Think of it like being put on financial probation after a serious driving offense: the state wants proof that a driver carries much more insurance than the usual minimum before letting that person stay on the road.

FR-44 insurance is not a separate insurance policy in the ordinary sense. It is a state filing, added by an insurer, that shows a driver has purchased liability coverage at higher required limits after certain convictions, most often DUI or other alcohol-related driving offenses. It works a lot like an SR-22, but with stricter coverage requirements. The filing is tied to license reinstatement, and if the policy lapses, the insurer usually must notify the state, which can lead to another suspension.

That matters because higher-risk drivers often face steep premiums, and losing the required coverage can keep them from legally driving to work, court, treatment, or medical care. In crash cases, FR-44 status can also affect how people look at a driver's record, though it does not by itself prove fault in a personal injury claim.

Michigan does not use FR-44. Michigan generally uses SR-22 filings in limited situations and handles license sanctions through the Michigan Secretary of State. For injury claims in Michigan, the bigger insurance issue is often the state's no-fault system under the Michigan No-Fault Act of 1973, not an FR-44 requirement.