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APA: Van Keuren, M. (2024, July 16). Florida car insurance laws. Bankrate. Retrieved September 06, 2024, from https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/florida-car-insurance-laws/
Copied to clipboard!MLA: Van Keuren, Mary. "Florida car insurance laws." Bankrate. 16 July 2024, https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/florida-car-insurance-laws/.
Copied to clipboard!Chicago: Van Keuren, Mary. "Florida car insurance laws." Bankrate. July 16, 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/florida-car-insurance-laws/.
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Written by
Mary Van Keuren
Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades.
Edited by
Amelia Buckley
Amelia Buckley is an insurance editor for Bankrate.com and an insurance agent with a personal lines licens. She emphasizes creating informative, engaging and nuanced content to support readers in making personalized insurance decisions with confidence.
Bankrate logoAt Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure .
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Florida car insurance laws clearly state that anyone who drives on public roads must carry a certain minimum amount of car insurance. This minimum coverage will help pay for damages or injuries after an accident — but may not be enough to cover all costs following a serious incident. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team took a close look at the Sunshine State’s insurance laws and regulations to help you understand the choices you have for insurance, so you can make the best decisions for your own situation.
Florida insurance laws are relatively straightforward:
Additionally, Florida auto insurance requirements state that the minimum amount of no-fault coverage you must carry is:
When it comes to liability insurance in Florida, only property damage liability (PDL) is technically required by law, of which drivers are required to carry $10,000 as part of their no-fault car insurance.
No-fault car insurance does not mean that no one is at fault in an accident; rather, it refers to whose insurance kicks in first in relation to injuries. Because Florida is a no-fault state, every driver, regardless of fault, must carry $10,000 in PIP coverage to drive legally, which means that each driver’s PIP will help cover medical expenses and lost wages, up to the policy limits, after an accident. After that, the at-fault driver could be liable for any additional medical expenses. Florida does not require bodily injury liability like most states, which is the coverage type that typically covers other peoples’ injuries if you cause an accident.
Keep in mind that Florida’s minimum coverage limits for PIP and PDL are relatively low. A serious accident could easily cause more than $10,000 in property damage or $10,000 in medical expenses, so many experts recommend purchasing higher coverage limits and bodily injury liability coverage to protect yourself financially.
Florida’s minimum required insurance also does not cover damage to your vehicle. To cover damage to your vehicle if you cause an accident, you can choose to carry physical damage coverage, otherwise known as full coverage. You do not have to carry physical damage coverage to comply with Florida car insurance laws, but your lender may require it if you are financing or leasing your vehicle. Physical damage coverage includes these two types of coverage, both of which will include a deductible:
Yes, Florida is one of 12 states that follow no-fault laws. As mentioned, in a no-fault state, a driver’s PIP insurance will pay for medical expenses and lost wages for themselves and their passengers up to policy limits after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash. PDL insurance pays to repair damage to other people’s property.
One of the main differences between fault (or tort) states and no-fault states is the type of insurance that is required. Most fault states require drivers to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance. In Florida, drivers are only required to carry PIP and PDL coverage.
Driving without the proper insurance coverage in Florida is illegal and comes with heavy consequences. If drivers do not maintain no-fault insurance throughout the registration period, their driver’s license and license plates can be suspended for up to three years. They are also required to pay a reinstatement fee, which can cost up to $500.
Additionally, drivers who fail to provide proof of insurance documentation when requested by law enforcement may have their driver’s license suspended for up to three years. In some cases, drivers who get their license suspended must file an SR-22 to get it back, which proves they carry the state’s minimum required insurance coverage.
The penalty for driving without insurance in Florida varies depending on the circumstances. If you are caught driving without insurance, you will receive a letter from the DMV with further instructions on how to clear suspensions, pay fines and whether you need to file an SR-22.
No-fault car insurance offers some financial protection, but it leaves significant gaps in coverage. Most drivers in Florida benefit from adding extra coverage to their car insurance policy. Here are some of the additional auto insurance coverage options available in Florida:
There are dozens of car insurance companies on the market, but they are not all created equal. Shopping around will help you find the best company for your needs. Bankrate analyzed major car insurance carriers to help you find the best car insurance companies in Florida. Some of the top carriers include Allstate, State Farm, Progressive and Geico.
The average rate of car insurance in Florida in June 2024 is $3,466 per year for full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive insurance, while minimum coverage is available for an average cost of $1,094 per year. These rates are well above the national averages of $2,311 for full coverage and $640 for minimum coverage. Keep in mind, however, that your rate is based on multiple factors that are unique to you, such as your age, credit history and driving record, as well as your car’s age, make and model, so you may pay more or less than the average. You may be able to save money on your policy by taking advantage of discounts and shopping around for the best price.
There’s no single company that will always have the cheapest rate for everyone, all the time. When shopping for the cheapest Florida insurance, you may save by shopping around to compare quotes, improving your credit rating and maintaining a safe driving record. Based on Bankrate’s research, Geico, Progressive and State Farm offer low average rates in the Sunshine State, and they may be a good place to start your search.
Most affordable car insurance companies in Florida offer discounts that can help drivers save money on their policy. Some common car insurance discounts are bundling a home and auto insurance policy, insuring multiple vehicles, taking a defensive driving course, being claims-free and having an anti-theft system in the vehicle.
Although most states require your license and registration to match, Florida is one state that allows you to register your vehicle with an out-of-state license. If you’re not a resident of Florida, you can still register your vehicle under certain circumstances. For example, if you are temporarily working in Florida, you could register for a 90-day license plate.
Florida auto insurance laws require two types of insurance for all drivers: $10,000 minimum of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 minimum of property damage liability. Unlike almost all other states, Florida does not require bodily injury liability, although PIP coverage can help pay for injuries following an accident. It’s worth noting that most insurance experts would suggest that you purchase higher levels than the minimum in order to be adequately covered. In a serious accident, for example, the minimum property damage liability level might not be adequate to cover all costs, especially if one of the cars involved was totaled or seriously damaged.
Mary Van Keuren has written for insurance domains such as Bankrate, Coverage.com, and The Simple Dollar for the past five years, specializing in home and auto insurance. She has also written extensively for consumer websites including Reviews.com and Slumber Yard. Prior to that, she worked as a writer in academia for several decades.
