Florida Car Insurance Quotes and Requirements

Florida has a no-fault insurance requirement for Personal Injury Protection, so a car insurance quote for Florida should have at least the following coverage or financial responsibility at a minimum:

• $10,000 for death or injury for you and/or your passengers (maximum of $5000 death benefit out of $10,000 coverage);
• $10,000 for property damage to others.

Minimum insurance coverage requirements may increase if you are cited for driving without insurance or have a DUI conviction.  PIP coverage is a “no fault” type of insurance coverage that works by paying 80% of your medical expenses and 60% of lost wages from the date of the accident or up to the limits of your PIP coverage (whichever is less). In exchange for guaranteed payment under PIP, you give up some of your rights to sue the other driver.  You may be able to sue if your non-economic damages (pain and suffering) if your damages exceed the “verbal threshold” (serious injuries, disfigurement or death.)   

Nearly all car insurance policies have a provision that will adjust your coverage from the minimums required in your state to the minimum insurance or proof of financial responsibility in another U.S. state. So you do not need to get a new insurance policy for each state you are driving through, unless the car is primarily garaged in State with higher requirements, such as Delaware or California.  However, the minimum amount of insurance required by law in Florida does not include coverage for bodily injury to others or repair of your own vehicle.  Florida’s required PIP insurance limits are low, considering the cost of repair and damages likely to occur in an accident.  You should consider both bodily injury coverage and uninsured/underinsured coverage to be fully protected in the event of an accident.

Car Insurance Law in Florida

Although Florida is a no-fault state, Florida is a pure comparative fault state. A comparative negligence legal defense is one that reduces the amount of damages that a claimant/plaintiff can recover for an injury due to negligence based on percentage of which the claimant’s/plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to cause the injury.  So, if you have an accident, you and the other driver could be each at fault for 50% of each others’ damages.  However, just because you have the same percentage of fault, does not mean you “cancel” out each other damages.  You will have to pay for 50% of the other driver’s damages.  So if you total their $50,000 car, you will be liable for ½ of the damage you caused – $25,000. However, because Florida is a no=fault state, you ability to recover is limited (see PIP discussion above.)

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

In Florida, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a misdemeanor offense.  If you are 21 years or older, if you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .08% or higher while driving, Florida law presumes you are driving under the influence.  If you are younger than 21, you are presumed driving under the influence at .02% BAC.

1^st DUI

You will have your license suspended for 180 days to 1 year.  However, you may be eligible for a restricted license after completion of DUI School.  If your BAC was between .08%-.15%, maximum jail time is 6 months and the fine imposed could range from $500-$1000; if your .15% BAC or greater, the maximum jail time is 9 months and the fine imposed could range from $1000-$2000. Jail time can be reduced or suspended by at least 50 hours of community service and probation and the completions of a substance abuse program. An ignition interlock device may be required up to six months.  A SR-22 is required for restoration of license.  If convicted, you will have new minimum insurance coverage limits of:

100/300/50 – This is shorthand for the liability policy limits required which means you need a minimum coverage of:

• $100,000 for death or injury to one person;
• $300,000 for death or injury to two or more people; and
• $50,000 for property damage to others

2^nd DUI

You will have your license suspended for 5 years if you last DUI was within 5 years of your first DUI.  However, you may be eligible for a restricted license after 1 year and completion of DUI School.  If your BAC was between .08%-.15%, maximum jail time is 9 months and the fine imposed could range from $1000-$2000; if your .15% BAC or greater, the maximum jail time is 12 months and the fine imposed could range from $2000-$4000. Jail time can be reduced or suspended by at least 50 hours of community service and probation and the completions of a substance abuse program. Your vehicle will be impounded for 30 days. An ignition interlock device will be required for 1 year if your BAC was between .08%-.15% or for 2 years if your BAC was abive .15% BAC .  A SR-22 is required for restoration of license after suspension (see 1^st DUI regarding higher insurance requirements.)

Top Ten Car Insurance Companies in Florida

Here are the major car insurance groups as measured by their market share in the state of Florida:

1. State Farm Mutual Insurance Company
2. Geico General Insurance Company
3. Allstate Property & Casualty Insurance Company
4. Progressive Insurance
5. USAA
6. Government Employees Insurance Company
7. General Reinsurance Corporation
8. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
9. Continental Casualty Company
10. Zurich American Insurance Company