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Florida vs Washington

Bottom line

Both require an SR-22 for certain violations, though Florida files for 2 years versus Washington's 3. Washington generally has lower license-reinstatement costs.

Official government sources Last verified June 2026 36 fields reviewed Source links on every value

Important differences between Florida and Washington

The differences drivers should know.

Bodily injury / person
Florida$10,000
Washington$25,000
Washington requires higher bodily-injury coverage.
Bodily injury / accident
Florida$20,000
Washington$50,000
Washington requires higher bodily-injury coverage.
UM/UIM requirement
FloridaOptional — not required (Florida is a no-fault/PIP state).
WashingtonOffer-and-reject. RCW 48.22.030 requires every liability policy to include UIM coverage — which…
FR-44 required
FloridaYes
WashingtonNo
Florida uses the stricter FR-44 filing.
Filing duration
Florida2 years of maintained proof (non-DUI no-insurance/PIP reinstatement, §324.0221(3)); a 3-year…
Washington3 years
Washington requires a longer SR-22 filing (3 vs 2 years).
Clock starts from
FloridaFrom reinstatement
WashingtonFrom the date proof was required (RCW 46.29.600(1)(a)) — not the reinstatement date and not the…
Non-owner SR-22
FloridaYes (available); Florida does not issue a non-owner certificate if the person has vehicles registered…
WashingtonYes
License reinstatement
Florida$150 (1st) / $250 (2nd) / $500 (each subsequent within 3 years). A separate $15 fee applies to certain…
Washington$75 standard / $170 for DUI or implied-consent reinstatement
Washington costs less to reinstate.
Registration reinstatement
FloridaIncluded in the single reinstatement fee (§324.0221(3): one fee covers both license and registration).
WashingtonN/A
No-insurance, first offense
FloridaNo criminal fine ladder — enforced administratively via license/registration suspension. Reinstatement…
WashingtonTraffic infraction (not a crime) — monetary penalty set by the Washington Supreme Court penalty…
No-insurance, repeat offense
Florida$250 (2nd) / $500 (subsequent within 3 yrs) reinstatement fee.
WashingtonSame as first — RCW 46.30.020 sets no first/subsequent distinction; driving uninsured is a single-tier…
DUI suspension
FloridaLicense revoked on DUI conviction; IID mandatory: ≥6 months (1st, if BAC ≥0.15 or minor in vehicle;…
Washingtontwo parallel tracks with day-for-day credit (46.61.5055(9)(b)). administrative (implied consent, RCW…
DUI fine range
Florida1st: $500-$1,000 (BAC ≥0.15 or minor passenger: $1,000-$2,000). 2nd: $1,000-$2,000 (enhanced…
WashingtonRCW 46.61.5055, by prior offenses in 7 years and BAC tier (gross misdemeanor unless felony). No prior:…
Driving while suspended
FloridaFlorida DWLS (FL Stat. 322.34). Suspended unknowingly = civil moving violation (Ch. 318). knowing DWLS,…
WashingtonRCW 46.20.342, three degrees. first degree (habitual offender driving under a ch 46.65 revocation):…
CDL consequence
FloridaFlorida CDL disqualification (FL Stat. 322.61, federal FMCSA structure). 1-year (first major offense):…
WashingtonRCW 46.25.090 (federal FMCSA structure). 1-year disqualification (first major offense): DUI — including…
View full comparison ↓

Recent law changes

Changes verified from official state sources.

Florida2007-10-01 — FR-44 (100/300/50 after a DUI) established (§324.023, ch. 2007-150).
WashingtonLiability minimums (25/50/10) unchanged since 1980 c 117. Recent amendments to SR-22-relevant sections: DUI felony-offense lookback extended from 10…

Full comparison

Every compared field, with the official source on each value.

Coverage

Bodily injury / person
Florida
$10,000
Official source ↗
Washington
$25,000
Official source ↗
Bodily injury / accident
Florida
$20,000
Official source ↗
Washington
$50,000
Official source ↗
Property damage same
Florida
$10,000
Official source ↗
Washington
$10,000
Official source ↗
UM/UIM requirement
Florida
Optional — not required (Florida is a no-fault/PIP state).
See Florida sources ↗
Washington
Offer-and-reject. RCW 48.22.030 requires every liability policy to include UIM coverage — which Washington defines broadly to bundle uninsured +…
Full details
Offer-and-reject. RCW 48.22.030 requires every liability policy to include UIM coverage — which Washington defines broadly to bundle uninsured + underinsured + hit-and-run + phantom-vehicle — defaulting to the same limits as the liability coverage, but the named insured or spouse may reject it in writing. PIP is likewise optional: offered on every policy, waivable in writing (RCW 48.22.085).
Official source ↗

SR-22 / FR-44

SR-22 required same
FR-44 required
Filing duration
Florida
2 years of maintained proof (non-DUI no-insurance/PIP reinstatement, §324.0221(3)); a 3-year no-renewal/compliance window applies (Rule 15A-3.015).
Official source ↗
Washington
3 years
Official source ↗
Clock starts from
Florida
From reinstatement
Official source ↗
Washington
From the date proof was required (RCW 46.29.600(1)(a)) — not the reinstatement date and not the conviction date. tolls, doesn't restart: if the…
Full details
From the date proof was required (RCW 46.29.600(1)(a)) — not the reinstatement date and not the conviction date. tolls, doesn't restart: if the person surrenders the license and reapplies within the window, proof is reestablished for the remainder of the 3 years (46.29.600(3)).
Official source ↗
Non-owner SR-22
Florida
Yes (available); Florida does not issue a non-owner certificate if the person has vehicles registered in Florida.
See Florida sources ↗
Washington
Yes
Official source ↗

Costs

SR-22 filing fee same
Florida
~$15-25 (charged by the insurer, not FLHSMV)
See Florida sources ↗
Washington
~$15-25 (insurer-charged filing fee, not a DOL fee)
See Washington sources ↗
License reinstatement
Florida
$150 (1st) / $250 (2nd) / $500 (each subsequent within 3 years). A separate $15 fee applies to certain §324.051/324.072/324.081/324.121 FR suspensions.
Official source ↗
Washington
$75 standard / $170 for DUI or implied-consent reinstatement
Official source ↗
Registration reinstatement
Florida
Included in the single reinstatement fee (§324.0221(3): one fee covers both license and registration).
Official source ↗
Washington
N/A
Official source ↗

Penalties

No-insurance, first offense
Florida
No criminal fine ladder — enforced administratively via license/registration suspension. Reinstatement fee $150 (1st).
Official source ↗
Washington
Traffic infraction (not a crime) — monetary penalty set by the Washington Supreme Court penalty schedule under RCW 46.63.110; the statute (RCW…
Full details
Traffic infraction (not a crime) — monetary penalty set by the Washington Supreme Court penalty schedule under RCW 46.63.110; the statute (RCW 46.30.020(1)(d)) sets no fixed dollar amount and no first/subsequent escalation. The commonly assessed penalty is approximately $550 (court rule, not statute). Showing you were actually insured at the time gets the citation dismissed for a $25 administrative cost (46.30.020(2)).
Official source ↗
No-insurance, repeat offense
Florida
$250 (2nd) / $500 (subsequent within 3 yrs) reinstatement fee.
Official source ↗
Washington
Same as first — RCW 46.30.020 sets no first/subsequent distinction; driving uninsured is a single-tier traffic infraction with the penalty set by the…
Full details
Same as first — RCW 46.30.020 sets no first/subsequent distinction; driving uninsured is a single-tier traffic infraction with the penalty set by the Supreme Court schedule (46.63.110). No escalation by prior count.
Official source ↗
DUI suspension
Florida
License revoked on DUI conviction; IID mandatory: ≥6 months (1st, if BAC ≥0.15 or minor in vehicle; court discretion if BAC ≥0.08), ≥1 year (2nd), ≥2…
Full details
License revoked on DUI conviction; IID mandatory: ≥6 months (1st, if BAC ≥0.15 or minor in vehicle; court discretion if BAC ≥0.08), ≥1 year (2nd), ≥2 years (3rd) (§316.193). Revocation lengths are set by §322.28 — typically 180 days–1 year for a 1st offense, 5 years for a 2nd within 5 years, and 10 years for a 3rd within 10 years.
Official source ↗
Washington
two parallel tracks with day-for-day credit (46.61.5055(9)(b)). administrative (implied consent, RCW 46.20.308 -> periods in 46.20.3101): triggered…
Full details
two parallel tracks with day-for-day credit (46.61.5055(9)(b)). administrative (implied consent, RCW 46.20.308 -> periods in 46.20.3101): triggered by a breath/blood test at or above 0.08 (0.02 under-21) or a refusal; headline periods — test failure suspends at least 90 days, refusal revokes at least 1 year; 30-day temporary license from arrest, 7-day window to request a hearing ($375 fee). conviction-based (46.61.5055(9)): below 0.15 -> 90-day suspension (no prior) / 2-year revocation (1 prior) / 3-year (2+); 0.15 or above -> 1-year / 900-day / 4-year; refusal -> 2-year / 3-year / 4-year. Mandatory IID on all vehicles (46.61.5055(5), 46.20.720) for 1/5/10 years by prior IID restrictions. Revocation grounds also in 46.20.285 (DUI 1-year baseline; vehicular homicide 2 years).
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DUI fine range
Florida
1st: $500-$1,000 (BAC ≥0.15 or minor passenger: $1,000-$2,000). 2nd: $1,000-$2,000 (enhanced $2,000-$4,000); ≥10 days jail if within 5 yrs. 3rd…
Full details
1st: $500-$1,000 (BAC ≥0.15 or minor passenger: $1,000-$2,000). 2nd: $1,000-$2,000 (enhanced $2,000-$4,000); ≥10 days jail if within 5 yrs. 3rd within 10 yrs: 3rd-degree felony; beyond 10 yrs: $2,000-$5,000. 4th+: ≥$2,000, 3rd-degree felony. DUI w/ property damage = 1st-deg misdemeanor; serious bodily injury = 3rd-deg felony; death = DUI manslaughter (2nd-deg felony, 4-yr mandatory min). (§316.193)
Official source ↗
Washington
RCW 46.61.5055, by prior offenses in 7 years and BAC tier (gross misdemeanor unless felony). No prior: 24 hrs-364 days jail + $350-$5,000 (<0.15); 48…
Full details
RCW 46.61.5055, by prior offenses in 7 years and BAC tier (gross misdemeanor unless felony). No prior: 24 hrs-364 days jail + $350-$5,000 (<0.15); 48 hrs + $500-$5,000 (>=0.15 or refusal). 1 prior: 30 days + 60 days EHM + $500-$5,000 (<0.15); 45 days + 90 days EHM + $750-$5,000 (>=0.15/refusal). 2 priors: 90 days + 120 days EHM + $1,000-$5,000 (<0.15); 120 days + 150 days EHM + $1,500-$5,000 (>=0.15/refusal). 3+ priors in 15 years -> class B felony under ch 9.94A (46.61.502(6)). Minor-passenger enhancements add IID time, jail, and fines. Mandatory minimums are largely non-suspendable.
Official source ↗
Driving while suspended
Florida
Florida DWLS (FL Stat. 322.34). Suspended unknowingly = civil moving violation (Ch. 318). knowing DWLS, general = 2nd-degree misdemeanor (1st; up to…
Full details
Florida DWLS (FL Stat. 322.34). Suspended unknowingly = civil moving violation (Ch. 318). knowing DWLS, general = 2nd-degree misdemeanor (1st; up to 60 days/$500), 1st-degree misdemeanor (2nd+; up to 1 yr/$1,000), with a min 10 days jail on a 3rd+; 3rd-degree felony on a 3rd+ if the suspension is DUI-related (DUI, refusal, death/serious-injury offense, fleeing) (322.34(2)(c)). Habitual traffic offender driving (322.264) = 3rd-degree felony (322.34(5)). CMV while suspended/disqualified = 1st-degree misdemeanor (1st), 3rd-degree felony (2nd+) (322.34(7)). financial-responsibility / administrative track (322.34(10)) — suspended solely for failing to maintain FR under Ch. 324, child support, or unpaid obligations: lighter — 2nd-degree misdemeanor (1st), 1st-degree misdemeanor (2nd+), with a nolo-election option (322.34(11)). Arrest while suspended for an FR reason triggers vehicle impound/immobilization (322.34(8)). Penalty ranges from FL Stat. 775.082-083: 2nd-deg misd up to 60 days/$500; 1st-deg misd up to 1 yr/$1,000; 3rd-deg felony up to 5 yrs/$5,000.
Official source ↗
Washington
RCW 46.20.342, three degrees. first degree (habitual offender driving under a ch 46.65 revocation): gross misdemeanor, mandatory minimum jail 10 days…
Full details
RCW 46.20.342, three degrees. first degree (habitual offender driving under a ch 46.65 revocation): gross misdemeanor, mandatory minimum jail 10 days (1st) / 90 (2nd) / 180 (3rd+), non-suspendable; +1-year revocation extension. second degree (suspended for a serious reason — DUI, vehicular homicide/assault, felony-vehicle, hit-and-run, prior DWS, administrative action): gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days / $5,000); +1-year no-new-license. third degree (suspended for administrative/financial reasons, including failure to furnish proof of FR / SR-22 under ch 46.29): misdemeanor (up to 90 days / $1,000); no extension. So driving while suspended solely for an unfiled SR-22 is the lightest tier (3rd degree).
Official source ↗

CDL

CDL consequence
Florida
Florida CDL disqualification (FL Stat. 322.61, federal FMCSA structure). 1-year (first major offense): DUI including in a NON-commercial vehicle…
Full details
Florida CDL disqualification (FL Stat. 322.61, federal FMCSA structure). 1-year (first major offense): DUI including in a NON-commercial vehicle (322.61(3)(b)1), CMV at 0.04+ BAC, leaving the scene, felony with a vehicle, refusal, CMV-while-disqualified, negligent-operation fatality. 3-year if transporting hazardous materials (4). permanent for a 2nd major offense (5), a controlled-substance manufacture/distribution felony with a vehicle (6), or a human-trafficking felony with a CMV (7). Serious-violation ladder: 60 days (2nd in 3 yrs) / 120 days (3rd) — reckless, 15+ over, texting, handheld, etc. Plus out-of-service-order and railroad-crossing ladders. CMV alcohol threshold 0.04. Important for CDL holders: a DUI in a personal vehicle still triggers a 1-year CDL disqualification.
Official source ↗
Washington
RCW 46.25.090 (federal FMCSA structure). 1-year disqualification (first major offense): DUI — including a DUI in a non-commercial vehicle (0.08) — or…
Full details
RCW 46.25.090 (federal FMCSA structure). 1-year disqualification (first major offense): DUI — including a DUI in a non-commercial vehicle (0.08) — or CMV at 0.04+ BAC or any THC; refusal; leaving the scene; vehicle used in a felony; CMV-while-disqualified; negligent-operation fatality. 3-year if the offense occurred while transporting hazardous materials. lifetime (reducible to 10 years per federal rule) for a 2nd major offense. lifetime, no reduction: a vehicle used in a controlled-substance manufacture/distribution felony or a human-trafficking offense. Lesser ladders: serious traffic violations (60 days 2nd / 120 days 3rd in 3 years), out-of-service-order violations, railroad-crossing violations. CMV alcohol threshold is 0.04. Important for CDL holders: a DUI in a personal (non-commercial) vehicle still triggers a 1-year CDL disqualification.
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