What Is The Minimum Car Insurance Required In Florida?

Driving a vehicle is a serious responsibility. It doesn’t matter where you live, there are laws designed to protect everyone on the road. Yet, 14% of US drivers do not have auto insurance. Some states experience this danger more than others. States, like Florida, pass the responsibility to the driver.

Those of you in Florida understand the need for the best car insurance. In my 9 years of auto insurance experience as a licensed insurance agent, I have assisted drivers like you in understanding what a state’s minimum requirements are and pairing you up with the best auto policy that fits your needs.

What Is The Minimum Car Insurance Requirement In Florida?

The minimum car insurance requirements in Florida are the lowest of any of the forty-eight states where mandates exist. Florida only requires property damage liability (PDL) coverage as well as personal injury protection (PIP). The minimum values on each of these are: $10,000 property damage and $10,000 personal injury protection. PIP pays for your personal injuries, while PDL pays for damages to the other person’s property.

Is Minimum Coverage Enough?

Since there is another party in the accident and if you are at fault, Florida’s minimum coverage level is not enough. While you are driving legally and it will keep you from getting a ticket, you will be on the hook for repairs and medical expenses should the other person choose to pursue legal action against you for reparation.

Average Cost Of Car Insurance In Florida

The average cost of car insurance in Florida will vary by age and gender. As you can see through the table below, a young driver will pay much more than an older driver for both Florida minimum coverage and the state’s full coverage.

The cheapest rates are for those about fifty years of age for male drivers while female drivers see the lower rates in their forties.

Florida Car Insurance Law

Two states do not have auto insurance requirements, New Hampshire and Virginia. Two additional states, New Jersey and Florida are different in that they don’t require motorists to carry bodily injury liability. This portion of insurance covers the other individual’s injuries in the accident where you were at fault.

Florida only requires a driver to protect their own vehicle, its driver, and the damage to the driver’s vehicle involved in an accident; there is no bodily injury. For the policy owner this includes property damage coverage and medical payments. Minimum coverage levels are $10,000 for property damage liability and $10,000 medical payments, or personal injury protection, per person per incident.

Florida is also a no-fault state, which means that each person is responsible for their own personal injuries. Fault is not taken into consideration. Although, one can sue the other party under the ‘pure comparative negligence’ law. The car companies conduct the investigation and rule who was at fault.

Proof Of Insurance

While it’s always important to carry proof of insurance, it is not required by law. You can carry a physical copy of your insurance card in your glove box, or a digital copy be it through a photograph, or better yet, download your insurance company’s app and store a copy on your phone.

If you are pulled over, most often the check the officer ran on your plate will tell them if your auto insurance is current, but they will still request to see your card. This is not to inconvenience you but to have you prepared in the event of an accident, so you have it with you, to be able to easily give it to the other driver.

Registration Information

Insurance is also important when you register your vehicle. One must register each car they own in Florida. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Locate your local DMV on the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.
2. Gather your documents: proof of identity, your Florida insurance, and your title. Insurance is a must to register your vehicle.
3. Visit DMV and submit documents with the $225 registration fee.

It is important to renew when you are up for renewal. Florida gives options as an alternative to visiting the office. They allow you to renew online or you can renew via mobile app. If you are late with your renewal, you can pay taxes and delinquent fees that amount to up to $850 or more. This can be more if you lease your vehicle.

Uninsured Drivers In Florida

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (FLHSMV) site, the uninsured rate for Florida was 6.22%.
The reason for this rate is primarily due to the high insurance cost. Primarily due to the number of car accident claims and the state’s no-fault laws.

Legal Penalties For Driving Without Insurance

Florida takes driving without insurance seriously. When a driver is caught behind the wheel without insurance, their license is suspended, and they must pay a reinstatement fee.

In each case, a driver’s license and the vehicle’s registration can be suspended for up to three years. Each of these three offenses must occur within a three-year period as well.

Other Types Of Optional Coverage

Florida’s minimum insurance requirements only include Property Damage Liability and Medical Payments (PIP). Property Damage will cover damage you caused to someone else’s property up to the policy limits. Personal Injury will pay medical expenses for you and those in the vehicle up to its policy limits.

Other optional coverages that Florida drivers can add to their policies are:

Bodily Injury (BI)

This is a requirement in most states. Since Florida is a no-fault state, it is left up to each party to cover their own medical bills. However, one can include this coverage to pay medical expenses for the other driver when they are at fault in an accident.

Comprehensive

This will cover damages to a vehicle that result from incidents other than accidents. These can range from vandalism, theft, and some weather damage.

Collision

This will help pay for damages to your vehicle in the event of an accident that is your fault.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Not a required coverage for Florida drivers, but beneficial because it covers medical expenses and property damage in the event you are in an accident with an uninsured driver.

Other add-ons for an insurance policy can be rental reimbursement and towing and labor. Both can assist when your vehicle is disabled and needs to get to a shop to be fixed or worked on.