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How Much Car Insurance Do I Need in Florida?
By Joan Pabón MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
While car insurance laws vary by state, most states — with the exception of Virginia and New Hampshire — require drivers to carry insurance or show proof of financial responsibility to be able to drive their vehicles lawfully. In Florida, vehicles with at least four wheels must be insured at the time of registration.
The best car insurance companies will offer you coverage options and limits that meet or exceed what’s required in your state. However, knowing how much of which types of coverage you’re legally responsible to carry can help you make better-informed decisions when shopping for auto insurance.
Table of contents
- Is car insurance required in Florida?
- Types of car insurance coverage
- Car Insurance Coverage FAQs
- Summary of How Much Car Insurance Do I Need in Florida
Is car insurance required in Florida?
To register a four-wheeled motor vehicle in Florida, said vehicle must first be insured. If you drive a motorcycle, trike, scooter or other non-standard vehicle, you are not legally required to have insurance at the time of registration. Nevertheless, you would still be financially responsible for damages you cause if you’re involved in an accident.
How much car insurance coverage do I need in Florida?
Florida residents must show proof of two types of coverage when they register their cars: personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL). The minimum required for a private passenger vehicle is $10,000 per person for each type of required coverage. There may be a deductible of up to $1,000 for PIP coverage and $500 for PDL.
For taxi owners, limits increase to $125,000 per person in bodily injury liability (BIL) and $5,000 per incident, and $250,000 per person in PDL.
As per the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Floridians are also required to have continuous car insurance coverage — even for vehicles that are inoperable — and hand in their license plate before canceling their auto insurance policy.
Non-residents must also register their vehicles in Florida, have a state license plate and purchase an auto policy from an insurance carrier or agent that is licensed to sell insurance in the state. If you are employed in Florida or enroll children in school there but reside in a different state, you have ten days from the time of enrollment or start of employment to register your vehicle and obtain your Florida tags.
State minimum car insurance requirements
The following are the minimum car insurance requirements in Florida:
| Types of Coverage Required at Registration | Minimum Amount of Coverage Required |
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | $10,000 per person |
| Property Damage Liability (PDL) | $10,000 per person |
Source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Types of car insurance coverage
While only two types of coverage are legally required in Florida, drivers may still want to consider additional coverage depending on their level of risk and the value of their vehicle.
The following are common types of car insurance coverage available from both national and regional insurance carriers and agents:
Personal Injury Protection
Personal Injury Protection (PIP), also known as no-fault insurance, can cover medical bills for the treatment of covered injuries you or your passengers sustain. It may also cover lost wages if you or your passengers are unable to work because of the accident. And unlike other types of coverage, PIP pays out regardless of who is at fault.
In states with no-fault laws, such as Florida, you’re required to carry at least the legally required minimum in PIP coverage — in this case, $10,000. After an accident, each party involved must file a claim with their own insurer.
No-fault laws aim to minimize litigation, meaning the right to sue and take small claims cases to court. However, if you suffer losses beyond the monetary ones covered under your policy’s PIP component, you may still take legal action.
According to Florida Statutes, you may sue for damages if you suffer any of the following:
- Permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Death
Property Damage Liability
Property damage liability (PDL) coverage pays out in the event you are responsible for damages to another person’s vehicle or property (such as a fence or mailbox). This coverage is legally required in most states, including Florida.
It’s important to note that PDL will only cover damages to another person’s car, not your own. If you want to be financially protected against damages to your vehicle in the event of an accident, consider purchasing collision coverage.
Bodily Injury Liability
Another component of liability coverage is bodily injury liability (BIL), which pays for injuries (or death) to others and your own legal fees in the event of an at-fault accident. As Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection and file claims with their own insurers, BIL is not a required coverage — in most cases.
According to the Florida Bar, bodily injury liability coverage may be required for up to three years after your license is reinstated following a DUI conviction. In such a case, you will need to purchase $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in BIL, in addition to $50,000 in property damage liability.
As mentioned above, Florida taxi drivers are also required to purchase $125,000 per person in BIL in addition to property damage coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage affords financial protection if you’re involved in an accident with a driver that doesn’t have insurance or only purchased the minimum amount of liability coverage that’s legally required.
Say, for example, that an accident with a negligent driver left your car totaled, but that driver only purchased $10,000 in property damage liability. In such a case, the at-fault driver’s insurance will not cover the cost of replacing your vehicle. Similarly, if you were the victim of a hit and run, UM coverage could pay for the damages — up to the limits of your policy.
According to 2019 data from the Insurance Research Council, Florida is one of 10 states with the highest estimated percentage of uninsured drivers — 20%. So while this coverage isn’t legally required, it could be worth the additional cost.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage, also known as “other than collision” coverage, will cover theft or physical damage to your vehicle caused by perils such as hurricanes, floods, fires, falling objects, vandalism and damage caused by animals.
Comprehensive coverage is not required in any state, but if you’re financing your car, your lender may require you to purchase it. The maximum amount of comprehensive coverage you can purchase is generally tied to the actual cash value of your vehicle. And this optional coverage also carries its own deductible.
Collision
Collision coverage can help you pay to repair or replace your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. Just like comprehensive coverage, collision coverage isn’t legally mandated in any state, but your auto lender may require you to carry it. You must also meet a collision deductible before your coverage kicks in, and the maximum amount of coverage you can get will depend on the value of your vehicle.
Medical Payments
Medical payments (MedPay) coverage can help you and your passengers cover medical expenses after an accident, no matter who is at fault. Florida residents aren’t legally required to carry coverage for medical payments, as PIP insurance already affords coverage for medical expenses.
MedPay is also different from bodily injury liability, which covers medical expenses for drivers you injure in an at-fault accident — but not for you or your passengers.
Car Insurance Coverage FAQ
What is full coverage insurance?
Full coverage insurance typically refers to the combination of three coverage options: your state-mandated liability insurance plus collision and comprehensive coverage. By purchasing all three of these options, you can be covered against a long list of perils, from lawsuits and broken windshields to extensive physical damage.
Note, however, that even "full coverage" car insurance cannot protect you from all perils. And while purchasing more coverage than the minimum required in your state can be wise, you probably don't need to buy every type of coverage your insurer offers. Consider your risks and the value of your vehicle before buying a policy.
What is liability car insurance?
Liability insurance refers to two types of coverage:
- •Bodily injury liability – Covers expenses related to the injury or death of other drivers in an accident you caused.
- •Property damage liability – Covers damages you caused to another person's vehicle or property.
Is comprehensive insurance full coverage?
Comprehensive insurance pays out if your car is damaged due to an accident other than a collision. Covered perils typically include theft or damage by a storm or tornado, a falling object (such as a tree limb or hail), floods or fires, among others.
While this comprehensive coverage can protect you against many perils, it will not cover damage caused by a collision with another vehicle or stationary object — that's only covered by collision coverage. And neither will comprehensive insurance pay out in the event you are sued for damages by another driver; those situations are covered by liability insurance.
Can you get car insurance without a car?
Yes, you can get insurance without owning a car. Non-owner or non-owned car insurance offers liability coverage for people who often rent vehicles or need to carry liability coverage to keep their license.
If you're buying a car, you will also need to have insurance on it before you drive it home. According to Kelly Blue Book, at the very least, you need liability insurance before getting behind the wheel — unless you live in Virginia or New Hampshire.
Starting your search for car insurance? Check out our top picks for the best car insurance companies of the year.
Do I need gap insurance if I have full coverage?
Guaranteed asset protection or gap insurance is an insurance rider you can include in your car insurance policy for an extra cost. This option can help you cover the gap between what you still owe on your leased vehicle and its actual cash value (ACV), which is what it costs when you factor in depreciation.
For example, let's say you totaled your leased car but have collision coverage. In this case, your collision insurance will pay for the damage — up to the actual cash value of your vehicle. If your vehicle's ACV is around $20,000 and you still owe your auto lender $30,000, you are liable for $10,000 worth of repairs. Gap insurance can cover that difference.
How much property damage car insurance do I need?
Legally, you are required to purchase at least $10,000 in property damage liability if you live, work or enroll your children in school in Florida. However, this amount may not cover damages you cause to someone else's property in a car accident.
Depending on who you ask, some will recommend you get anywhere from $50,000 in property damage liability alone to $500,000 in both BIL and PDL. In reality, you should always weigh the cost of coverage against the peace of mind higher liability limits can afford.
Read our article on how to buy car insurance for more tips on choosing the right level of coverage for your needs.
What happens when a car accident claim exceeds insurance limits?
If a claim exceeds your car insurance policy limits, the insurance company is unlikely to pay in excess of those limits. If, for example, you only purchased $10,000 in personal injury protection and your medical bills after a covered accident amount to $30,000, you might have to cover the $20,000 difference — unless the accident was caused by an uninsured driver and you have sufficient uninsured/underinsured coverage to cover the excess.
Similarly, if you've caused damages to another person's property that exceed your property damage liability coverage, you may have to shoulder those additional costs, unless you have umbrella insurance.
You may also be able to obtain additional compensation if you are injured or your property is damaged by another driver and you decide to take legal action, but your right to sue may be subject to certain restrictions under Florida law.
Summary of How Much Car Insurance Do I Need in Florida
- If you live or work in Florida and drive a vehicle with four or more wheels, you are legally required to carry $10,000 worth of personal injury protection (PIP) and another $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage.
- PIP coverage can pay for your medical costs and those of your passengers if you’re injured in a covered accident. It may also cover your lost wages if you’re unable to work due to the accident.
- PDL coverage can pay for damages you cause to another driver’s vehicle or property.
- Florida taxi drivers and individuals who have had their drivers license reinstated following a DUI must also carry bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage.
- While other coverage options are merely optional in Florida, depending on your risks and the vehicle you drive you may also want to consider uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision coverage or comprehensive coverage.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can pay out in the event you’re the victim of a hit and run or are struck by a driver who doesn’t have insurance or only has the minimum in property damage liability coverage and your vehicle’s repair costs exceed $10,000.
- Collision coverage can pay to repair or replace your car if you’re in a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of who is at fault.
- Comprehensive coverage can pay to repair or replace your car if it’s stolen or damaged due to a covered peril, such as storms, floods and fires, among others.
Joan is a professional translator, writer and editor with a special interest in personal finance and insurance topics. She has been a contributing author and independent researcher at ConsumersAdvocate.org since 2017 and an editor at Money since 2019. Her work has been featured in MSN Money and Apple News.