Florida Auto Insurance: Understanding Your Proof Of Coverage

Florida is one of the most expensive states in the US for car insurance, with an average annual cost of $1,426 in 2018. Before registering a vehicle in Florida, you must show proof of insurance. Florida law requires drivers to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) auto insurance. The minimum coverage required by law is $10,000 per person for PIP and $10,000 per accident for PDL. If you don't have car insurance in Florida, you can be fined, and your driver's license, tag, and registration may be suspended.

Minimum insurance requirements

Florida has a no-fault insurance law, which means that all vehicle owners must carry two types of automobile insurance coverage: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL).

The minimum insurance requirements in Florida are as follows:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): $10,000 per person. PIP covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 resulting from a covered injury, regardless of who caused the crash.
• Property Damage Liability (PDL): $10,000 per accident. PDL coverage pays for damage to another person's property caused by you or someone else driving your insured vehicle.
• Bodily Injury Liability (BIL): $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident. BIL pays for injury or death to others.
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage: $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident. This coverage will protect you if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist.

It is important to note that motorcycles, mobile homes, and utility trailers do not require insurance to be registered in Florida. Additionally, taxis have additional insurance requirements, including BIL coverage of $125,000 per person, $250,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 for PDL coverage.

Florida's No-Fault Law

Florida is one of around a dozen US states that follow a "no-fault" car insurance system. This means that, in the event of a car accident, your own insurance coverage pays for medical bills and other financial losses, regardless of who caused the accident. In Florida, this coverage is called "personal injury protection" or "PIP". PIP is not liability insurance and only benefits the insured. It covers the insured regardless of whether they were driving an owned, borrowed, or rented vehicle.

The minimum limit of PIP coverage in Florida is $10,000, which pays 80% of medical bills, 60% of lost wages, and 100% of replacement service costs. PIP also contains a $5,000 death benefit. Claims must be made within 14 days of the accident.

Florida's no-fault system does not apply to vehicle damage claims, and a liability claim can be made against the at-fault driver with no limitations. In addition to PIP, Florida law requires a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage. PDL coverage pays for damage to another person's property caused by the insured or someone else driving their vehicle.

Proof of insurance

In Florida, proof of insurance is required to register or renew a registration for a vehicle with at least four wheels. This includes motorcycles, mobile homes, and utility trailers, which do not need insurance to be registered in Florida.

The minimum insurance requirements for vehicles in Florida are:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance of at least $10,000, which covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses resulting from a covered injury, up to $10,000, regardless of who caused the crash.
• Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance of at least $10,000, which covers damage to another person's property caused by the insured vehicle.

It is important to maintain continuous insurance coverage for registered vehicles in Florida, even if the vehicle is not being driven or is inoperable. Failure to maintain the required insurance coverage can result in the suspension of driving privileges and a reinstatement fee of up to $500.

Florida's No-Fault Law requires all drivers to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, which helps pay for the insured's medical bills in the event of an accident, regardless of who is at fault. This does not prevent drivers from being sued for injuries or damages caused in an accident.

Additionally, Florida's Financial Responsibility Law mandates that certain drivers with a history of at-fault accidents, excessive points on their license, DUIs, or serious and/or repeated offenses carry full liability auto insurance coverage.

To provide proof of insurance in Florida, individuals can use their insurance ID card, store their information electronically on their phone using apps provided by insurance companies, or submit proof through the DHSMV website, mail, or in person at a Florida driver's license office.

Reinstating a suspended license

In Florida, a driver's license can be suspended for a number of reasons, including:

• Unpaid traffic tickets
• Accumulating too many traffic tickets
• Moving violations
• Car accidents
• Driving while intoxicated (DUI)
• Unpaid taxes
• Unpaid child support
• Vehicular manslaughter
• Failure to report an accident

The process of reinstating a suspended license in Florida involves the following steps:

Wait for the Suspension Period to End

You must wait for the suspension duration to end before applying for reinstatement. The length of the suspension period depends on the reason for the suspension. For example, a license suspended due to medical conditions will remain suspended until you can prove you are no longer a risk on the road.

Pay the Reinstatement Fee

There is a reinstatement fee that must be paid to get your license back. The fee can range from $150 for a first violation to $500 for subsequent violations.

Provide Proof of Insurance

You must provide proof of current Florida insurance to reinstate your license. This includes Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance with a minimum coverage of $10,000 each.

Complete Any Required Courses or Programs

Depending on the reason for the suspension, you may be required to complete certain courses or programs. For example, if your license was suspended due to a DUI, you may need to enroll in a DUI First Offender Program.

Resolve Criminal Charges

If your license was suspended due to criminal charges, you must resolve these charges before your license can be reinstated. This may include serving any required jail time and paying any fines or fees associated with the charges.

Apply for Reinstatement

Finally, you must apply for reinstatement of your driver's license. This may include submitting any required documentation, such as proof of insurance and completion of any necessary courses or programs. You may also need to pay any additional fees or fines associated with the reinstatement process.

Florida's Financial Responsibility Law

To register a vehicle with at least four wheels in Florida, you must show proof of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) automobile insurance. This applies to any vehicle with a current Florida registration. The minimum coverage required is $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in PDL. PIP covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 resulting from a covered injury, regardless of who caused the crash. PDL coverage, on the other hand, pays for damage to another person's property caused by the insured vehicle.

Vehicles registered as taxis have additional insurance requirements. They must carry Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) coverage of $125,000 per person, $250,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 for PDL coverage.

It is important to maintain continuous insurance coverage throughout the registration period, even if the vehicle is not being driven or is inoperable. If you need to cancel your insurance, be sure to surrender your license plate/tag first to avoid suspension and reinstatement fees. Failure to maintain the required insurance coverage in Florida may result in the suspension of your driver's license and registration, and you may be required to pay a reinstatement fee of up to $500.

Frequently asked questions