Florida Insurance

Insurance After Reckless Driving Charges

A reckless driving charge in Florida is a criminal misdemeanor, not an ordinary ticket, and it can roughly double your insurance or get your policy dropped. Here's the real impact and how to recover.

Eddie Ezekiel

Published Dec 10, 2025 · 3 min read

Updated Jun 16, 2026

Insurance After Reckless Driving Charges

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A reckless driving charge in Florida isn't an ordinary ticket. It's a criminal misdemeanor, it puts points on your license, and it can roughly double your premium or get your policy dropped at renewal. Here's what reckless driving actually does to your coverage, how long it follows you, and how to claw your rates back down.

What counts as reckless driving in Florida

Reckless driving means operating a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for safety. That's a step beyond careless driving, which is usually unintentional. Because it's charged as a misdemeanor, a conviction can bring fines, points on your license, possible license suspension, and in serious cases jail time, on top of the insurance fallout.

What it does to your insurance

A sharp premium increase, because insurers reclassify you as high-risk.
Possible non-renewal or cancellation, where some insurers decline to keep you at renewal.
A possible SR-22 requirement, proving you carry at least the state minimum coverage.
Fewer standard options, pushing you toward high-risk or non-standard insurers.

SR-22 (or FR-44) after reckless driving

A reckless driving conviction can trigger an SR-22 filing, which is your insurer's proof to the state that you carry at least the minimum required coverage. One important distinction: if alcohol or drugs were involved, Florida requires an FR-44 instead, which demands much higher liability limits.

How to bring your rates back down

Compare high-risk specialists and major carriers. Some big insurers still write high-risk drivers at reasonable rates.
Keep a clean record from here on. Time plus no new violations is what lowers rates.
Take a defensive driving course if eligible, which can reduce points.
Raise your deductible to offset the surcharge.
Never let coverage lapse, which only deepens the high-risk label.
Re-shop every 6 to 12 months as the violation ages out of the look-back window.

Frequently asked questions

Will my insurance be canceled after a reckless driving charge?

It can be non-renewed, and some insurers drop high-risk drivers. But high-risk and non-standard insurers will still cover you, usually at a higher price.

How much will my premium go up?

It varies widely by insurer and your history, but a reckless driving conviction often causes a large jump. The only way to know your number is to compare quotes.

Do I need an SR-22 after reckless driving?

Sometimes. The court or DMV will tell you if it's required. If alcohol or drugs were involved, you'll likely need an FR-44 instead, which carries higher liability limits.

How long until my rate goes back down?

Usually as the charge ages out of the insurer's 3-to-5-year look-back window, assuming you stay violation-free in the meantime.

The bottom line

A reckless driving charge is expensive on every front, but the insurance damage is temporary if you manage it: stay covered, drive clean, and re-shop as the violation ages. The drivers who recover fastest are the ones who compare high-risk insurers instead of accepting the first scary renewal.

Last reviewed: Jun 16, 2026

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