Florida Auto Insurance Guide
Whether you’re visiting amusement parks in Orlando, fishing on
Lake Okeechobee, shopping at Palm Beach, doing business in Tallahassee or gator spotting in the Everglades, the Sunshine State has thousands of miles of
places to go. From Chattahoochee to Key Largo, Panama City to St. Augustine and all points in
between,
car insurance
is crucial to being a responsible Florida driver.
Auto Insurance Resources for FL State Residents
As of 2010, there were more than 17.8 million licensed drivers in the Sunshine State, nearly 17% of them are over 65, the highest
percentage of senior drivers in the nation. As a major tourist destination, Florida also has a high number of out-of-state and part-time
resident drivers. The Insurance Research Council estimates that 23% of Florida drivers are uninsured. In 2008, the Florida Department of
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV) reported that the Florida Highway Patrol investigated 218,619 vehicle crashes, issued 364,497
speeding citations and 77,506 seat belt/child restraint citations, and made 10,329 DUI arrests. That same year, there were 2,983 car crash
fatalities, 1,169 were alcohol-related. Uninsured, alcohol-impaired and reckless drivers are good reasons to make sure you have enough car
insurance while living and driving in the Sunshine State.
Florida State Minimum Car Insurance
Florida state law requires you to carry a minimum amount of car insurance or face severe penalties. The Sunshine State is one of just 12
no-fault states, meaning your insurance will pay your injury claims up to a specified limit, regardless of who caused the accident. Under a
no-fault system, you lose some of your rights to sue. While Florida does not require that you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage,
additional personal liability or Collision and Comprehensive coverage, if you own property or other valuable assets, you would be wise to supplement
the minimum requirements shown below:
- $10,000 bodily injury per person per accident
- $20,000 bodily injury for all persons per accident
- $10,000 property damage liability
- $10,000 personal injury protection
Florida Car Insurance Laws
Florida law requires that you carry proof of Florida auto insurance in your vehicle and produce it if a law enforcement officer asks to see
it. If you fail to comply, your driver’s license, vehicle tag and registration can be suspended for up to 3 years, or until you produce proof
of financial responsibility.
If you are involved in an accident and don’t have proof of Florida automobile insurance, the suspension can be increased to as many as 20
years. Reinstating suspended privilege costs $150 for a first offense and up to $500 for subsequent violations.
Regulating Agency and References
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
This agency is responsible for regulating vehicle insurance policies sold in Florida. For more information, visit their website at
www.floir.com
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
This is the agency responsible for licensing drivers and registering vehicles. You can learn more about Florida auto insurance
requirements, penalties and related information at
www.flhsmv.gov
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
This is an organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. NAIC
provides a forum for the development of uniform policies when appropriate. NAIC members are elected or appointed state government
officials who regulate the conduct of insurance companies and agents in their respective states or territories.
Visit NAIC at www.naic.org
Insurance Information Institute (III)
This organization’s mission is to improve public understanding of insurance – what it is and how it works. Visit III at
www.iii.org/
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