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• New Florida FR-44 filing required effective February 1, 2008
• New Financial Responsibility Filing Type Coming to FL Feb. 1, 2008
• Florida Confronts Costs of Insurance
• FL Mandatory Auto Insurance Still in Effect

New Florida FR-44 filing required effective February 1, 2008

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is introducing a new financial responsibility filing for motor vehicle policies beginning February, 2, 2008. Under Florida Statute 324.023, the filing, an FR-44, requires drivers that have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) after October 1, 2007, to prove that they carry higher liability limits.

The required limits are as follows:

* $100,000/$300,000 Bodily Injury liability limits

* $50,000 Property Damage liability limits or 350 CSL or higher

What this means for current customers who need an FR-44:

Customer’s who received a DUI conviction between October 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008 and obtained an SR-22 are required to request an FR-44 replacement prior to February 2, 2008 to avoid penalties (e.g., fines, suspension of license and registration).

Progressive has already contacted policyholders identified by the state that need this form.

* For policyholders that have sufficient limits, we have submitted an FR-44, so no action is required.

* For policyholders who do not have sufficient limits, we have asked them to contact us. If you receive requests from your customers, please call Progressive at 1-877-776-2436 for assistance.

For any state filing transactions (SR22 or FR44) on existing policies, please call Progressive for assistance, so we can ensure that the right form is provided to the state.

What this means for new customers who need an FR-44:

FR-44s are available for you to provide to your customers at new business. When writing a new policy for a customer who has received a DUI conviction since October 1, 2007, select the following flow for FL FR-44’s on the Driver Screen:

* State Filing Yes

* Filing State Florida

* Filing Type Auto = None; Operator; Owner/Operator or Special Lines = Owner

* Agent Issue Yes (Agents must change this option to Yes)

* Case Number

The pre-signed form is available to you right here on FAO. There is also a version a document version.

Please note the following when completing an FR-44:

* All FR-44’s must be faxed to the Florida Bureau of Financial Responsibility at (850)-617-5216.

* All FR-44’s must be typed. Hand written forms will be rejected by the state.

* All fields must be completed on the filing or it will be rejected by the state.

* A copy of the FR-44 must be faxed to Progressive.

* A copy of the FR-44 should be provided to the Insured.

Please be aware that policyholders cannot have:

* a Florida FR-44 on a policy in a state other than Florida, or

* more than one FR-44 on one driver or,

* a Florida SR-22 and Florida FR-44 on one driver.

If you have any questions, please contact your account sales representative.

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New Financial Responsibility Filing Type Coming to Florida February 2, 2008

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is introducing a new financial responsibility filing for motor vehicle policies beginning February, 2, 2008. The filing will be called an FR-44 and is similar to an SR-22. The main difference is that drivers convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) after October 1, 2007, are required to carry higher liability limits, and required to provide the new FR-44 filing as proof of these limits.

FR44 forms are not yet available. We are in the process of obtaining the new form from the state. When it’s available, we’ll update you via e-mail and FAO with details.

Below are details:

• Based on Florida Statute 324.023, a driver convicted of DUI violations after October 1, 2007 will be required to carry at least $100,000/$300,000 Bodily Injury liability limits and $50,000 Property Damage liability limits.
• Failure to provide proof of these limits may result in suspension of driving privileges and registration
• DUI convictions will have a case number that begins with the number 4.
• The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will send notification to anyone in need of the FR-44 beginning in January.
• It will be the policyholder's responsibility to request an FR-44; we will develop processes that allow agents to provide the filing, or to allow policyholders to receive a filing from Progressive.
• If a driver obtains an SR-22 between October 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008, he/she will need to replace the SR-22 with an FR-44 prior to February 4, 2008. The policy holder or the agent must notify us to have the filing changed from an SR-22 to an FR-44.
• As with an SR-22, the FR-44 filing will remain on the policy until the policy holder requests to remove the filing.
• The FR-44 will satisfy the requirements of an SR-22. This means no driver should need both an FR-44 and SR-22.
• A surcharge and filing fee will apply to Progressive policies with an FR-44. The surcharge amount will be the same as the SR-22 surcharge.
• The policy holder will be required to carry the FR-44 filing for three years.

We are working to develop the processes needed to provide FR-44 filings for current and new customers in the short time provided by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. We will share these procedures with you as soon as we can.

If you have any questions, please contact your account sales representative.

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Florida Confronts Costs of Insurance

For full article Click Here.

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FL Mandatory Auto Insurance Still in Effect

For full article Click Here.

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