Car Insurance for Seniors in Florida

Car insurance for seniors is auto insurance specifically for drivers 55 and older. Usually, the actual policies look similar regardless of age group, but we’ll point out some key differences below.

Aside from senior discounts, the main way car insurance is different for seniors is the higher cost. Car insurance costs more for seniors in all states, even though, in Florida, they are less likely to get into crashes than any other age group. Fatal crashes are most common from ages 20 to 34, and they decrease from age 65 and above, according to the 2022 FHSMV’s annual traffic crash report.¹

Learn more in our senior driving statistics.

The mandatory car insurance in Florida includes property damage coverage and PIP. The first thing you need to do is make sure you’re hitting the minimum coverage requirements for driving in the state.

Coverages

The minimum car insurance in Florida is as follows.

• Property damage coverage: You must get at least $10,000 of property damage coverage, which covers the other party’s property damages in accidents you cause. On the other hand, if someone hits your car, you’d file a third-party claim with their auto insurance company to get your damages covered.
• PIP: PIP covers medical payments, lost wages, and child care costs that result from accidents, whether or not you were at fault. You must carry at least $10,000 of PIP per person and per accident.

Florida does not require bodily injury coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, or uninsured motorist coverage. If you want damages to your car or accidents with uninsured motorists covered, we recommend full-coverage car insurance with limits as high as you can afford.

Florida is a no-fault state, meaning each person is responsible for their own medical costs under PIP, while the at-fault party pays for the other party’s property damage.

While there have been recent bills in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate that would have repealed this no-fault law, specificallyHouse Bill 1525 and Senate Bill 150, they both died in March of 2022. If they had passed, bodily injury coverage would have replaced PIP, making the at-fault party responsible for the other party’s medical costs.⁵

Many people had warned that repealing Florida’s no-fault law would make car insurance even more expensive. In fact, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation estimated that costs would have increased by 48 percent,⁶ causing higher numbers of uninsured motorists.

Florida is already sixth in the nation for the percentage of people driving without insurance, which is an estimated 1 in 5 drivers as of 2019.⁷ Fortunately for Florida drivers, the no-fault law remains.

Florida requires SR-22s when people reinstate their licenses after court-ordered suspensions. People must maintain proof of minimum coverage for two years from the original suspension date, along with paying a reinstatement fee of $150, $250, or $500. However, any alcohol-related conviction would require an FR-44 following reinstatement for three years. This form proves that you have higher liability limits than the state’s normal requirements.
You would need to have the following:

• Bodily injury coverage: $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident
• Property damage coverage: $50,000

As of August 2024, PIP is still a requirement in Florida, with a $10,000 liability limit. These medical/disability benefits include $10,000 in these categories:

• Ambulance
• Dental
• Hospital
• Nurse
• Physical therapy
• Prosthetic devices
• Rehab
• Surgeries
• X-rays

PIP also includes $5,000 of death benefits.

Let’s say you’re a senior who uses Medicare. If you were injured in a car accident, your PIP would contribute to your medical costs before your Medicare coverage or any other health care coverage you have. In other words, Medicare is a secondary payer that will only contribute after you exhaust your PIP and health insurance benefits.⁸

If you’re ready to shop for car insurance in Florida, there are a few ways you can go about it.

1. Ask around. You could ask your friends or family for recommendations, but note that there’s no one-size-fits-all car insurance, so the best insurance for your friend may not be the best for you.
2. Find an agent or a broker. A better option is to find an insurance agent or broker. While an agent represents a company or multiple companies, brokers represent you, allowing you to shop the entire market. You can find an agent or a broker through local business directories like Yelp and the Better Business Bureau.
3. Look online. You can also compare car insurance quotes online to find the lowest rates. Additionally, read reviews of companies. See how real customers feel about companies’ customer service, and check customer service ratings from J.D. Power. Also see what the insurers offer in terms of coverages and discounts for a senior driver, such as accident forgiveness.

Go to a company directly. If there’s a company you already know and trust, you can call it directly or visit in person to get a policy. These are some of the best insurance companies in Florida for seniors:

• Allstate
• State Farm
• Direct Auto
• The Hartford
• USAA

If price is a major concern, consider the companies that offer the cheapest car insurance in Florida:

• AssuranceAmerica
• Allstate
• Dairyland
• GEICO
• State Farm
• USAA

Seniors are up against a lot when it comes to finding affordable car insurance in Florida, from the state’s high costs in general to the high costs for seniors in any state. However, with a little research, you can make your auto insurance rates as low as possible, while still protecting your financial interests. Be sure to follow all Florida car insurance laws, while you’re at it!