Do I need car insurance in Florida?

The minimum liability car insurance requirement in Florida is $10,000 in property damage liability (PD) insurance. Unlike most other states, Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability (BI) insurance.

Key Things to Know About the Required Car Insurance in Florida

• Covers other’s property damage and your medical expenses. ... read full answerDrivers in Florida are required to have PIP insurance, which pays for the driver’s and passengers’ medical bills after an accident, regardless of fault. Property damage liability insurance pays for damage to others’ property caused by an accident you were at fault for.
• The minimum liability requirements may not be enough. Even though Florida’s no-fault system requires drivers to file injury claims with their own insurer, the at-fault driver can be sued if they cause an accident that results in significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury, significant scarring or disfigurement, or death. As a result, it’s a good idea to purchase bodily injury liability insurance even though it’s not required, since it can help cover legal fees and other expenses if you cause a serious accident.
• Liability insurance will not cover all events. Drivers should also consider purchasing other types of car insurance in order to better protect themselves. For instance, both collision insurance and comprehensive insurance cover damage to the policyholder’s car.
• There are penalties for driving without the minimum requirements. If Florida drivers do not purchase Florida’s minimum liability requirements, they will be subject to penalties for driving without insurance such as hefty fines and license suspension.

To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guides on how much car insurance you need and cheap car insurance in Florida.

Car insurance in Florida costs $103 per month or $1,242 per year for minimum coverage, on average. The cheapest car insurance companies in Florida are Geico, State Farm, and Travelers, and getting quotes from several companies can help you find the best deal.

The average cost of car insurance in Florida is 85% higher than the ... read full answernational average auto insurance premium. There are several factors that affect how much you’ll pay for car insurance in Florida, including your driving record, age and location, the amount of coverage you purchase, and the insurance company you buy it from.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Florida by Category

• After an at-fault accident: $329 per month
• Driver with poor credit: $191 per month
• Teen driver: $442 per month
• After a DUI: $167 per month

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Florida by Company

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a 45-year-old man in Florida with a clean driving record. Actual rates will vary.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Florida by Age

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a driver in Florida with minimum coverage and a clean driving record. Actual rates will vary.

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance in Florida

1. Shop around and compare quotes. We recommend comparing quotes from at least three different insurance companies to make sure you are getting the best rate.
2. Choose a higher deductible. Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. Choosing a higher deductible can lower your premiums but means you will have to pay more out-of-pocket when you file a claim.
3. Consider lowering your coverage. Consider purchasing only the minimum amount of coverage required by your state, rather than purchasing higher limits or a full coverage policy.
4. Look for discounts you may be eligible for. For instance, most insurance companies offer a good-driver discount for customers with a clean driving record, a good-student discount, or a discount for paying your premiums in full up front.

To learn more, check out our guide to how much car insurance you need in Florida as well as our picks for the cheapest car insurance companies in Florida.

In Florida, full coverage car insurance is considered either the minimum insurance coverage required by Florida law or a policy that protects drivers in most circumstances, depending on whom you ask. There is no specific definition of full coverage auto insurance in Florida, despite the popularity of the term.

What Full Coverage Means in Florida... read full answer

Lawyers often use the term “full coverage” to mean the bare minimum protection required by law. In Florida, that equals $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL).

Insurance companies and laymen are more likely to use “full coverage” to mean a policy that protects drivers from most types of losses. Such a policy might include Florida’s mandatory PIP and PDL plus bodily injury liability, collision and comprehensive, medical payment, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Those are the most important types of insurance you can buy in Florida. Other coverages such as roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, and new car replacement programs are considered supplemental.

Do You Need Full Coverage Insurance in Florida?

Full coverage auto insurance, in the commonly used sense, may not cover every possible loss, but it should keep you from being financially ruined if you’re involved in a major accident. Not every Floridian needs every type of insurance that can be included in a full coverage policy, however.

For example, it may not be worth buying collision or comprehensive for an older vehicle that has lost much of its value. On the other hand, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is especially important to have in Florida, where 27% of drivers on the road have little or no insurance.

It’s a good idea to review your insurance options every six months to a year, before your next policy renewal. Your coverage needs and financial situation can change over time, and you want to be sure your insurance keeps pace.