Auto Insurance In Florida: What's The Law?

Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that drivers must pay for their injuries and medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. Florida law requires that all drivers must carry certain amounts of car insurance coverage. However, as a no-fault state, the requirements for Florida drivers are different from many other states. Florida drivers must maintain personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability insurance (PDL).

Florida's Financial Responsibility Law

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

The Florida no-fault law requires anyone who has a car for more than 90 days and resides in Florida to have personal injury protection worth $10,000. PIP provides immediate coverage for injuries sustained in an accident, regardless of who was at fault. It covers medical bills, disability, funeral expenses, survivor's loss, and lost income due to the injury. PIP also covers family members and passengers without personal injury protection, provided they don't own a registered vehicle.

Property Damage Liability (PDL)

Property Damage Liability insurance is mandatory for all drivers in Florida. It covers any property damage caused by the policyholder or their family members in a crash, including damage to vehicles, fences, or bicycles. The minimum requirement for PDL coverage is $10,000 per accident.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance

Florida is a "no-fault state", meaning that drivers must pay for their own injuries and medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. This affects the type of auto insurance that Florida drivers are required to purchase.

Florida law requires that all drivers must carry certain types of car insurance coverage. One of these mandatory coverages is Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. PIP insurance covers your medical expenses due to an accident, regardless of who is at fault. PIP insurance will also cover your family members, as well as any passengers who don't have personal injury protection, provided they don't own a registered vehicle.

Florida requires anyone who owns a vehicle with four or more wheels to get at least $10,000 of PIP coverage. This coverage pays for up to 80% of your medical bills and lost income after a car accident, and up to $5,000 in death benefits. PIP coverage must be issued by an insurance company licensed in Florida or by qualifying for a self-insurance certificate issued by the FLHSMV.

PIP insurance is beneficial because it provides immediate access to funds for medical coverage, without having to go through the legal system and establish fault. This means that accident victims can quickly receive funds to cover their medical costs and other expenses, without having to wait for lengthy legal proceedings.

However, there are some limitations to PIP insurance. The Florida no-fault law limits the right of an injured person to sue the other driver for non-medical suffering, such as emotional and mental distress. Additionally, the $10,000 limit for medical cost claims on PIP insurance may not be sufficient to cover all expenses, and there are certain medical treatments that are not covered by PIP.

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance

Florida is one of the few states that does not require bodily injury liability insurance. However, it is a good idea to have it, and many insurance companies package it with other types of automobile insurance.

While bodily injury liability insurance is not mandatory in Florida, drivers who have received a DUI may be compelled to get it. In this case, they must have $100,000 of coverage per person and $300,000 per accident for three years after their driving privileges are reinstated.

If you are in a car accident in Florida and cannot meet the Florida Financial Responsibility Law requirements, your license will be suspended for three years. The only way to get your license back sooner is to be released from all liability by the injured person or to post security to cover their entire claim. Therefore, it is recommended that drivers have at least the minimum bodily injury coverage of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident.

Property Damage Liability Insurance

In the state of Florida, it is mandatory for all drivers to carry certain amounts of car insurance coverage. Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance is one of the two types of insurance that Florida law requires all drivers to have. PDL insurance covers any property damage you or your family members cause in a crash, including another person's vehicle, a fence, a bicycle, or any other property.

The minimum requirement for PDL insurance in Florida is $10,000 in coverage per accident. This means that if you cause an accident, your PDL insurance will pay for damages to another person's property, up to a maximum of $10,000. It is important to note that PDL insurance does not cover damages to your own property; it only covers damages to another person's property.

While the minimum requirement for PDL insurance in Florida is $10,000, it is recommended that drivers consider purchasing higher amounts of coverage. The average property damage claim can range from a few thousand dollars to much higher, depending on the severity of the accident. If the damages exceed your coverage limits, you may be responsible for paying the additional costs out of pocket.

In addition to the financial coverage, PDL insurance typically includes legal representation if you are sued for damaging property. This can provide valuable protection in the event that you are involved in a legal dispute arising from an accident.

It is important to note that the requirements for PDL insurance may vary depending on the type of vehicle you own. For example, vehicles registered as taxis in Florida are required to carry higher amounts of PDL coverage, specifically $50,000 per accident.

Failing to maintain the required PDL insurance coverage in Florida can result in serious consequences. Your driver's license and vehicle registration may be suspended for up to three years, and you may be required to pay a reinstatement fee of up to $500. Additionally, if you are involved in an accident without PDL insurance, you will be liable for all the damages caused, which can result in significant financial burden.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

Driving without insurance in Florida can result in hefty fines and the loss of driving privileges. Florida's car insurance laws are clear: all drivers must purchase and maintain insurance to legally operate their vehicles. Driving without insurance is a serious problem that could result in the suspension or revocation of your driver's license.

First Offense

After your first offense, the state can suspend your license until you provide proof of auto insurance and pay a fee of $150. Then you may apply to have your driver's license, license plates, and registration reinstated. However, there are no reinstatement fees or penalties if you prove your new policy began before the suspension date.

Second and Subsequent Offenses

The fees to reinstate your license and vehicle registration after your second and subsequent offenses within three years of the first are more expensive. If you let your insurance lapse for a second time within those three years, the reinstatement fee increases to $250. For a third or subsequent offense in that time frame, the reinstatement fee goes up to $500.

Driving Without Insurance in an Accident

If you're at fault in an accident and don't have insurance, the consequences can be significant. If the other driver is injured or their car is damaged, you can be held personally liable for the entire cost of the damages. On top of that, you could lose your driving privileges until you've paid that entire cost.

Drivers who are uninsured and at fault for a bad accident may also need an SR-22 certificate. Your insurer would need to file this document on your behalf, and they may charge higher rates afterward. Under the state's financial responsibility law, you will also need to purchase bodily injury liability coverage, which is a costly penalty in Florida. Plus, you may find it difficult to find an insurer willing to take on the risk of a driver who has already been involved in a serious accident.

Fines

Driving without insurance can result in fines of between $150 and $500, which can increase up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses.

Frequently asked questions