Guide to Auto Insurance in Florida

If you plan to join the 18 million licensed Floridian drivers, you will need to learn the ins and outs of auto insurance, since it is a requirement for driving in the state. Buying car insurance in Florida is a significant decision; purchasers spend an average of $2,807 per year for full coverage, well above the national average. Read on to learn everything you need to know about car insurance in the state of Florida.

Required Car Insurance in Florida

You must have car insurance if you drive in the state of Florida, but not every type is required.

What Car Insurance Coverages Are Required?

Florida mandates property damage coverage and personal injury protection, but there is no requirement to carry bodily injury liability or uninsured motorist coverage, which are required in many other states.¹

Minimum Limits

Florida’s minimum coverage amounts are quite low compared to other states. State law only requires $10,000 in property damage liability per accident, for example, as well as $10,000 in personal injury protection per person and per accident.

What Happens if You Are Caught Driving Without Insurance?

If you skirt the law and are caught driving without insurance, you could face serious consequences. Florida fines $150 for the first offense, with penalties escalating up to $500 for subsequent offenses. You can have your license suspended for up to three years if you fail to comply with the requirements. You should always carry at least the minimum coverage to avoid such fines and penalties.

How Much Coverage Do I Need in Florida?

In this section, we’ll walk through other common types of coverage and explain the minimum requirements. In general, we recommend getting the maximum amount that you can afford so that your insurance fully covers any expenses you incur after an accident.

Property Damage Coverage

As we mentioned above, Florida only requires $10,000 in property damage liability per accident. We recommend at least $100,000 of liability coverage, and more if possible.

Personal Injury Liability

Again, Florida mandates $10,000 in coverage for personal injury liability per accident. This won’t get you very far with the high cost of medical bills in the U.S. You should purchase at least $100,000 in coverage per person and $300,000 per accident if it’s in your price range. If you don’t have enough coverage, the other party’s insurance provider can sue you for accident-related costs. Opting for higher personal injury liability coverages will allow you to pay for the other party’s costs in the event of an at-fault accident — and avoid lawsuits.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive coverage is not required in Florida, but it can help cover the full scope of damage from incidents other than collisions, such as vandalism, weather, and theft. About 80 percent of insured drivers elect to have comprehensive coverage.² And if you leased or financed your vehicle, your lender may require you carry comprehensive coverage (as well as collision).

Comprehensive coverage doesn’t have limits per se; it depends on the actual market value of your car. If you decide to purchase comprehensive coverage, you’ll also have to decide on a deductible.

Collision

Collision insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing your car if you get into a collision that’s your fault. Though Florida doesn’t require it, this is useful coverage to have. With both collision and comprehensive coverage, the limit is your car’s actual market value. You will select a deductible that you’ll have to pay before coverage kicks in.

Uninsured Motorist

Some states require drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage to cover medical expenses or property damage resulting from a hit-and-run or an uninsured driver. Florida does not mandate this type of insurance, but we recommend it, given the risk of high medical bills in these situations. If you can afford it, try to get at least $100,000 in coverage per person, and $300,000 per accident.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection (PIP) provides comprehensive medical coverage if you or your passengers are injured in an accident, no matter who caused it. It can also cover lost wages and funeral expenses, if necessary. PIP usually has a deductible that you must meet before coverage kicks in. This type of insurance is crucial, especially if you do not have robust health insurance.

Given the high cost of medical procedures in the United States, you should probably buy more than the minimum amount of PIP coverage in Florida. We recommend purchasing at least $300,000 in coverage.

Cost of Car Insurance in Florida

Florida can be an expensive place to live, and this extends to the average cost of car insurance.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners reported that Floridians spent an average of $1,518 per year on car insurance as of 2021, which is 28 percent above the national average of 1,189.³ Auto insurance costs have risen substantially in the past several years, and our analysis finds that the average cost of full coverage in Florida is now over $2,800 annually, with minimum coverage in Florida over $1,600 on average. Costs can range from close to $895 for the cheapest car insurance to just about $4,000 per year. Learn more about the average rates of car insurance in Florida, which also depend on your coverage options and driving record.

Providers in Florida

Almost every national provider offers coverage in Florida, including:

• Allstate
• Auto-Owners
• Direct Auto
• Farmers
• Kemper
• Liberty Mutual
• National General
• Progressive
• State Farm
• The Hartford
• Travelers
• USAA

How to Lower Premiums in Florida

If you know where to look, there are several ways to lower your out-of-pocket insurance costs in Florida.

Discounts

You can find some significant car insurance discounts in Florida. Discounts vary by company and situation, but these are some typical qualifications for auto insurance discounts:

• Safe driving
• Anti-theft devices
• Good grades (for high school students)
• Multiple cars
• Paperless billing
• Defensive driving education

Bundling

Sometimes you can lower your rates by bundling insurance types, like adding renters, homeowners, or other types of insurance to your auto policy. If you go with a company that offers multiple types of insurance, you could consolidate your coverage under one roof, opening up discounts.

Higher Deductible

A common mechanism for lowering premiums is raising your auto insurance deductible. This means that you will pay less for insurance each month, but in the event of an accident, you will be responsible for a higher share of the bill before your insurance kicks in.

Such a strategy is a gamble, as it could end up costing you more, but it’s an option for lowering your premiums in the short term. Raising your deductible could be especially appealing if you have the cash to lay out in case of an accident.

Lower Limits

Another lever to minimize your short-term insurance expenses is to purchase lower coverage limits. In Florida, you can go as low as $10,000 for property damage and personal injury protection. As we mentioned, though, you’ll probably want to purchase more than the minimum, since you could be on the hook for a significant amount of money if something goes wrong. But you certainly can consider lowering your limits as a way to save money each month.

Proof of Car Insurance in Florida

Carrying the minimum amount of coverage isn’t enough — you also need to establish proof of coverage in certain situations.

What Happens if I Don’t Have Proof of Insurance?

If you are caught at the wheel without proof of insurance in Florida, the state will consider you uninsured. Your license will be revoked until you pay a $150 reinstatement fee.

If you are caught again, the fine can escalate up to $500, and your license could be revoked for longer periods. Always carry proof of insurance to avoid this scenario.

What Proof Is Required?

As in most states, the required proof of insurance in Florida is an ID card. It must contain your policy number, name, effective dates, and vehicle information. We recommend keeping it in your glove compartment so that it’s always there when you need it.

Paper or Electronic?

Nowadays, you don’t necessarily need a physical copy of your insurance card. All states except New Mexico explicitly allow digital cards as proof of insurance.

Ask your provider how you can get digital proof of insurance. Some insurers provide it through a mobile app, while others allow you to download digital ID cards.

Florida State Laws

Like every state, Florida has its own driving laws. This section drills down into the laws you need to know when operating a vehicle in the state.

Fault System

Florida is a no-fault state — one of only 12 in the U.S. This means that each victim’s own insurance company reimburses their medical claims after an accident, regardless of who was responsible. Everyone files claims with their own provider to cover medical expenses under PIP, for example.

If your own coverage isn’t enough, then you can file a third-party claim for property damage or sue the other person — though this can get complicated, as we will explain.

Negligence Laws

You may be able to sue another driver for negligence if you get into an accident in Florida. Negligence is when a party involved in the incident did not behave reasonably and caused damages. Multiple parties can hold some level of responsibility for an accident, however, and Florida law takes this into account.

In Florida’s “pure comparative negligence” law, each party’s percentage of fault determines their amount of compensation. Car insurance companies conduct their own investigations to determine these percentages.

The good news is that you can win compensation for negligence even if you are determined to be somewhat at fault. Your degree of fault can even be higher than the defendant’s — as long as you can prove some negligence on their part, you could still file a suit. In some other states, you are no longer entitled to compensation at all if you acted negligently in any way.

Negligence is a complicated topic, so you should always talk to a legal professional if you are considering filing a suit.

Uninsured Motorists

Uninsured motorist laws govern what happens if you get into an accident with a driver who either does not have insurance or is underinsured. According to some reports, Florida has a significant number of uninsured drivers: over 4.8 million, or 26.7 percent of drivers in the state.⁴ This is 85 percent higher than the U.S. rate of 13 percent. Other data suggests that 15.9 percent of Florida drivers are uninsured.⁵

As we’ve mentioned, uninsured motorist coverage is not required in Florida. But if you do purchase it, you should know about stacking. Stacking means combining the policies you have for each vehicle you own. This allows you to “stack” the payment limits of your insurance between vehicles.

In other words, if you have a coverage limit of $50,000 on two vehicles, your effective coverage can stack to $100,000. This applies across multiple policies as well.

Stacking happens automatically if you purchase uninsured motorist coverage, but you can waive it in order to lower your premiums.

DUI Laws

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious crime, and you could face steep penalties if you do so in Florida.

If you are caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 percent, your license could be suspended for six months, severely limiting your driving privileges.⁶ Penalties are even steeper for repeat offenders or those under the age of 18, including fines and jail time. You could even be required to place an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. And the penalty stays on your record for 10 years, impacting your insurance rates.

The bottom line? Never drink and drive in Florida, or anywhere else. It’s not worth it.

Seat Belt Laws

A seat belt is an important defense against injury in an accident. Florida requires anyone under the age of 18 to wear one. While Florida law mandates that adults ages 18 and up need to wear a seat belt only if in the front seat, it’s better to practice safety. And since the state has a “primary” seat belt law, you can be pulled over and ticketed simply for not wearing one, no other violations necessary.

Distracted Driving Laws

Distracted driving has become a major problem with the proliferation of handheld devices. In Florida, one in seven crashes happens as a result of distracted driving, and it caused nearly 300 traffic fatalities in 2023.⁷ The state bans handheld device use while driving in school and work zones. In these settings, you must use hands-free modes.

Texting while driving, however, is banned and enforceable as a primary offense everywhere. If you get caught more than once, you could receive fines and points on your license.

Teen Driver Laws

Florida’s teen driver laws are similar to those in many other states. Teens can apply for learner’s licenses at age 15. At first, young drivers can only drive during daylight hours and with accompanying drivers over the age of 21.

After a year and sufficient practice hours, teens may apply for driver’s licenses. Curfews from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. remain in place until age 18, at which point most restrictions go away.⁸

Statute of Limitations for Claims

You should be aware of the statute of limitations for claims in Florida, as this impacts how long you can wait before filing. Both property damage and personal injury claims have a statute of limitations of four years in the state.⁹ This is right on par with the rest of the country. You’ll need to file your claims within that window if you want them to be covered.

Cancellation/Non-Renewal Notification Laws

As in most states, insurance providers in Florida cannot cancel policies that have been in force for over 60 days, except in these cases:

• You don’t pay the premium.
• You commit fraud or misrepresentation on your application.
• Your driver’s license is revoked or suspended.

If an insurance company cancels your policy in the middle of the term, it must notify you at least 45 days prior to the effective date. In cases of nonpayment, that window shortens to 10 days.

Non-renewal is a different story. At the end of your policy term, your insurance provider may not offer you a renewal. Perhaps it no longer offers that type of insurance, or it wants to reduce the number of policies in your area. In such cases, the company must notify you at least 45 days before the expiration date of your policy.¹⁰

Self-Insurance

Florida is a state that allows self-insurance. This means you can waive the insurance requirement by proving that you have enough assets to cover yourself and others in the event of an accident. Florida requires self-insurers to demonstrate $40,000 in net worth for their first car, and $20,000 for each subsequent car.¹¹

If you self-insure, you won’t have to pay monthly premiums, but you will assume full financial responsibility if you get into an accident. Consider your net worth to determine if this option would be worthwhile.

Car Inspection Requirements

Florida car inspection laws are quite lax compared to those in other states. The state has abolished emissions testing, and there is no yearly requirement for vehicle inspection for new cars purchased in the state — only if you purchase a used car in Florida or any car out of state.

If you do get an inspection, you only have to demonstrate that the vehicle you are driving is the same one you have registered.

SR-22s

If you commit multiple serious driving offenses, you may be required to carry additional proof of liability coverage. In such cases, you will need a form called an SR-22 to prove you have the minimum coverage. An SR-22 is also known as a “certificate of financial responsibility.” Florida requires SR-22s for high-risk drivers, namely those who have committed serious traffic violations.

Florida may also require an FR-44 form in incidents involving alcohol. In this case, your liability requirements increase from the baseline to $100,000/$300,000 (meaning your plan will pay up to $100,000 per person whom you injure in an accident or up to $300,000 for the entire accident). The new minimums remain this high for three years following the reinstatement of your license.

Defensive Driving

Defensive driving means driving safely and respectfully in relation to other motorists, such as maintaining safe following distances and driving more slowly.

It’s always a good idea to take a defensive driver course. Florida calls them “basic driver improvement” (BDI) courses, and numerous providers offer them both online and in person. If you elect to take one of these courses, some insurance providers will offer you a rate discount. You could also get points removed from your license.

You may be required to take a BDI course in various scenarios, such as if you cause a crash that sends someone to the hospital or pass a school bus when it displays a stop signal.

Serious Injury and Monetary Thresholds

Victims in no-fault accidents usually have a limited right to sue for both economic expenses and noneconomic damages (pain and suffering). States have varied monetary and injury thresholds. Florida does not have a threshold for monetary damages, so you could sue for any dollar amount of damage. Victims of noneconomic damages must have sustained permanent injuries, including significant scarring or disfigurement, in order to sue.

Accident Reporting Requirements

Reporting an accident to the police is sometimes required by law. Florida requires you to report any accident that causes an injury, death, or damage over $500. You could face a $30 fine for not reporting an accident that meets one of these conditions. There is no specific deadline, but you should file a police report as soon as possible.

Price Discrimination

Some states prevent insurance companies from using credit scores and gender as factors in their rates. In Florida, however, insurance providers are allowed to take both credit and sex into account when determining prices.

When Is a Car Declared a Total Loss?

In general, total loss in the context of a car accident means that a vehicle cannot be safely repaired, or that repairs would cost more than the vehicle’s estimated value. Different states have different thresholds for how much damage qualifies as a total loss, however.

Florida considers 80 percent of the vehicle’s actual cash value to be the total loss threshold.¹² For instance, if a car is worth $4,000 and requires over $3,200 in repairs, the insurance company will not consider it worth repairing.

Contact Information

You will need to know how to contact the auto institutions in your state. This section explains how to register your car, get a copy of your title, and contact the insurance department in Florida.

Florida Car Registration Information

As a Florida driver, you must register your car in the state. Follow these steps to register your car:

1. Locate your DMV by searching your county on the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. Here you can find your local DMV’s hours, address, telephone number, and other contact information: https://www.flhsmv.gov/locations/.
2. Gather the required documentation. You will have to show proof of identity, Florida insurance, and a Certificate of Title. In other words, you do need insurance to register your vehicle in Florida.
3. Visit your DMV and submit the documentation along with the $225 initial registration fee. You must do this in person at a local service center.

How to Get a Copy of Your Car Title in Florida

There are several situations in which you’ll need a copy of your car’s title (official proof of ownership). Perhaps you’re selling your car to a private party, you’ve changed your name, or you need to register your vehicle. Here’s how you can request a copy of your car title in person:

1. Go to your county tax collector’s office in person.
2. Fill out the Application for Duplicate Title.
3. Submit the application along with proof of identity, proof of lien satisfaction, and a title fee ($6, or $11 if you’re expediting).

You can also request a copy of your title online if you already have an electronic title:

1. Go to the Florida DMV website (GoRenew.com).
2. Submit digital versions of the required documents, which are the same as above.
3. Submit your payment with a credit card.
4. The paper title will be mailed to your address in seven to 10 business days.

How to Contact Your State’s Insurance Department

Florida’s official regulatory body for insurance is the Office of Insurance Regulation. Its physical office is in the state capital, Tallahassee, and it also has a hotline you can call. The insurance department is a good source for official information about insurance statutes in Florida.

• Email: consumer.services@myfloridacfo.com
• Toll-free helpline for in-state callers: 877-693-5236
• Out-of-state callers: 850-413-3089
• TDD line: 800-640-0886

Cost of Car Repairs in Florida

A major reason that you need car insurance is to receive reimbursement for necessary repairs after an accident. The average repair cost in Florida is $410, which is slightly above the national average (by 4 percent).

In 2024, Florida was the third-most expensive state for car repairs in the nation.¹³ The high cost of parts in Florida drove this increase, making it about $16 above the national average ($394).

Crime and Traffic Fatalities in Florida

In this section, we’ll explain what you need to know about auto theft and fatalities in Florida.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Florida saw 46,020 auto thefts in 2022, or 207 thefts per 100,000 inhabitants.¹⁴ That’s 23 percent lower than the national average of 268 thefts per 100,000 inhabitants. The metropolitan areas encompassing Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Orlando, and Jacksonville see the highest rates of theft in the state, which can lead to higher auto insurance premiums.

Fatalities

While Florida was a dangerous place to drive, the rates of traffic-related fatalities dropped in recent years. The state has the thirteenth-highest rate of traffic-related fatalities in the country, with a fatality rate of 1.55 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. This is still 16 percent higher than the national average, so it’s a good reminder to drive defensively and stay safe.¹⁵

Recap

You should now have all the information you need to buy and manage your car insurance in the state of Florida. We’ve reviewed the best car insurance companies in Florida to help you find a provider for your needs.