Auto Insurance in Florida
Driving around the sunshine state of Florida on a gorgeous afternoon can provide relaxation for anyone, until traffic thickens and the rain starts to pour down. Just like the enjoyable weather turning sour in a blink of an eye, so can an experience on the road turn from uneventful to life altering. Because change is lurking around random corners, it’s best to always be prepared for the unknown by having a plan in place to help with the transition.
It’s the Law
Floridians are expected by state law to carry some form of financial responsibility if they want to drive a car on public roads. While some people with large pocketbooks or assets can afford to claim their own money as their financial responsibility, most drivers opt to purchase Florida auto insurance instead. The law states that all drivers need to carry a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability and another minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection. This must be carried for the entire length of time the vehicle is registered in Florida with Florida tags. Other states require also purchasing bodily injury liability, but it is only required here if you drive a taxicab or have been personally mandated by the law to have it.
Property damage liability has been required so drivers who cause damage to someone else’s property already have a plan in place to pay for its repair. It shouldn’t be left for the owner to pay for the mistake of the driver. This can include property such as a person’s car, a city traffic light pole, someone’s fence, a business building, etc. It covers property that belongs to someone other than the driver; it does not cover the driver’s car or other property damaged in the accident.
Personal injury protection (PIP) is a type of medical coverage for the policyholder and passengers within his/her car at the time of the accident. PIP will pay for the medical expenses of these people up to the amount that was purchased. These expenses are paid for through the insurance company reimbursing the policyholder or other injured passengers. It can include continuing getting paid from work despite a leave of absence due to disability or injury from the accident. Also, it can be used in lieu of an individual health insurance plan or in conjunction with one and will be paid out regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
Florida operates under No-fault law, which simply means it doesn’t matter who initially caused the accident; each party must pay for the damages they experience from the accident. Also, the rights to sue another driver for their causing the accident is limited within a No-fault law. Because of this law, Florida drivers should not think that if they drive cautiously and another driver hits them, the other driver will be responsible to pay for the damages. You could still be held liable to pay your own repair expense.
No Insurance?
There are penalties in Florida for not carrying the required minimum amount of auto coverage, starting with fines. These fines can start at a couple hundred dollars and continue up from there, depending on the number of offenses the driver has had previously. Vehicle and license suspension is possible, which means more money will be spent to reinstate these registrations and that is another $150 to $500. Finally, if the offender continually breaks this law, they could face time in jail.
SR-22 in Florida
Laws change for drivers who have had a DUI in Florida. Once the driver has been convicted, they will then be ordered to carry an additional coverage in their Florida car insurance policy, bodily injury liability, and the amount of property damage liability that must be carried increases. Their new minimum amount for property damage will be $50,000 and bodily injury liability per person is a minimum of $100,000 and also $300,000 per accident. (Bodily injury liability will pay for the medical expenses of the other party when you cause the accident.) The amounts increase most likely because the state department does not want to risk another drunk driver hurting an innocent person and wants to make sure the driver has the financial means to pay for any bodily damages that may occur.
When a driver has been placed in this category of drunk driving or also if the driver has accrued too many points on their driving record, they then must have an SR-22 form. An SR-22 is not additional insurance, but rather a specific proof of insurance stating the driver is complying with Florida’s regulations and is doing their part to act responsible now. An official demand from a court judge will usually begin the process of the expectation of certain drivers needing the SR-22.
Need More Coverage?
Anyone who wants to feel more secure while driving around Florida should know they can add more protection in their policy to ensure full coverage. Options such as comprehensive and collision will pay for practically any kind of damage that happens to the insured vehicle, and often goes along with leasing or loaning the vehicle. Uninsured or underinsured motorist can be purchased and will force your provider to pay for the damages caused to you by a motorist who has very little or no auto liability. There are plenty of options that can help provide full coverage and keep policyholders from having to pay very much out of pocket when involved in an accident.
Cheapest Auto Insurance in FL
Really the only way to find the cheapest rates in Florida is to look at what companies are offering side by side. To take inexpensive protection further, drivers should always strive to clean up and maintain their driving history, keeping it free from traffic incidents. We have more tips for finding low rates in other articles on our site, and they can easily be found by typing in “cheap auto insurance” in the search box on our Home Page.
Florida rates are easy to gather and review when the quote service on our site is used. In addition to providing quotes, we can also help Florida drivers who don’t understand auto insurance grasp a better perceptive on all of it, allowing them to get a cheaper policy price.
Conclusion: To view more information about Florida Auto Insurance visit our Florida Car Insurance Quotes page then enter your zip code. This will allow you to compare quotes side by side from the leading companies.
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