Jane Dotson
Florida has strict requirements for maintaining an active registration, and failure to meet these requirements can result in the suspension of your driver's license. One crucial requirement is maintaining a Florida insurance policy. If your insurance is cancelled or lapses, you must surrender your license plates and provide proof of a new insurance policy to avoid suspension. This also applies if you move to another state; you must register your vehicle in your new state and surrender your Florida license plates to avoid suspension. Driving with a suspended license in Florida can result in multiple tickets and fines, and the reinstatement fees for license suspension can be expensive.
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What You'll Learn
Florida insurance requirements
Florida has specific insurance requirements that must be met to maintain an active registration. If your insurance lapses, the insurance company will notify the state, and your driver's license may be suspended. To avoid this, you must maintain the required insurance coverage throughout the registration period.
Before registering a vehicle with at least four wheels in Florida, you must provide proof of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) automobile insurance. PIP covers 80% of necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000, regardless of who caused the crash. PDL coverage pays for damage to another person's property caused by you or someone driving your insured vehicle. The minimum requirement for both PIP and PDL is $10,000. Vehicles registered as taxis must carry higher PDL coverage of $50,000 and Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) coverage of $125,000 per person and $250,000 per occurrence.
While Florida is a no-fault state, meaning each person pays for their accident expenses, you can still be sued for damages if they exceed your insurance coverage or if your actions are deemed negligent. Therefore, it is recommended to carry more coverage than the minimum requirement. BIL insurance is not required in Florida but is considered a wise addition to your policy, as it protects you if someone is injured or killed due to your negligence.
If you are moving to another state, do not cancel your Florida insurance until you have registered your vehicle in the new state and surrendered your Florida license plates. You can avoid suspension and reinstatement fees by turning in your license plate before canceling your insurance.
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Reinstating a suspended license
In Florida, a driver's license can be suspended for a variety of reasons, including:
- Unpaid traffic tickets
- Failure to comply with or appear at a traffic summons
- Point suspensions
- Being a habitual traffic offender
- Child support delinquencies
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Failure to maintain required insurance coverage
To reinstate a suspended license in Florida, individuals must address the issue that led to the suspension. Here are the general steps to reinstating a suspended license:
Traffic Citations or Court Suspensions
If your license was suspended due to unpaid traffic tickets, failure to comply with or appear at a traffic summons, or failure to complete a court-ordered driver improvement program, you must contact the traffic court in the county where the citation or summons was issued. Find out what the court requirements are and take steps to satisfy them. Once the court requirements have been met, the county will electronically update the clearance information.
Failure to Maintain Required Insurance Coverage
If your license was suspended due to failure to maintain insurance coverage, you must obtain the necessary insurance and pay any reinstatement fees. In Florida, you are required to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) automobile insurance. You must then provide proof of insurance to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Reinstatement Fees
After addressing the issue that caused the suspension, you may be required to pay a reinstatement fee. The fee can be paid in person at any Florida driver license service center or over the phone by calling 850-617-3000. The reinstatement fee may vary depending on the reason for the suspension, with some individuals reporting fees of up to $500.
Other Requirements
In some cases, additional steps may be necessary for reinstatement. For example, those with a DUI suspension may need to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in their vehicle. It is important to review the specific requirements for your particular case by visiting the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website or contacting them directly.
It is important to note that driving with a suspended license in Florida can result in multiple tickets and fines. It is best to resolve the suspension and ensure you have the proper insurance coverage before getting back on the road.
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Driving without insurance
If you are caught driving without the minimum insurance coverage in Florida, you may face hefty fines and the suspension of your driver's license, license plates, and registration for up to three years. The reinstatement fees for your first offense can be as high as $150, increasing to $250 for a second offense and $500 for three or more offenses within a three-year period. Additionally, driving without insurance can result in your car being impounded, and you may be arrested and taken to jail.
Florida's car insurance laws require drivers to have an active policy that meets specific coverage limits. Before registering a vehicle in Florida, you must provide proof of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance. PIP covers 80% of necessary medical expenses up to $10,000, regardless of fault in a crash. PDL insurance covers damage to another person's property caused by you or someone driving your insured vehicle. Taxis and other vehicles registered for commercial use must carry higher levels of insurance coverage.
It is important to maintain continuous insurance coverage in Florida. If your insurance lapses, your insurer will notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). You will be required to provide proof of a new policy and may face penalties if you failed to maintain coverage. If you cancel your insurance, you must surrender your license plates to the appropriate authorities before canceling to avoid suspension and additional fees.
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Cancelling insurance on a broken car
In Florida, any vehicle with a current registration must be insured with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance. 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 pays for damage to another person's property caused by you or someone else driving your insured vehicle.
Florida requires any registered vehicle to be insured. If you cancel your insurance, the insurance company notifies the state of the date of cancellation, and the state then notifies the owner that they have until a certain date to either return the plate or confirm a Florida policy. If this requirement isn't met, the driver's license is suspended for failure to maintain insurance on an active registration. This can be expensive to resolve, and if you drive when your license is suspended, you will face additional fines.
To avoid suspension and reinstatement fees, you must surrender your license plate at your nearest driver's license office and motor vehicle service center or Tax Collector's office before canceling your insurance. You must also maintain the required insurance coverage throughout the registration period.
If you are looking to cut back on insurance costs, you can ask your agent or company about any discounts you may be eligible for. It is recommended that you keep insurance on your vehicle, even if it is inoperable, as this will help you maintain continuous insurance, which will help you get better rates in the future.
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Proof of insurance coverage
In Florida, it is mandatory to maintain insurance coverage throughout the vehicle registration period. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of your driver's license and a reinstatement fee of up to $500.
If you are registering 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. PIP covers 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000, regardless of who caused the crash. PDL coverage pays for any damage to another person's property caused by you or someone else driving your insured vehicle. Proof of PIP/PDL coverage must be issued by an insurance company licensed in Florida or by obtaining a self-insurance certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility.
If your insurance is cancelled, you must surrender your Florida tag and registration immediately. You will have 30 days to cancel your license plate, and if you do not, your license will be suspended. If you are moving to another state, you must register your vehicle in your new state of residence and surrender all valid plates and registrations to a Florida driver's license office.
If your driver's license and license plate(s) are suspended for not having insurance, you will have to pay a fee and show proof of insurance to get them back. The fee increases with each subsequent suspension within a three-year period: $150 for the first time, $250 for the second, and $500 for the third. You will also be required to show proof of insurance to any police officer who may pull you over, or risk receiving a ticket.
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Frequently asked questions
If your license has been suspended due to an insurance lapse, you will need to show proof of insurance, pay a reinstatement fee, and purchase a new tag. You can do this over the phone or in person.
If you do not have insurance in Florida, your driver's license and/or license plate(s) may be suspended for up to three years. You will then have to pay a reinstatement fee and show proof of insurance for three years to get your driving privileges back.
Before registering a vehicle in Florida, you must show proof of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) automobile insurance.
Driving without insurance in Florida can result in heavy fines, higher insurance rates, and the impounding of your vehicle. You may also be taken to jail.
No, you cannot obtain a Florida driver's license if your license is suspended or revoked in any other state.
