How much is car insurance in Florida?

Yes, Florida is a no-fault state. Florida being a no-fault state for car insurance means all Florida drivers are required to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to cover their own medical bills after an accident regardless of who was at fault. Additionally, no-fault laws in Florida place limitations on a driver’s right to sue after an accident. Drivers in Florida can only sue if the injuries are permanent or the accident resulted in more than $10,000 in damages.… read full answer

Florida uses a pure comparative negligence system, meaning drivers can collect damages proportionate to their fault in causing the crash. For example, if they're 99% at fault, they can get 1% from the other driver.

Key Things to Know About No-Fault Insurance in Florida

• Faster payouts. Police and your insurance company don't need to fully investigate the accident’s cause before you can get paid for your medical bills. As a result, your bills get paid more quickly than they would in a tort state, where fault for the accident determines the payout.
• Coverage for medical expenses. Another benefit of having to carry PIP insurance is the knowledge that you're covered no matter who causes an accident. That can make driving in Florida a bit less nerve-wracking.
• Higher premiums. Car insurance in Florida costs $2,313 per year, on average, while the national average cost of car insurance is $1,407 per year. States with no-fault laws typically have higher average car insurance costs due to the required PIP insurance.
• Property damage is not covered. No-fault rules don’t apply to property damage. One or more drivers will be at fault after a collision, no matter which state you live in. The police and insurance companies consider Florida law, the circumstances of the collision, and drivers’ testimonies before deciding who is at fault.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to no-fault insurance.

An FR-44 form is a document of financial responsibility that is required in Florida and Virginia to verify that drivers convicted of a DUI have sufficient car insurance coverage. FR-44s require drivers to have additional coverage beyond the minimum amount required by state law, unlike SR-22 forms.

When an FR-44 Is Required… read full answer

Drivers are often required to file an FR-44 in order to reinstate a suspended license after a DUI. To get an FR-44, you need to contact your car insurance company and ask them to file one with the state on your behalf. If you don’t already have enough coverage to meet the state’s FR-44 requirements, then you will need to purchase additional insurance.

Cost of an FR-44

You should expect your insurance company to charge an FR-44 filing fee between $15 and $25. Since an FR-44 classifies you as high-risk and means that you have to purchase additional coverage, it will raise your rate by an average of 66%. But the good news is that an FR-44 only lasts for three years. Once you no longer need an FR-44, your premium will start to decrease if you practice good driving habits and maintain continuous coverage.

Florida car insurance laws require everyone who registers a car in the state to carry at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL). This is not much coverage. In fact, Florida has the lowest insurance requirements in the U.S. (except for New Hampshire, which requires no insurance).… read full answer

Minimum Coverage Required by Florida Car Insurance Laws

• Personal Injury Protection: $10,000 of coverage is required.
• Property Damage Liability: $10,000 of coverage is required.

Florida Car Insurance Laws for Seasonal Residents

In addition to all cars registered in Florida, Florida’s car insurance laws apply to any car that is driven in the state for more than 90 days in a 12-month period. This means Florida’s large seasonal population must meet Florida’s insurance requirements as well.

Seasonal residents often need to add PIP to their out-of-state policies, since this type of insurance is only required in 12 no-fault states. Residents of the few states with lower mandatory PDL limits also may need additional property damage liability coverage to drive legally in Florida.

How Florida Car Insurance Laws Work

Florida requires its drivers to carry PIP insurance

PIP pays the policyholder’s basic medical expenses, no matter who causes an accident. However, Florida doesn’t require bodily injury liability—the insurance that pays for the other party’s injuries.

Florida’s no-fault law is limited

“Fault” becomes an issue in Florida when injuries are permanent or serious (costing over $10,000 in medical bills and/or lost income). In these cases, victims can sue the at-fault driver. To ensure victims can be paid, the at-fault driver in an accident has to provide proof of “financial responsibility.” The most common proof is bodily injury liability insurance. Drivers also have the option of posting a bond of up to $20,000.

Florida’s PDL requirements are relatively low

Property damage liability insurance pays for damages a driver causes to other people's property in a crash. The damage can be to cars or other property such as fences or buildings. Florida’s PDL requirements are also relatively low. Most states require higher minimum limits, although there are some that require $10,000 like Florida and four that require only $5,000—California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.