Drivers in Florida are only required to purchase low levels of personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance. Yet due to increased risks from uninsured or underinsured motorists, insurance fraud, severe weather events, and more, many Florida drivers opt for more car insurance protection than the state minimums.
“Florida has the third-highest rate of fatal auto accidents in the country and third-highest rate of vehicle thefts,” said Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), based in St. Johns, Fla. “It has the most litigated personal injury claims in the country,” and “a very high level of auto insurance fraud, especially staged accident schemes.”
This article delves into how much car insurance is required in Florida, what added protections Florida drivers should consider, what sets Florida car insurance apart from other states, and ways Floridians can save on their premiums.
Learn more: Car insurance rates are climbing. Here are 11 ways to save.
Florida is considered a “no-fault” state, meaning you are required to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) that covers injuries you or your passengers may incur in an accident, regardless of fault.
Florida drivers are also required to pay for property damage liability (PDL) coverage in case they damage property belonging to someone else.
The minimum coverage limit for PIP and PDL is $10,000 each per accident.
Learn more: Minimum car insurance requirements in all 50 U.S. states
Important note: If you sustain serious injuries or die, you or your family can sue the party who caused the accident to cover additional medical costs and for pain and suffering.
“Middle- to upper-income individuals own homes and have assets to protect, so it is common for them to carry auto insurance limits above the state-required minimum,” said Mary Katharine (Croley) Lawler, ARM, agency president of Doug Croley Insurance Services, a division of AssuredPartners that’s based in Tallahassee, Fla.
For adequate financial protection, Triple-I recommends that Florida drivers carry at least 100/300/100 liability coverage limits, as well as optional comprehensive, collision, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages, Friedlander said.
The numbers “100/300/100” refer to $100,000 per person for bodily injury, $300,000 total per accident for bodily injury, and $100,000 for property damage.
Learn more: What is liability car insurance and how much do you need?
To ensure you have adequate protection from severe weather hazards, including windstorms and flooding, Triple-I strongly recommends Florida residents purchase optional comprehensive coverage, Friedlander said.
“In addition to weather events, comprehensive in Florida also includes coverage for theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, striking an animal crossing the road, and windshield replacement,” he said. “Florida is one of a few states that has no deductible for windshield repair or replacement.”
If you damage your own car or hit an object like a telephone pole, collision coverage either pays for the repair or pays you in cash for the current value of your vehicle. Insurance companies in Florida typically require you to buy comprehensive coverage before you can buy collision coverage.
Learn more: What does collision insurance cover?
“Florida has the lowest liability limits in the country — a key reason why it’s the second-highest state for underinsured motorists,” said Friedlander.
Friedlander cited a 2025 study from the Insurance Research Council, “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017-2023,” showing that 38.3% of adults driving in the Sunshine State are underinsured. Additionally, Florida has the seventh-highest percentage of drivers on the road who are uninsured, at more than 20%.
If you are in an accident and the at-fault party is uninsured or underinsured, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage from your own insurance carrier can provide funds above your PIP for additional medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.
You can also choose to purchase bodily injury (BI) liability coverage, which pays for the costs of injuries of another party if you are at fault in an accident. If you are sued for causing this accident, BI coverage can also pay your costs to defend yourself.
You must buy BI coverage if you were at fault for a previous accident or if you were cited for certain violations. You can opt for the minimum limits of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident, but if you have been convicted of driving under the influence, you must purchase higher limits — $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, as well as $50,000 for property damage liability coverage.
The state of Florida uses several factors to determine your specific premium cost, and it also has a list of factors it is lawfully not allowed to use to calculate pricing.
According to the Florida Department of Financial Services Automobile Insurance Toolkit, insurance companies can use these factors to determine your premium:
-
Type of vehicle. Expensive ones cost more to repair or replace and are magnets for thieves or vandals.
-
Driving history. Insurance companies can charge you higher rates or refuse to issue you a policy depending on the number and type of accidents and/or violations.
-
Vehicle usage. How much distance you typically drive every day plays a role.
-
Gender. Males have more than twice as many fatal accidents as females, which drives higher premiums, especially for males under age 25.
-
Age. Drivers younger than 25 and older than 65 typically pay higher premiums because they are involved in more accidents.
-
Credit history. Credit reports can be used for insurance underwriting in most instances.
-
ZIP code. For particular areas, insurers will consider how many vehicles and people reside there, the number of accidents that have occurred in the area, as well as the conditions of the roads and the costs to repair vehicles and treat injuries.
According to Florida’s Automobile Insurance Toolkit, under Florida law, you can’t be refused car insurance based solely on the following:
-
Your gender, ethnicity, country of birth, and whether you are married
-
Where you live and work, how old you are — unless these factors combined present greater exposure to risk
-
You don’t provide collateral for policies — though insurers can demand collateral for excess liability coverage
-
You don’t buy services from the insurer that are outside of insurance policies
-
You are a public official
-
If you’ve been previously refused coverage by another insurer
Young drivers, women, and senior citizens are often the target of car insurance fraud, Lawler said.
“For example, a fraudster may reverse into the vehicle behind them and then claim that the other driver backed into them, which, of course, is not true,” she said. “Most commercial vehicles have cameras now, and we are seeing and recommending that individual drivers also use cameras to protect themselves to capture what really happened.”
In 2023, Florida Senate Bill 1002 was passed into law “prohibiting motor vehicle repair shops or their employees from offering anything of value to a customer in exchange for making an insurance claim for motor vehicle glass replacement or repair…”
Windshield repairs were previously “a major driver” of insurance fraud and frivolous lawsuits in Florida, Friedlander said.
“Unscrupulous glass replacement vendors preyed upon Florida drivers by soliciting business at gas stations, car washes, and other retail parking lots looking for cars with cracked windshields,” he said. “They would promise gift cards in exchange for driver signing over their glass claim via assignment of benefits. They would then repair the vehicle and charge insurers five to 10 times the going rate to replace a windshield.”
When insurers balked at paying these “outrageous costs,” lawsuits would ensue, Friedlander explained. The cost of this high level of “frivolous litigation” was passed along to consumers in the form of higher premiums.
Florida’s auto insurance reform legislation also eliminated one-way attorney fees, meaning insurers were responsible for paying all legal fees for the plaintiff when they were sued — an incentive for billboard attorneys to file large volumes of frivolous lawsuits against insurers, explained Friedlander.
According to a Triple-I analysis, glass claim lawsuits in Florida declined by 500% in 2024 following the reform the year before. Gov. Ron DeSantis in February announced that State Farm, Progressive, and GEICO — the top three U.S. auto insurers by market share — plan to file for rate decreases this year in Florida because of the positive impacts the reform has had on reduced auto glass claim lawsuits in the Sunshine State.
Florida is a very competitive market with dozens of national and regional auto insurers writing coverage across the state, Friedlander explained.
“When shopping for a policy, we recommend getting at least three quotes,” he said. “Working with a local insurance agent can be very beneficial to ensure you obtain adequate coverage and to also help you identify numerous discounts that can significantly reduce the cost of your policy.”
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation offers CHOICES: Auto Rate Comparison Tool, an online tool that provides sample average rates for a “senior married couple,” “single female,” and a “family with young drivers,” depending on the county you live in. The data reflects information obtained from the most recent rate filings by insurers.
Learn more: How to switch car insurance companies
Friedlander and Lawler said most Florida auto insurers offer a wide array of discounts, including:
-
Bundling
-
Multi-vehicle
-
Paying your bill in full
-
Electronic billing
-
Safe driver
-
Claim-free
-
Being an active-duty military member or veteran
-
Safety courses for teen drivers
-
Good student (A or B average)
-
Safety courses for senior drivers
-
Telematics
Learn more: How to get all the best car insurance discounts
Telematics is another great way to save if you are comfortable with having your insurance company track your driving habits via a mobile app, Friedlander said. Telematics capture data on the time of day you drive, how many miles you drive per day, and your braking and acceleration habits. However, some insurers could raise your rates if they detect poor driving habits.
“Insurance companies do not force you to do telematics — it’s up to you, the consumer,” Lawler said. “Not all insurance companies offer telematics, and the companies that do offer the use of telematics have different rules and rates. Consumers need to work with their insurance agents to determine which option is best for their individual needs.”
Above all, make sure you carry the correct coverages for your family, Lawler said. Insurance is fluid — the insurance needs of your household when kids are little are different than when you have teenage drivers or when kids move out of your home.
“It’s important that you work with a licensed insurance agent, whether they are independent or working for an insurance company,” Lawler said. “They are in the best position to help you determine the correct coverages and insurance company for you and your family.”
