Florida Car Insurance Requirements in 2024

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Written by Jamie Johnson Edited by Lequita Westbrooks

Updated January 24, 2024

Car insurance requirements vary by state, so, if you’re considering relocating to Florida, you’ll want to understand the state’s coverage requirements. Florida has 16 million licensed drivers, the third-most of all U.S. states. It also has the sixth-highest number of uninsured motorists, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I).

Florida is a “no-fault state,” meaning drivers pay for their own injuries and medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. This also affects the type of auto insurance Florida drivers are required to purchase.

Here’s what you need to know about car insurance requirements in Florida.

What Are Florida’s Car Insurance Requirements?

Florida state law requires all residents to show proof of insurance before registering and driving a car in the state. Failing to maintain adequate auto insurance coverage could result in a suspended license and a reinstatement fee of up to $500.

Florida drivers must maintain personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability insurance (PDL), though you may want to purchase additional coverage. If you’re a recent Florida transplant, you must register your vehicle within 10 days of starting a new job in the state or enrolling your children in a Florida public school.

Personal Injury Protection

Florida drivers must have a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection coverage per accident. If you’re involved in a car accident, PIP coverage pays for up to 80% of any necessary medical bills, regardless of who was at fault. And, if you’re unable to work due to injuries from a car accident, PIP coverage may help cover your lost wages.

Property Damage Liability

Florida drivers also need to have a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident. PDL insurance pays for damages to another person’s vehicle — not your own — resulting from an accident you caused. But it could also pay to repair a fence, bicycle, or any property damaged in a car accident.

Florida Auto Insurance Requirements in Special Cases

Some additional insurance requirements that may apply in special cases include:

• Financed vehicles: If you finance a car, most lenders will require you to maintain comprehensive and collision insurance for the duration of the loan and to list your lender on the policy. If you fail to maintain this coverage, your lender will purchase insurance to protect its interest in the vehicle, but you’ll have no protection yourself.
• Leased vehicle: If you choose to lease a car, it may come with requirements similar to financed vehicles. Make sure to read the terms of your lease agreement so you understand what type of coverage you’re responsible for purchasing.
• Motorcycles: You must purchase a separate policy for a motorcycle, and PIP insurance isn’t available. Anyone older than 21 can ride a motorcycle without a helmet under Florida law, as long as they have at least $10,000 in health insurance or medical payments coverage.
• College students: If you attend college in another state but your car is registered in Florida, you must purchase PIP and PDL coverage.
• Part-time residents: If you live in Florida for more than 90 days per year, you must buy PIP and PDL coverage. The 90 days don’t have to be consecutive for the part-time residency rules to apply.
• Vehicles used for work: If you regularly use your car for business, you should discuss this with your insurance agent to ensure you have enough coverage.
• Rentals: Talk to your insurance agent before renting a vehicle to ensure your personal auto insurance policy covers rentals.
• Military personnel: If you’re on active duty and serving outside of the U.S., you’re exempt from the insurance requirements as long as no one else drives your car while you’re deployed. But you must receive this exemption in writing from your insurance company.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Florida

The penalties for driving without car insurance vary depending on the circumstances and whether you’ve had previous offenses. Some common penalties you can expect to encounter in Florida include:

• License suspension: If you fail to maintain adequate insurance coverage, the state may suspend your license for up to three years.
• Reinstatement fee: After a license suspension, you’ll have to pay a reinstatement fee of up to $500 to restore your driving privileges.
• Fines: Driving without insurance can result in other fines, which can increase up to $1,000 if you have subsequent offenses.
• SR-22 requirements: In some cases, you may be required to provide SR-22 insurance to show that you’ve met the minimum car insurance requirements.
• Higher insurance costs: Once you’re ready to purchase car insurance again, you may find that your premiums are higher due to the lapse in coverage.

Are Florida Minimum Car Insurance Requirements Enough?

Florida’s auto insurance requirements are fairly low compared to other states, which can pose a financial risk for many drivers. If you’re involved in an accident and the damages exceed your coverage limits, you’ll need to cover any additional costs out of pocket.

If you’re seriously injured in an accident, $10,000 in PIP coverage may not cover your medical costs and lost income. That’s why most Florida drivers should consider buying additional car insurance coverage if they can afford it.

If you need more coverage, consider the policies outlined in the next table.

Optional car insurance coverage in Florida

Florida is one of the most populous states in the U.S., and about 20% of its drivers are uninsured, according to Triple-I. That puts you at a higher risk of needing to file a car insurance claim.

The following table outlines five additional coverage options you might want to consider.

If you choose to purchase comprehensive or collision coverage, you’ll need to complete something called a CARCO inspection. Only a handful of states require this pre-inspection (including Florida) before drivers can buy comprehensive and collision insurance.

Of course, your budget plays a big role in the type of insurance coverage you purchase. So, before you start shopping around for car insurance, it’s a good idea to understand the average car insurance costs in Florida. We’ll cover this in the next section.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Florida?

When shopping for car insurance, you have to decide whether to purchase a liability-only policy or full coverage. Liability insurance covers the other driver’s medical expenses and damages to their vehicle in an accident you cause, but not your own.

Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive insurance and pays for damages to your vehicle as well. In Florida, liability-only insurance costs an average of $196 per month, and full coverage costs an average of $292 per month.

The following table outlines the seven cheapest insurers in Florida. But these rates are based on a clean driving record — your rates could be higher if you have a less-than-perfect driving record.

GEICO and State Farm are the cheapest options overall for Florida drivers by a pretty substantial margin, but the exact rates you receive will vary depending on factors like your driving history, ZIP code, age, and gender.

Florida Auto Insurance FAQs

Before shopping for car auto insurance, it’s important to understand car insurance requirements in Florida. Below are answers to common questions Florida drivers have when buying car insurance.

Can someone sue me after an accident in Florida?

Yes. Even though Florida’s a no-fault state, it’s possible for someone to sue you following an accident. If the other driver suffered serious injuries or property damages, they can file a lawsuit against you.

If you have adequate car insurance, your insurance company will cover the damages up to the limits of your policy.

What do you need for full-coverage insurance in Florida?

Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability (bodily injury and property damage), comprehensive, and collision insurance. Florida drivers may need full-coverage insurance if they’re financing or leasing their car, own a high-value vehicle, or just want to protect against financial risks.

Florida’s minimum car insurance requirements include $10,000 of personal injury protection and $10,0000 property damage liability. For additional coverage beyond state minimums, Florida drivers would need to consider purchasing at least bodily injury liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance.

Can you register your car in Florida if you have an out-of-state license?

Yes. You can register your car in Florida with an out-of-state license. But you might be required to provide a valid Florida auto insurance policy and a photo ID. You may also have to establish residency in the state by showing proof of a Florida address.

You can contact Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for more information.

Can you apply for self-insurance in Florida?

Yes. But to qualify for self-insurance in Florida, you must provide a notarized financial statement showing that your net worth is at least $40,000. You must also have a valid driver’s license and Social Security number.

If you qualify, a certificate of self-insurance is valid for one year after the effective date.

Do all household members need to be on car insurance in Florida?

Yes. You must list any household members with valid driver’s licenses on your car insurance policy.

This includes your spouse, children, or other family members who regularly use your vehicle. This information gives your insurer a better understanding of the risks involved in insuring you.

Methodology

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance rates from more than 75 partner insurance providers to compile the quotes and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information. All the quotes listed in this article have been gathered from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide drivers with insight into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources

1. Statista, “Total number of licensed drivers in the U.S. by state,” Accessed January 10, 2024.
2. Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, “Insurance Requirements,” Accessed January 10, 2024.
3. Florida Department of Financial Services, “Automobile Insurance Toolkit,” Accessed January 10, 2024.
4. Insurance Information Institute, “Facts + Statistics: Uninsured Motorist,” Accessed January 1, 2024.
5. CARCO, “CARCO FAQs,” Accessed January 10, 2024.

Jamie Johnson Insurance Writer

Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.