A suspended license doesn’t mean you’re out of options. It means you need the right agent.
If you’ve been told you need an SR-22 or FR-44 to get your license reinstated, you’re dealing with one of the most confusing — and stressful — parts of the Florida insurance system. The paperwork is dense. The deadlines are strict. And not every insurance company even offers these filings.
A suspended license doesn't mean you're out of options. It means you need the right agent. If you've been told you need an SR-22 or FR-44 to get your license reinstated, you're dealing with one of the most confusing — and stressful — parts of the Florida insurance system. The paperwork is dense. The deadlines are strict. And not every insurance company even offers these filings. Goodlad & Swank does. We handle SR-22 and FR-44 filings daily, and we make the process as straightforward as the situation allows.
Neither an SR-22 nor an FR-44 is an insurance policy. They’re certificates of financial responsibility — forms your insurance company files with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) to prove you carry the required liability coverage.
Think of them as proof that you’re insured at or above the state-mandated level for high-risk drivers.
An SR-22 is typically required after less severe violations, such as:
Driving without insurance
Being involved in an accident while uninsured
Accumulating repeat traffic offenses
Reckless driving convictions
Failure to pay child support (yes, Florida can suspend your license for this)
SR-22 Coverage Minimums
| Coverage Type | Required Amount |
|—|—|
| Bodily Injury — per person | $10,000 |
| Bodily Injury — per accident | $20,000 |
| Property Damage — per accident | $10,000 |
How Long You Need It
SR-22 certification must be maintained for three years in Florida. Continuous coverage — no gaps, no lapses — is mandatory for the entire period.
Filing Fee
A one-time filing fee of $15–$25 is standard across most carriers.
The FR-44 is specific to Florida and Virginia and is required after more serious offenses — most commonly a DUI or DWI conviction. It carries significantly higher liability requirements than an SR-22.
FR-44 Coverage Minimums
| Coverage Type | Required Amount |
|—|—|
| Bodily Injury — per person | $100,000 |
| Bodily Injury — per accident | $300,000 |
| Property Damage — per accident | $50,000 |
Those limits are ten times higher than SR-22 for bodily injury and five times higher for property damage.
How Long You Need It
FR-44 certification must be maintained for three years from the date of conviction. The clock starts at conviction — not at filing.
Premiums
FR-44 policies are more expensive than SR-22 due to the severity of the underlying offense and the higher required limits. Many carriers require premiums to be paid six months in advance.
This is where people get into deeper trouble.
If your SR-22 or FR-44 insurance lapses for any reason — missed payment, policy cancellation, switching carriers without a new filing — your insurance company is legally required to notify the FLHSMV. The consequences are immediate:
License suspension — your driving privileges are revoked again
Clock reset — for FR-44 filers, the three-year requirement period restarts from the date of the lapse
Higher premiums — when you do reinstate, your rates will be even higher
Continuous, uninterrupted coverage is non-negotiable.
| | SR-22 | FR-44 |
|—|—|—|
| Common trigger | Driving without insurance, repeat violations | DUI / DWI conviction |
| BI per person | $10,000 | $100,000 |
| BI per accident | $20,000 | $300,000 |
| PD per accident | $10,000 | $50,000 |
| Duration | 3 years | 3 years |
| Filing fee | $15–$25 | $15–$25 |
| Relative cost | Higher than standard | Significantly higher |
If you relocate to another state before your three-year period expires, you still must maintain your Florida SR-22 or FR-44 filing until the full period is complete. The requirement follows you, not your address.
Not every insurance company files SR-22 or FR-44 certificates. Many large national carriers don’t. As an independent agency with access to dozens of Florida carriers — including those that specialize in high-risk filings — we can:
Find you a policy that meets the exact coverage minimums required for your filing
File the certificate with the FLHSMV on your behalf
Monitor your policy to prevent accidental lapses that would restart the clock
Shop for better rates once your driving record improves
We don’t lecture. We don’t judge. We get you filed and get you back on the road.
We’re not the insurance company. We’re your agent — and that distinction matters.
Independent, not captive. A captive agent sells one company’s products. We represent dozens of carriers, which means we can shop the entire market and find the policy that actually fits your situation.
Local, not remote. Our office is at 702 Leeland Heights Blvd W in Lehigh Acres. We serve Lee and Collier Counties — Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, and Naples. You’re not a policy number. You’re a neighbor.
Family-owned since 2009. Butch Swank built this agency on one idea: change the way people feel about their insurance agency. Our team — Butch, Stephanie, Mary, and the rest — treats every client like family, because that’s how this business should work.
Community-rooted. Butch serves on the Board of Lehigh Regional Medical Center, co-founded the East Lee Education Cooperative, and established the Watch D.O.G.S. program at Lehigh Elementary. Mary sits on the Board for Lehigh Community Services. We don’t just work here — we live here.
We insure primary homes, secondary and seasonal homes, condo units, as well as property you own and rent to others.
We provide coverage for cars, motorcycles, motor homes and recreational vehicles. We provide the best price and coverage.
Our business is protecting your business from the risks you face everyday, whether your business is large or small.
At Goodlad & Swank, we are proud to offer a full suite of insurance options.
Find out your risk and get protected. We offer coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program as well as private insurance carriers.
Whether life insurance is needed for your family or your business we can help you find the right policy at the best possible price.
Your property’s risk of damage from a hurricane in Florida is elevated. If the past has taught us anything, it’s to be prepared.
If you are a renter, you should have renters insurance. You will get the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget.
We not only help clients prepare for the unknown. We also provide various resources to understanding Florida’s Insurance options. Through our partnerships with top rated insurance companies, our affiliations and community resources, we can help you navigate through the insurance world.
Don’t just take our word for it. We’re proud to be able to serve our customers.
This is an amazing company to do business with. I have several properties and slowly I have changed all properties to be with Goodlad & Swank Insurance.
Fast, courteous, professional service with comparable rates. What else do you need?
