Florida requires auto insurance coverage.
Florida law requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance coverage. However, as a no-fault state, the requirements for Florida drivers are different than in other states. Bodily injury liability coverage is one such requirement. Mandatory coverage in most states, Florida car insurance laws do not require it, instead of relying on personal injury protection (PIP) to cover injuries.
Minimum Florida car insurance requirements.
Property Damage Liability (PDL) – $10,000
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – $10,000
Florida is a no–fault state.
Florida’s no-fault law means that, regardless of who is at fault, your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will step in to provide coverage up to your policy limits. Unlike most other states, residents of Florida are not required to have bodily injury liability.
Florida’s penalties for driving without proof of insurance.
Drivers who operate a motor vehicle without the proper auto insurance coverage can face steep penalties, including the loss of your driving privileges. Penalties for failure to show proof of insurance in Florida are as follows.
1st Offense – $150 – Drivers license and registration suspended for up to three years.
2nd offense – $250 – Drivers license and registration suspended for up to three years.
3rd offense – $500 – Drivers license and registration suspended for up to three years.
If you cause an accident without insurance, the penalties can be quite a bit higher.
What is personal injury protection?
Florida’s no-fault law means that, regardless of who is at fault, your personal injury protection insurance provides coverage up to the limits of the policy. Unlike most states, Florida drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability coverage. Bodily injury liability is the coverage that pays the medical expenses of those injured in an accident that you may cause. In Florida, the PIP coverage kicks in to cover medical costs.
Note: PIP insurance generally will not cover your claim for pain and suffering. Any claim for that sort of damages would be pursued through the legal system.
Do Florida’s minimum coverage requirements provide enough coverage?
Florida’s car insurance minimum coverage requirements are low compared with other states. For this reason, many experts recommend that to avoid out of pocket expenses, drivers carry additional coverage above the state-mandated limits.
Drivers may also file a claim for compensation for any injuries that exceed the cost of their own PIP policy. If the at-fault driver causes injuries over a certain amount, it’s possible for the victim to sue. Without bodily injury liability, any damages awarded by a court could come out of your pocket.
If a driver causes an accident in Florida resulting in the permanent injury of another driver. According to Florida law, the driver can be sued if the driver causes one of the following situations:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
According to the folks at Kelley Blue Book, the average cost of a new automobile in 2020 is $37,876. Clearly a $10,000 limit for personal property liability will not cover much damage sustained by even the average new car. For this reason, it’s highly encouraged that all drivers carry higher amounts of property damage liability insurance.
Of course, we could go on. These are just a few of many many facets of Florida law with respect to auto insurance. If you would like one of our experts at MacCallum Group to review your situation and make recommendations to ensure you receive the most affordable and comprehensive auto insurance coverage available today, call us at (339) 214 2145.
