Florida’s Car Insurance Requirements
Michael Babboni
Insurance Coverage
Planning to live and drive in Florida? Then you must have valid auto insurance. Since Florida is a no-fault state, your insurance company will pay medical costs associated with an accident up to the policy limits, regardless of who is at fault. Here are some more basics on what Florida car insurance requires:The minimum amounts of car insurance coverage:
- $10,000 of no-fault, also known as, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance.
- $10,000 of Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance.
Personal Injury Protection
Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, insurance covers:
- Your medical expenses;
- Your lost income attributed to the accident;
- Your child and other family members in your household;
- Your child on a school bus; and
- You (if you are a pedestrian or bicyclist involved in an auto accident); and
Passengers in your car who do not have PIP insurance and do not own a car.
*** If anyone in your car has PIP insurance s/he will be covered by his or her own policy if you get in an auto accident. Similarly, your PIP insurance will cover you if you are a passenger in someone else's car that gets into an accident.
Property Damage Liability
Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance covers you for damages you cause in an auto accident involving another person’s property, such as a home or building.
Optional Forms of Auto Insurance in Florida
Florida law dictates the minimum amounts of coverage you must buy; however, you can always purchase more coverage and more types:
You can buy higher amounts of coverage on your PIP and PDL policies.
Comprehensive coverage is optional; it doesn’t include damage from accidents but does include scratches from vandalism.
Collision coverage compensates you for damages to your car from an accident.
Towing and labor coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage reimburses you after an accident with a driver who does not have insurance causes damage.
Rental car coverage.
Bodily Injury Liability is for when you get into an accident that you were responsible for, and the victim sues you; this coverage pays for injuries to the victims of the accident up to the policy’s limits, as well as the cost of your lawyer.
Call Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni & Walsh for all your personal injury questions. Our attorneys believe that more experience equals better results. Schedule an appointment today for a free case review at lawyers@justicepays.com.