Why do experts recommend more than just a minimum coverage

The drivers in Florida only have to take out a low value for personal injury and liability insurance for personal injury. Due to increased risks of non -insured or under -insured drivers, insurance fraud, severe weather events and more, many drivers in Florida opt for more protection protection than the minimal state.

“Florida has the third highest rate of fatal car accidents in the country and the third highest rate of vehicle thefts,” said Mark Friedlander, Senior Director of Media Relations for the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), the headquarters in St. Johns, Florida.

This article deals with the required motor vehicle insurance in Florida, the additional protective measures in Florida, which should take into account the drivers in Florida, which motor vehicle insurance Florida differentiates between other states and how Floridians can save their bonuses.

Learn more: Motor vehicle insurance tariffs. Here are 11 options for saving.

Florida is considered a “no -fault” state, which means that you have to acquire the protection of personal damage (PIP), which covers injuries that you or your passengers may result independently of the rejection.

In the event that they damage another person, the Florida drivers must also pay for the insurance of property damage liability (PDL).

The minimum coverage limit for PIP and PDL is every $ 10,000 per accident.

Learn more: Minimum need for car insurance in all 50 US states

Important NOTE: If you suffer or die serious injuries, you or your family can sue the party that caused the accident to cover additional medical costs as well as pain and suffering.

“Medium to upper incomes have houses and have assets to protect. Therefore, it is common for you to transfer car insurance limits over the state minimum device,” said Mary Katharine (Croley) Lawler, ARM, ARM Agency President of Doug Croley Insurance Services, a department for insured persons who are in Tallahasee, Fla, Fla, Fla.

For reasonable financial protection, Triple-I recommends that the drivers in Florida carry out at least 100/300/100 liability restrictions as well as optional comprehensive, collision and non-insured/under-insured drivers coverings, said Friedlander.

The figures “100/300/100” refer to $ 100,000 per person for assault, a total of $ 300,000 per accident for assault and $ 100,000 for property damage.

Learn more: What is liability insurance and how much do you need?

To ensure that you have adequate protection against storm dangers, including the storms and floods, Triple-I strongly recommends that the inhabitants of Florida acquire an optional extensive coverage, says Friedlander.

“In addition to weather events, the reporting for theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, an animal that crosses the street and crosses the windshield exchange,” he said. “Florida is one of the few states that have no deductible for repairing or replacing windshields.”

If you damage your own car or hit an object like a telephone mast, the collision cover either pays off for the repair or pays it in cash for the current value of your vehicle. Insurance companies in Florida usually have to buy a comprehensive cover before you can buy collision protection.

Learn more: What does the collision insurance cover?

“Florida has the lowest liability limits of the country's important reason why it is the second highest state for under-insured drivers,” said Friedlander.

Friedlander quoted a 2025 study by Insurance Research Council, “not insured and under-insured drivers: 2017-2023”, and shows that 38.3% of the adults who were driving in the Sunshine are under insured. In addition, Florida has the sieve highest percentage of the drivers on the street, which are not insured, with more than 20%.

If you have an accident and the event party is not insured or under insured, insured/under-insured drivers coverage cannot provide funds for additional medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other expenses via your PIP.

You can also acquire for liability protection for bodily harm (BI), which pays the costs of violating another party if you are to blame for an accident. If you are sued for this accident, the BI coverage can also pay your costs to defend yourself.

You must buy a BI coverage if you have made an earlier accident or if you have been cited for certain violations. You can choose the minimum limit of USD 10,000 per person and USD 20,000 per accident. However, if you have been condemned under influence for driving, you have to acquire higher borders – $ 100,000 per person and $ 300,000 per accident and $ 50,000 for the liability coverage of property damage.

The state of Florida uses several factors to determine its specific premium costs, and also contains a list of factors that must not use it legally to calculate pricing.

According to the Florida Department of Financial Services Automobile Insurance Toolkit, insurance companies can use these factors to determine their bonus:

• Type of the vehicle. The repair or replace costs more and are magnets for thieves or vandals.

• Driving history. Insurance companies can calculate higher interest rates or refuse to complete a policy, depending on the number and type of accidents and/or violations.

• Vehicle use. How much distance you normally run every day plays a role.

• Gender. Men have more than twice as many fatal accidents as women, which leads higher premiums, especially men under the age of 25.

• Age. Drivers below 25 and older than 65 numbers usually higher premiums because they are involved in more accidents.

• Credit story. In most cases, credit reports can be used as an insurance insurer.

• Zip code. In certain areas, insurers will consider how many vehicles and people live there, how many accidents have occurred in the region, as well as the conditions of the streets and the costs for the repair of vehicles and the treatment of injuries.

According to Florida's automotive insurance tool, according to the law of Florida, the vehicle insurance cannot be refused to you exclusively on the following:

• Your gender, your ethnicity, your country of birth and whether you are married

• Where you live and work, how old you are – unless

• They do not offer collateral for guidelines – although insurers can require collateral for surplus insurance

• You do not buy the insurer's services that are outside the insurance policies

• You are a civil servant

• If you have previously rejected the reporting by another insurer

Young drivers, women and seniors are often the goal of car insurance fraud, says Lawler.

“For example, a fraudster can turn back into the vehicle and then say that the other driver returns to her, which of course is not true,” she said. “Most commercial vehicles now have cameras, and we see and recommend that individual drivers also use cameras to protect themselves to capture what really happened.”

In 2023, the Florida Senate Senate was handed over to the law, “the ban on repairs of motor vehicles or its employees to offer a value to replace or repair an insurance claim for motor vehicles.”

The repairs of windshields were previously a “big driver” for insurance fraud and careless lawsuits in Florida, says Friedlander.

“Florida drivers searched for the flash -free glazing seller through shops at petrol stations, car wages and other parking spaces for retail who are looking for cars with torn windshields,” he said. “You would promise gift cards in exchange for the driver who is signed by your glass claim by assigning services. They then repaired the vehicle and load insurers five to ten times as high as a windshield replaced. “

When the insurers made the payment of these “outrageous costs”, complaints would arise, explains Friedlander. The cost of this high level of “light -hearted legal dispute” was passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums.

The legislation on the car insurance reform in Florida also eliminated disposable attorney fees, which means that insurers were responsible for the payment of all attorney costs for the plaintiff when they were sued-a incentive for billboard lawyers to submit large volumes of careful complaints against insurers, explains Friedlander.

According to a Triple-I analysis, the glass damage lawsuits in Florida decreased by 500% in 2024 after the reform the previous year. Governor Ron Desantis announced in February that State Farm, Progressive and Geico – the three most important US car insurers according to the market share – would like to decrease in Florida this year due to the positive effects of the reform on reduced auto glass standards in the Sunshine state.

Florida is a very competitive market with dozens of national and regional car insurers who write reporting throughout the state, explains Friedlander.

“We recommend at least three quotes when purchasing a guideline,” he said. “Cooperation with a local insurance agent can be very advantageous to ensure that you receive adequate coverage and help you to identify numerous discounts that can significantly reduce the costs of your guidelines.”

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation offers options: Auto -Rate comparison tool, an online tool that offers average sample prices for an “older couple”, “single female” and a “family with young drivers”, depending on the county in which they live.

Learn more: How to change car insurance companies

According to Friedlander and Lawler, most car insurers in Florida offer a variety of discounts, including:

• Bundle

• Multi -vehicle

• Pay your bill completely

• Electronic billing

• Safe driver

• Unimaginative

• Be an active military member or veteran

• Security courses for young drivers

• Good student (A or B average)

• Security courses for senior drivers

• Telematics

Learn more: How to get the best discounts for vehicle insurance

Telematics is another good way to save if you feel comfortable with your insurance company if you follow your driving habits via a mobile app, says Friedlander. Telematics record data at the time of day when you drive how many miles you drive per day and your braking and acceleration habits. However, some insurers could increase their prices if they recognize poor driving habits.

“Insurance companies do not force them to make telematics – it is up to them, the consumer,” says Lawler. “Not all insurance companies offer telematics, and the companies that offer the use of telematics have different rules and prices. Consumers have to work with their insurance agents to determine which option is best suited for their individual needs. “

Above all, make sure that you carry out the right covers for your family, says Lawler. The insurance is fluid – the insurance needs of your household when children are little different from when they have teenagers or when children pull out of their house.

“It is important that you work with a licensed insurance agent, regardless of whether you are independent or work for an insurance company,” said Lawler.