Best Cheap Car Insurance in Florida

In Florida, drivers need $10,000 of property damage liability insurance and $10,000 of personal injury protection. Florida does not require uninsured motorist protection, which replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should've had and pays for your costs up to your policy limits. Coverage like MedPay or personal injury protection pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers, and PIP is required in Florida.

Here's How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in Florida:

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under Florida law. Lenders usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance. You might also have to get gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan and what the vehicle is worth at the time of a total loss.

Even if you're not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in Florida to make sure you're paying for the coverage you need.

Drivers in Florida can find cheap car insurance with “no deposit” or “no down payment,” but all that really means is you only have to pay the first month's premium to get coverage. You cannot get car insurance in Florida without paying something upfront. But you can minimize the cost of coverage in Florida, which ranks 46 for the cheapest car insurance rates in the country. The average monthly premium in Florida is about $191 for full coverage and around $99 for state minimum coverage. Drivers in Florida should expect to pay about that much in advance each month to keep their car insurance policy active.

The biggest drawback of paying for auto insurance monthly is that it's almost always more expensive than paying in full for six or 12 months of coverage upfront. Some Florida insurance companies charge slightly more for month-to-month premiums, and there can also be payment processing fees. Most car insurance companies also discount rates for customers who pay in advance.

You can still find cheap car insurance options if you can't afford a big deposit, though. The best no-down-payment car insurance keeps rates low and only requires the first month's payment to start your policy.

Florida car insurance is so expensive mainly because of Florida's dense population and large numbers of high-risk drivers. While Florida ranks 22nd in size among the U.S. states, it is third in population behind only California and New York. This creates busy roadways. To make things worse, many drivers on Florida roads are high-risk. The state is home to a large population of elderly drivers. It is also host to 128 million tourists annually, trying to find their way around the state, plus young drivers attending Florida's many colleges and universities. These factors lead to the more than 400,000 car accidents recorded in Florida each year, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department, for an average of 1,100 crashes per day.

Other factors affecting the cost of car insurance in Florida include uninsured motorists and expensive medical coverage. Florida has more uninsured motorists than any other state. Approximately 27% of its drivers are on the road without any kind of policy. The claims insurers must pay out when an uninsured driver causes an accident raise the premiums for everyone who has insurance. Florida also is one of only 15 states that require drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, insurance. PIP pays for injuries you sustain in an accident regardless of who was at-fault.

In addition, while Florida is known among tourists for its beautiful weather, it's known among insurance companies for its hurricanes. Hurricanes destroy cars as well as homes, and insurers can pay out billions in damages for just one storm. Florida auto insurance companies make up for these costly losses with higher rates.

Florida has a perfect storm of reasons for being one of the most expensive states for insurance. However, not all insurers here are equally expensive. If you are a Floridian, try getting quotes from some of the companies known for having the cheapest Florida auto insurance rates, including Progressive, GEICO, Liberty Mutual and State Farm.

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).

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.

As a “no-fault” state, Florida requires its drivers to carry PIP insurance to pay their own medical expenses, no matter who causes an accident. However, it doesn't require bodily injury liability—the insurance that pays for the other party's injuries.

Florida's no-fault law is limited, though. “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.

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.

Car insurance rates in Florida average around $1,800-$2,000 per year ($150-$167 per month), as of 2019. Even though Florida's minimum insurance requirements are low—in fact, the lowest in the country—other factors make Florida one of the most expensive states for car insurance in the U.S. These factors include high percentages of uninsured and at-risk drivers, high levels of fraud, catastrophic weather events and densely populated cities.

Certain areas of the state are more expensive for car insurance than others. Drivers in the populous areas of Tampa Bay, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando pay the highest rates in the state. Premiums are not as high in Jacksonville or Tallahassee. And the less densely populated areas of the state tend to have the lowest rates.

The amount you pay for coverage in Florida will also depend on factors such as the car you drive, your driving history, age, credit score and gender. To find your best rates, compare personalized quotes from several Florida insurance companies. Progressive, GEICO and Liberty Mutual are three choices that tend to offer good rates in the state.

The penalty for driving without insurance in Florida is suspension of your license, registration and vehicle tags for up to 3 years or until you purchase a new policy, whichever comes first. During this suspension, you won't be able to get a temporary or restricted license, even to commute to work. After the first offense, you'll pay a $150 reinstatement fee to get your license and registration back. A second lapse in your policy within three years will cost you $250. After a third lapse within three years, reinstatement will cost $500.

Under Florida's no-fault law, all Florida vehicle owners are required to carry at least minimum insurance coverage: $10,000 for property damage liability (PDL) and $10,000 for personal injury protection (PIP).

If your insurance policy ever lapses, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) will know because your insurance carrier is required to notify them immediately. The DHSMV will then mail you a notice of suspension. This gives you the opportunity to provide proof that you had new insurance in place before the old policy expired or was cancelled. If you do not, you'll lose your driving privileges temporarily.

So, going without insurance can get expensive in Florida. But having an at-fault accident without insurance can be devastating. If the other driver is injured or vehicle is damaged, you can be required to pay the full cost of the losses out of your own pocket. You also can lose your license until the entire claim has been paid off.

If you've let your insurance lapse for any period of time, it may be difficult to get insurance companies to cover you. Also, you may have to pay around 30% more than drivers who maintain continuous coverage. However, some companies—including USAA, Nationwide and GEICO— are more accommodating than others, so shop around. Try to get quotes from several companies that meet your needs.

The penalty for driving without insurance in Florida is the suspension of your license, registration and vehicle tags for up to 3 years or until you purchase a new policy, whichever comes first. During this suspension, you won't be able to get a temporary or restricted license, even to commute to work. After the first offense, you'll pay a $150 reinstatement fee to get your license and registration back. A second lapse in your policy within three years will cost you $250. After a third lapse within three years, reinstatement will cost $500.

Drivers in Florida pay an average of $814 per year to maintain the minimum amount of car insurance coverage. That's nothing compared to the consequences of driving without insurance, especially if you get into an accident.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Florida

Not having car insurance and not being able to prove that you have it are two different violations. If you have insurance but cannot prove it when you get pulled over or at the scene of an accident, you are guilty of an “administrative violation,” similar to a seat-belt ticket. Your citation might be dismissed if you can provide the court with proof of valid insurance for the date of the citation within 30 days.

Driving without car insurance at all is much more serious, and the penalties are more severe. In addition to the legal consequences, you can also expect your car insurance premium to go up. A single conviction for driving without insurance raises annual premiums by an average of 8%, or $189, in Florida.

What Happens If You Get Into a Car Accident Without Insurance in Florida?

If you get into an accident while driving without insurance in Florida, you will be penalized for driving without insurance no matter who is at fault.

If the accident is your fault, you'll have to pay for all the damages out of your own pocket. Both the other driver and their insurance company can sue you and have future wages and savings garnished to pay for damages.

If you are not at fault, driving uninsured can make it difficult to be compensated for damages.

Final Thoughts: How to Avoid Driving Without Insurance in Florida

To avoid the penalties of driving without insurance in Florida, shop around for at least $10,000 in personal injury protection along with $10,000 in property damage liability coverage. In Florida, you can find auto insurance that fulfills the minimum requirements for around $814 per year if you have a clean driving record. The consequences of driving without insurance are ultimately more costly than purchasing minimum auto insurance coverage.

You can get car insurance discounts in Florida based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company. In Florida, car insurance companies are allowed to consider factors like employment, residential, and marital status when setting premiums. That means there are also discounts available for being married, owning a home, or being affiliated with certain employers or educational institutions.

Almost anyone can get a discount on car insurance in Florida because most insurance companies make it easy to qualify for a variety of savings. Florida insurers typically offer discounts that fall into one of three categories—policy discounts, driver discounts, and vehicle discounts.

Policy discounts typically reward customer behavior that is desirable to the insurance company. For example, most Florida drivers can save by registering for paperless billing or getting both home and auto policies from the same company. Driver discounts are available to Florida residents who are lower-risk to insure, like those with clean driving records. And vehicle discounts help drivers save if their car has certain safety features or anti-theft systems.

Car Insurance Discounts in Florida

Remember, discounts vary among different insurance companies, so it's always best to contact the provider directly to determine which discounts you qualify for.

No, uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Florida, as drivers can reject the coverage in writing. Still, insurance companies are required to offer at least $10,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person (up to $20,000 per accident).

For Florida drivers who do not opt out by rejecting the coverage in writing, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage helps pay for a car accident in which the other driver doesn't have car insurance, or doesn't have enough coverage for the damage they caused.

Why You Should Get Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida

Normally, an at-fault driver's insurance helps pay for any damage after an accident. However, if the other driver doesn't have any – or enough – coverage, it can be time-consuming and difficult to sue them for funds to cover any medical or repair bills. That's where this optional insurance coverage can help you save time and money.

Even though Florida does not require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, you should still consider buying it. In Florida, an average of 27% of drivers on the road don't have car insurance, which means there is a 1 in 4 chance that the other driver won't have coverage if you get into an accident. Car accidents in Florida can be very expensive, too.

Key Facts About Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida:

• Minimum Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury: $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per accident
• Uninsured Drivers on the Road: 27%
• Crashes per Year: 403,626
• Odds of a Crash with an Uninsured Driver: 1 in 4

No, you do not need uninsured motorist coverage in Florida if you have health insurance. Florida law does not require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, though it's still a good idea to buy it as an added layer of protection, even if you do have health insurance.

Florida has the highest percentage of uninsured motorists in the U.S., after all, plus low minimum insurance requirements. And the cost of serious injuries from a car accident caused by an uninsured motorist can easily surpass the $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) that Florida requires drivers to carry.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury vs. Health Insurance

Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage pays for your medical bills if you are in a crash caused by an uninsured driver. If you don't have UMBI, health insurance will normally cover these bills. But the biggest difference between health insurance and uninsured motorist coverage is that UMBI generally includes loss of wages, funeral expenses, and sometimes even pain and suffering.

UMBI also involves fewer out-of-pocket costs for the policyholder than health insurance in the event of a collision. For example, health insurance holds policyholders responsible for expenses like co-pays, co-insurance, and a deductible. UMBI does not have a deductible or other out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, health insurance policies may be limited to a certain network of providers, while UMBI will pay for care from a wider variety of sources.

In short, uninsured motorist coverage in Florida is an inexpensive way to gain extra coverage in case you are ever hit by a driver without insurance. Adding uninsured motorist coverage to a typical Florida car insurance policy will only cost about $270 per year, on average. So, even if you have health insurance, uninsured motorist coverage is still a good long-term investment.