Full Coverage Auto Insurance: Florida's Definition

Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that regardless of who is at fault in a car accident, each driver's insurance covers injuries or medical expenses for them and their passengers. Florida drivers are required to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) coverage. This is considered full coverage in the state of Florida. However, full coverage auto insurance can also include comprehensive and collision coverage, which covers damage to your own vehicle.

Florida's minimum insurance requirements

Florida is a no-fault state, which means that each driver's insurance covers injuries or medical expenses for themselves and their passengers, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): $10,000 per accident. PIP covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses resulting from a covered injury, no matter who caused the crash. It also covers lost wages, death benefits, and funeral and burial expenses.
• Property Damage Liability (PDL): $10,000 per accident. PDL covers damage to another person's property caused by the policyholder or someone else driving their insured vehicle.

It is important to note that these are the only required types of insurance in Florida. However, drivers can benefit from adding optional coverages such as comprehensive and collision insurance to ensure they are fully protected.

To register a vehicle in Florida, you must show proof of PIP and PDL insurance. Additionally, you must maintain continuous coverage even if the vehicle is not being driven or is inoperable. If you cancel your insurance, you must surrender your license plate before doing so. Failure to maintain the required insurance coverage can result in the suspension of your driver's license and vehicle registration, as well as a reinstatement fee of up to $500.

Full coverage in Florida

In the state of Florida, full coverage auto insurance is considered to be more than the minimum coverage requirements established by state law. While Florida's minimum coverage limits are $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage, full coverage includes both these minimum liability coverage amounts as well as comprehensive and collision coverage.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

PIP insurance covers medical costs, lost wages, and death benefits. In Florida, you must carry $10,000 in PIP coverage, which will cover 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to this amount resulting from a covered injury, no matter who caused the crash. In the case of a death, PIP coverage offers compensation of up to $5,000. PIP would also pay for funeral and burial expenses.

Property Damage Liability (PDL)

PDL coverage pays for damage to another person's property caused by you or someone else driving your insured vehicle. Florida requires a minimum of $10,000 in PDL coverage.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage pays to fix your car if it gets damaged by a natural disaster, animal attack, flood, fire, vandalism, or theft.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage pays for the damage to your vehicle if you get into an accident.

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Florida is $3,795 per year, well above the national average of $2,681 per year. However, it's important to note that rates can vary significantly based on driver demographics, and it's recommended to shop around and seek available driver discounts to save on your policy.

The No-Fault Insurance System

Florida is a no-fault state, meaning that regardless of who is at fault for an auto accident, each driver's insurance covers injuries or medical expenses for themselves and their passengers. This is known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. By law, Florida requires drivers to have a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage and a minimum of $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance.

PIP insurance covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses resulting from a covered injury, up to $10,000, no matter who caused the crash. It also covers lost wages, death benefits, and funeral and burial expenses. In the case of death, PIP coverage offers compensation of up to $5,000. It's important to note that if you are filing a PIP claim, you must start treatment within 14 days of your auto accident, or your insurance company may deny your claim.

PDL insurance covers any damage to another person's property caused by you or someone else driving your insured vehicle. The minimum PDL coverage in Florida is $10,000 per accident.

While Florida's minimum coverage limits are fairly low, drivers can purchase a policy with higher limits and additional coverage types. For example, Bodily Injury (BI) insurance covers medical expenses for a person you hit, and Medical Payment (MedPay) coverage can help cover the 20% of medical expenses not paid by PIP benefits. Collision insurance covers damage to your own vehicle after an accident, and comprehensive insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it is stolen or damaged in a non-collision incident.

Florida's no-fault system means that your PIP insurance pays for your injuries, regardless of which driver caused the collision. However, if you have permanent injuries or your medical bills or lost income exceed $10,000, you can still sue the at-fault driver for these expenses. If you are the at-fault driver, your optional bodily injury policy will pay for the damages in this type of lawsuit. Without bodily injury insurance, you will have to pay out of pocket.

Florida also recognizes comparative fault, where two drivers share responsibility for an accident. If an injured driver files a lawsuit and is found to be partially at fault, they can only recoup the percentage of injury-related expenses for which the other driver is responsible.

Average cost of full-coverage insurance

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Florida is $3,244 per year, or $270 per month. This is significantly higher than the national average of $2,008 per year, or $167 per month.

Florida is one of the most expensive states for auto insurance, and its rates have been increasing. In 2023, the average premium for a full-coverage policy jumped by 10.1% to $3,244, adding to some of the nation's highest auto insurance rates.

The state's minimum coverage requirements are also quite low, which means drivers may want to consider purchasing full-coverage policies that include both collision and comprehensive coverage to ensure they're fully protected.

The price of car insurance in Florida depends on various factors, including age, gender, location, vehicle type, marital status, and credit history. For example, male drivers and young or teen drivers tend to pay higher rates than female drivers and older drivers.

The city you live in also impacts your premium. For instance, insurance premiums might be higher in cities like Miami or Tampa compared to more rural locations.

Some insurance companies that offer affordable full-coverage car insurance in Florida include State Farm, Geico, and Travelers.

Optional auto insurance coverage

While Florida has a mandatory minimum insurance requirement, drivers can benefit from adding optional coverages to ensure they are fully protected. Here are some optional auto insurance coverages to consider:

Bodily Injury Liability (BIL)

Although not required by Florida law, Bodily Injury Liability insurance covers injuries or death to others when your car is involved in an accident and you are found to be at fault. This can be especially important if you cause a car accident that results in significant injuries or death, as you may be liable to pay out substantial compensation to other parties. BIL is mandatory for three years after a DUI conviction.

Collision Coverage

Collision insurance covers any damage to your vehicle from colliding with another vehicle, crashing into an object, or overturning. This is not included in the minimum liability or PIP coverage and must be purchased separately.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive insurance covers losses from incidents other than collisions, such as fire, theft, windstorm, vandalism, flood, or hitting an animal. It also covers damage caused by falling objects and hail storms, lightning, floods, and hurricane damage, which are common in Florida. If you have a loan on your car, you may be required to purchase comprehensive insurance.

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage

UM insurance covers you, your passengers, or family members if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, or in a hit-and-run situation. It pays for medical expenses, lost wages beyond your PIP coverage, and property damage.

Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage

MedPay covers medical expenses beyond those covered by PIP. It differs from BIL in that it covers medical expenses for you, your family members, and your passengers, regardless of who is at fault.

Rental Reimbursement Coverage

Rental reimbursement coverage will reimburse you for car rental expenses if your car is unable to be driven due to an accident. If the other driver was at fault, their liability insurance may cover these costs.

Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance programs can be added to your policy to help you in case of a breakdown or other vehicle-related emergencies.

GAP Insurance

GAP insurance pays off your auto loan if you total your vehicle, ensuring you don't owe more than the car's value.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

This insurance provides coverage for accidental death or dismemberment in an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault. It covers you and your relatives living in your home.

Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI)

MBI covers a range of key components and functions like an extended warranty.

Frequently asked questions