legally binding contract.

Failure to maintain a policy with the minimum legal coverage can lead to steep fines and license or registration suspension. Often, the costs associated with a first offense for driving uninsured are much more expensive than the annual premium for a full coverage policy.

Car insurance with an SR-22 in Florida isn’t a separate policy or type of coverage but rather a form that an insurer will submit on behalf of a high-risk policyholder who requires one. This form helps the state verify that a high-risk driver maintains an adequate insurance policy.

Those with an SR-22 may find it more affordable to carry a minimum coverage policy than a full one. While that’s definitely the case, as policies for drivers with SR-22s are often double or triple the average premium in the state, a minimum coverage policy may not offer the best protection.

A full coverage policy offers an expansive range of coverage, which is especially important for drivers with a history of at-fault accidents. With coverages like uninsured motorist coverage (UM), bodily injury liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and PIP, a full coverage policy offers protection in far more accident scenarios than a minimum coverage one. 

A full coverage policy has coverages that protect the policyholder, their passengers, and other drivers on the road. A minimum coverage policy in the Sunshine State only offers minimal protection for the policyholder and other drivers on the road. 

An SR-22 doesn’t offer any specific protections, as it isn’t a type of policy or coverage. Instead, an SR-22 helps the state verify with a high-risk driver’s insurer that the driver maintains an active policy with the minimum legal coverage required by state law. 

So, there’s no difference between low-cost SR-22 insurance in Florida and more expensive policies since an SR-22 isn’t a form of insurance or type of coverage but rather a document filed on behalf of a policyholder who requires it.

In Florida, SR-22 insurance requirements mandate the driver to maintain an active and adequate policy while the SR-22 is on record. However, drivers must always carry at least the minimum legal amount of coverage required by state law, lest they risk being issued a subsequent SR-22.

An essential requirement of the SR-22 is that drivers maintain financial responsibility for their insurance premiums and any accidents they may cause. Drivers who let their policies lapse or fail to pay their premiums while an SR-22 is on record may face penalties like fines, fees, license or registration suspension, and higher premiums. Penalties are often more severe for subsequent offenses. 

Most drivers who require an SR-22 will have the document on their record for about three years. This means drivers must maintain adequate coverage and financial responsibility for this period, lest they face legal penalties like fines or license and registration suspension. 

All drivers, even those without an SR-22 on record, must maintain the minimum legal coverage required in the Sunshine State. Failing to comply with this law may lead to an SR-22 filing on your behalf or more severe legal penalties if it’s a repeat offense. Drivers who had their license or registration revoked as a consequence of the offense that landed them an SR-22 will require the form to stay on record for three years after their license and registration are reinstated.

SR-22 insurance in Florida costs, on average, about double or triple the state average for a full coverage policy. While the SR-22 doesn’t cost much, about $25 to file, one on a driver’s record will significantly increase their premiums. 

The average full coverage premium in the Sunshine State is about $2,700 annually, so a driver with an SR-22 on file may expect to pay between $5,400 and $8,100 for their annual premiums. However, premiums vary from driver to driver, as insurers use unique driving and non-driving factors to determine each policyholder’s premiums. When calculating premiums, insurers assess the risk of a policyholder filing a claim and translate that risk into their rate. So, if a driver is at higher risk of filing a claim, that driver will likely have higher-than-average premiums.

While driving factors, such as one’s driving record or insurance history, certainly play a significant role in the premium calculation, insurers also use non-driving factors to assess a driver’s risk of filing a claim. Some non-driving factors that may be used are a driver’s age, gender, or ZIP code, among several other factors. 

Certain age groups are more likely to file a claim due to statistics regarding at-fault accidents. For example, teenage boys are more likely to cause accidents than any other age group, so even with a clean driving record, they may be considered high-risk drivers and pay higher premiums because of this classification. 

Another factor that may contribute to a driver receiving higher-than-average premiums is the type of policy they carry. For example, non-owner SR-22 insurance in Florida may be more expensive than SR-22 insurance for someone who owns the car they insure.

Cheap SR-22 insurance in Florida can be tough to find, so knowing where and how to look for such a policy is critical. Having the legal minimum coverage is the most significant way to cash in on savings. However, a minimum coverage policy isn’t always the safest choice. Sacrificing coverage for savings may be tempting to some, but it comes with the risk of financial ruin in a worst-case scenario. 

Drivers who cause an accident while only maintaining minimum coverage on their policy will be liable for all the expenses they incur from the accident after using their PIP and the remainder of the victim’s expenses once the at-fault driver’s liability limit is reached. 

The best way to find the cheapest full coverage policy in the state is to check out the policies offered by the state’s top insurers. Getting a policy from a standard insurer may be challenging for some high-risk drivers. Still, it has added benefits like an excellent reputation, plenty of optional coverages, and various discounts.

Discounts typically come in two ways, criteria-based or enrollment-based. Some of the most common criteria-based discounts are bundling, multi-car, or student discounts for young drivers who earn good grades.

Some insurers also offer enrollment-based discounts, in which drivers participate in a program to receive a score, which translates into a discount. Usage-based discounts require drivers to use a telematics device to track and send their driving data to their insurer. If drivers earn a high safe-driving score, they receive a hefty premium discount. Other insurers may offer pay-per-mile programs for those who drive less than the national average of 12,000 miles annually. 

Drivers can find insurance with an SR-22 online in Florida by getting and comparing quotes from several insurers. Getting and comparing quotes will help you find the best policy for your needs and budget.

Lucky for you, here at Clovered, quotes are our specialty. You can use our free quoting tool right here to get SR-22 insurance quotes in minutes. If you prefer to speak to an agent about your quote, you can contact us at 833-255-4117 or [email protected].