Burns SquareFlorida State Blog

Automobile insurance basics in Florida are fairly straight forward. If you register a vehicle with four wheels you must have insurance. The minimum required is $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability. You will need proof of insurance to register your vehicle.

Personal Injury Protection is insurance that covers your injury costs in an accident up to the limits of your policy. It will also cover the costs of injuries to your children, family members and sometimes certain uninsured passengers. It will cover the costs of a child injured on a school bus. It will also reimburse you for injuries suffered walking, riding a bicycle or riding in someone else’s vehicle. Depending on your wealth and property, the minimum coverage of $10,000 may not be enough for most people. The average cost of a three day stay in the hospital is usually over $15,000. You should also review your health coverage conditions in regard to an automobile accident before you select your insurance.

Property Damage Liability insurance is much simpler and straight forward. This insurance pays the costs of damage that you cause to another person’s property, including their car. Although the state minimum is $10,000, clearly if you total a car you may need to pay more than this. Then, on top of that, if you also damage a fence or building, the costs can clearly mount up in a hurry. A qualified insurance agent can help you with these choices and find prices that fit in your budget.

Another type of basic insurance that you can and should carry is Bodily Injury Liability insurance. This is not required under Florida law, but this the insurance that provides coverage if you cause an injury to another person or persons when driving your car. This insurance will also defend you in court and provide you an attorney at no further cost to you. As you can see, carrying this type of insurance is a must if you have any property or family responsibilities. If you are a cab driver in Florida, this type of insurance is a requirement up to $125,000, since you drive with others all the time.

If you drive a car in Florida for more than 90 days a year, you must also purchase the minimum insurance required by the state. The 90 days does not have to be all at one time. If you are moving to Florida, have your current insurer transfer your policy to the state of Florida. You must purchase a policy that is issued by a Florida insurance agent.

If you get caught without insurance, you will lose your license and your car registration until you can obtain insurance. There is also a fine of $150 and up for this action. If you need to stop paying on your insurance, you can surrender your license and registration to the Department of Motor Vehicles and avoid paying the fine, provided you discontinue your insurance after you surrender your documents.

For more information visit Florida DMV Website or Florida Insurance  Regulation Offices Website