Virginia · After a DUI

Car Insurance After a DUI in Virginia: What FR-44 Actually Costs

Q: Does Virginia use SR-22 or FR-44 after a DUI?

Virginia requires FR-44, not SR-22 — one of only two states that does, alongside Florida. Virginia's FR-44 requires liability limits of $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $40,000 in property damage, double the state's standard 50/100/25 minimum.

Q: How long do I need FR-44 insurance in Virginia after a DUI?

Virginia requires FR-44 for 3 years from the date your driving privileges are reinstated, not from the date of conviction.

Q: Can I opt out of uninsured motorist coverage under Virginia's FR-44?

No. Unlike a standard Virginia policy, where uninsured motorist coverage can sometimes be waived, drivers under an FR-44 obligation cannot opt out of UM coverage, and it must match the doubled FR-44 limits.

Virginia is one of only two states that requires FR-44 instead of SR-22 — and since Virginia's own minimum just went up, the doubled FR-44 limits are higher here than anywhere else we've researched.

Covered Route Editorial Team · Published September 24, 2026 · Sources listed below

100/200/40Virginia's FR-44 liability limits

$140-$165/moTypical first-offense liability rate

3 yearsRequired FR-44 period (from reinstatement)

Virginia's FR-44 doubles an already-higher minimum

Virginia and Florida are the only two states in the country that require FR-44 instead of a standard SR-22 filing after a DUI (see our SR-22 requirements by state reference). But Virginia's version is now meaningfully stricter than Florida's, for a specific reason: Virginia raised its own standard minimum to 50/100/25 on January 1, 2025 (see our Virginia minimum coverage guide), and FR-44 requires double that baseline:

$100,000 in bodily injury liability per person
$200,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
$40,000 in property damage liability

Virginia's FR-44 also requires uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at those same doubled limits — and unlike a standard policy, you cannot opt out of UM coverage while under an FR-44 obligation. The filing period is 3 years from the date your driving privileges are reinstated, not from the conviction date.

Florida vs. Virginia FR-44: same concept, different numbers. Both states double their own standard minimum for FR-44 — but because Virginia's baseline (50/100/25) is already far higher than Florida's PIP-based minimum, Virginia's resulting FR-44 requirement (100/200/40) is substantially higher in raw dollar terms than Florida's (100/300 bodily injury, but built on a completely different no-fault structure). Read our Florida FR-44 guide to compare the two directly.

What a DUI does to your Virginia premium

Scenario	Typical figure
Clean record, liability only	~$95 – $120/mo
First-offense FR-44, liability only	~$140 – $165/mo
Repeat-offense FR-44	~$180 – $220+/mo
Total FR-44 annual cost	~$1,200 – $3,200/yr

Figures compiled from SR22direct and Smart Start rate surveys of Virginia FR-44 drivers (see sources). The $1,200-$3,200/yr range mirrors what we found for Florida's FR-44, despite Virginia's higher raw liability limits — insurer competition and Virginia's lower overall baseline rates offset some of the higher required coverage.

How the surcharge eases over the FR-44 period

The DUI surcharge doesn't stay flat for the full 3-year filing period — it's worst right when the conviction is fresh and eases in stages as your record ages, assuming no new violations:

Point in time	What typically happens
Year 1	Highest rates, fewest carriers willing to quote at all
Years 2-3	More carriers compete for the business; annual decreases of roughly 10%-25%
Right after the FR-44 requirement ends	Some insurers cut the rate a further 10%-15% at that renewal, and some drivers see drops of 30%-50% in the year immediately following release — coverage can also drop back to Virginia's standard 50/100/25 minimum
Around the 5-year mark	Most insurers treat the driver close to normally again, assuming a clean record since the DUI

This is a general industry pattern, not Virginia-specific data — individual insurers set their own schedules, so ask directly when your rate is due to step down rather than assuming a fixed timeline.

Which insurers tend to be cheapest after a DUI

Insurer	National average rate	Notes
State Farm	~$192/mo	-43% vs. national average
Progressive	~$268/mo	Often cited as cheapest among carriers that specialize in high-risk policies
Travelers	~$236/mo	-30%
National General	~$249/mo	-26%; actively accepts DUI applicants
USAA	~$150/mo	Cheapest of all, but restricted to military members, veterans, and their families — notably relevant given Virginia's large military population

Figures reflect a 40-year-old driver with one DUI, full coverage (100/300/100 limits), $500 deductible — a standard national comparison profile, not Virginia's specific FR-44 limits. Not every insurer writes FR-44 policies; confirm availability directly.

What affects the size of the increase

Prior record and offense severity

A first offense prices well below a repeat offense — the table above shows roughly a 30%-40% jump in liability-only rates between the two.

Insurer availability

Not every standard insurer writes FR-44 policies; drivers often need to shop carriers that specifically accept DUI applicants, similar to Florida.

Mandatory UM/UIM coverage

Because Virginia's FR-44 doesn't allow opting out of uninsured motorist coverage, the total policy cost includes this component in a way that isn't optional the way it might be on a standard policy.

Ways to lower the cost

Shop insurers that specifically write FR-44 policies — pricing varies more here than for standard coverage.
If eligible, get a USAA quote, given Virginia's large military and veteran population.
Keep coverage continuous for the full 3-year filing period; a lapse can restart the requirement.
Re-shop as you approach the 3-year mark, since rates typically ease once the FR-44 requirement ends and coverage can drop back to the standard minimum.

Frequently asked questions

Does Virginia use SR-22 or FR-44 after a DUI?

FR-44 — Virginia and Florida are the only two states that require it. Virginia's FR-44 limits are 100/200/40, double the state's standard 50/100/25 minimum.

How long do I need FR-44 insurance in Virginia after a DUI?

3 years from the date your driving privileges are reinstated, not from the conviction date.

Can I opt out of uninsured motorist coverage under Virginia's FR-44?

No — UM coverage is mandatory and must match the doubled FR-44 limits while the obligation is active.

See our related guides for Virginia: teen drivers and senior drivers. See also our Florida FR-44 guide and the SR-22 requirements by state reference.

Sources

Virginia DMV, "Insurance Requirements" — accessed September 2026
SR22direct, "Virginia FR-44 Insurance" — accessed September 2026
Smart Start, "What is an FR-44 Insurance Certificate in Virginia?" — accessed September 2026
MoneyGeek, "What Is an FR-44 Form? (2026 Guide)" — accessed September 2026
Marquis Law Group, "How Long Does a DUI Affect Your Insurance in Virginia?" — accessed September 2026
InsureMojo, "Car Insurance After a DUI: Costs and Best Companies 2026" — accessed September 2026

See our methodology and disclaimer — these are estimates, not a quote, and this page is not legal advice.