Do you need stacked insurance in Florida?

No, you do not need stacked insurance in Florida; it is optional. Stacked insurance refers to the practice of combining the uninsured motorist insurance (UM) limits of several vehicles or policies in order to increase your coverage, and Florida does not require UM at all. Even drivers who choose to purchase UM in Florida do not need to stack their coverage unless they want to and their insurance company provides the option.

Stacked insurance only applies to uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage, which pays for the policyholder’s injuries after an accident caused by a driver without insurance. Depending on your policy, UMBI might also apply if the at-fault driver does not have high enough limits to pay for all of your expenses. Stacked insurance is only relevant to drivers who own multiple vehicles, whether on the same policy or different policies.

Stacked vs Unstacked Insurance Example in Florida

• You insure three cars on the same policy, each with $10,000 in uninsured motorist coverage.
• If you opt for stacked insurance, you can file a UM claim of up to $30,000.
• If you do not opt for stacked insurance, your premium will likely be lower, but you can only file a UM claim up to $10,000.

UMBI insurance overlaps with personal injury protection (PIP), which is required in Florida. PIP pays for your medical expenses after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. But stacked UMBI insurance can still be useful if your expenses exceed your PIP limits. It’s also worth noting that more than 20% of Florida drivers are uninsured, so it’s a good idea to consider purchasing stacked insurance or increasing your PIP limits.