Florida Car Insurance Requirements: What Drivers Need to Know
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If you drive a vehicle in Florida, you must have auto insurance. Like most states, Florida has specific laws governing car insurance coverage minimums. Without these minimums, you can find yourself in trouble financially and legally.
To help avoid any issues, we’ve tracked down all the Florida car insurance requirements and covered them below, including the minimum coverage requirements, punishments for driving uninsured, and optional coverages.
Overview of Florida’s Car Insurance Laws
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning if you’re in an accident, your insurance covers your injuries and damages regardless of who was at fault. These laws help avoid time-consuming litigation to determine fault and place the focus on handling your injuries and damages.
Though it’s a no-fault state, Florida still requires a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage to protect you and others on the road. Understanding the minimum coverage you need helps shield you from legal issues and financial loss.
Remember that the minimum is just the starting point for Florida auto insurance. You should also consider some optional coverages Florida car insurance companies offer. These add-ons enhance your coverage and could protect you if damages or injuries exceed the state minimum requirements.
Understanding Florida’s Minimum Insurance Requirements
Florida only requires very basic coverage as its state minimum: personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) coverage.
The minimum amount of each Florida car insurance coverage you need to remain legal on the roadways is:
- Personal injury protection (PIP): $10,000
- Property damage liability (PDL): $10,000
What exactly do these base Florida auto insurance requirements protect? No matter who’s at fault, PIP covers 80% of your reasonable medical expenses from an accident. PDL covers damages to another person's property when you or someone you allowed to drive your vehicle causes an accident.
Florida’s minimum coverage requirements are very low. If the vehicle damages exceed your PDL coverage or medical expenses exceed the victim’s PIP coverage, the victim could sue you for the balance. This is why many drivers opt for higher coverage limits and optional coverages.
Review the insurance requirements of your state:
What Is Florida’s No-Fault Insurance System?
Florida’s no-fault insurance laws mean drivers claim insurance benefits from their insurance providers after an accident, no matter who caused it. This eliminates all the litigation that can go into determining fault, allowing everyone affected to focus on medical treatment and repairs. It also eases the demands on the court system by eliminating hearings to determine fault.
Because Florida is a no-fault state, bodily injury liability (BIL) protection is not a requirement. However, if you injure someone in an accident you caused and that person’s PIP insurance doesn’t cover all their medical expenses, they could sue you for the remaining balance. This is why so many Florida drivers opt for BIL coverage.
Consequences of Driving Without the Required Insurance
If you drive without insurance or coverage that doesn’t meet the minimum Florida car insurance requirements, you may be in for severe consequences. The state can suspend your driver’s license and registration for up to three years. Making things worse, Florida doesn’t offer a hardship license for insurance-related suspensions.
Once you've served your suspension, you’ll pay up to a $500 reinstatement fee to get your license back.
Also, if you drive without basic car insurance in Florida and get into an accident, you have no financial safety net. This could lead to you having to pay huge medical and repair bills out of pocket and potentially lose assets if you lack the funds to pay.
Optional Coverage to Consider in Florida
Florida’s minimum car insurance coverages are fairly thin, so it’s a great idea to consider some options to enhance your protection. Some common Florida car insurance options are:
- Bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage: This pays for reasonable medical expenses or funeral expenses if an accident caused by you or someone you allowed to drive your vehicle injured or killed someone.
- Collision coverage: This pays for damage to your car if it collides with another car or object, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive coverage: This covers losses to your vehicle from non-collision-related incidents, such as theft, fire, or natural disasters.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: This protects you if you're in an accident with a driver who either lacks insurance or has insufficient coverage. This coverage also kicks in if you’re a victim of a hit-and-run accident.
How to Shop for the Right Car Insurance Policy
Shopping for Florida car insurance can feel overwhelming because of all your options. This may drive you to seek the cheapest state minimum car insurance in Florida and call it a day. Before doing that, consider the assets you stand to lose if your state minimum insurance can’t cover the medical costs and damages you could cause in an accident.
If you have significant assets, you may want to consider increasing your coverage amounts and adding optional BIL.
When shopping for car insurance, always consider all parts of the policies, including premiums, coverages, and deductibles, to ensure you’re comparing equivalent policies.
Get the Best Insurance for Your Needs: Compare Quotes Now
When shopping for car insurance in Florida, you want to make sure you’re getting the best possible premium for sufficient coverage. EverQuote can help by allowing you to compare multiple insurance quotes for free in one place to secure cheap car insurance in Florida.