Florida Car Insurance Basics

Florida is a no-fault state — a feature that shapes every part of how Florida insurance works. Every Florida driver carries Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL), and bodily injury liability is technically optional unless triggered by a prior suspension or DUI. The system keeps small-claim litigation out of Florida courts, but it also leaves drivers with thinner coverage than they often realize.

Florida minimum: $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL

The Florida minimum coverage is:

• $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Pays the policyholder's own medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash, up to the limit. PIP covers 80% of medical and 60% of lost wages, capped at $10,000.
• $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL). Pays for damage the policyholder causes to other vehicles or property.

Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) — which most other states require — is technically optional in Florida. A driver can carry only $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL and be fully compliant with state law, until or unless a suspension, DUI, or other event triggers higher requirements.

What's not required

Florida does not require:

• Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) — but Florida insurers must offer it, and 100/300 limits are the minimum after a DUI conviction.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) — also offered, also rejected only in writing.
• Comprehensive or collision — required only by lenders for financed vehicles.

With Florida's roughly 20% uninsured driver rate (one of the highest in the country) and the 14-day rule on PIP medical claims (you must seek treatment within 14 days of the crash for PIP to pay), most Florida drivers carry far more than the state minimum. A typical recommended package is 100/300/100 BIL with full PIP/PDL and UM/UIM.

FR-44 after a DUI

Florida's FR-44 is a financial responsibility filing required after a DUI conviction or after most alcohol-related suspensions. Unlike a standard SR-22, the FR-44 certifies that the driver carries elevated liability limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury per person.
• $300,000 bodily injury per accident.
• $50,000 property damage.

The FR-44 is required for 3 years from license reinstatement after a DUI. The FR-44 policy must remain in force continuously — if it lapses, the carrier files a cancellation, the FLHSMV record is updated, and the license is suspended again. Most carriers charge a $15-$25 FR-44 filing fee on top of the policy premium, and the elevated limits typically push the premium 50-100% higher than a standard policy.

SR-22 for non-DUI suspensions

Florida uses a standard SR-22 for non-DUI financial responsibility cases — driving without insurance, an at-fault accident while uninsured, or court-ordered financial responsibility. The SR-22 certifies the standard PIP/PDL minimum (Florida's lowest legal limits). It's filed by the carrier with FLHSMV and stays in force for the period the court or FLHSMV orders, usually 3 years.

The 14-day PIP rule

Florida's 2012 PIP reform requires the policyholder to seek medical care within 14 days of a crash for PIP to pay any medical expenses. Beyond 14 days, the policyholder loses PIP medical coverage from that crash entirely. The 14-day rule has changed how Florida injury lawyers screen cases and how emergency rooms triage non-life-threatening crash injuries — most insurers send a reminder of the 14-day window in every claim notification.

Penalties for driving uninsured

Driving without proof of Florida insurance is a noncriminal traffic infraction with fines escalating with offense count:

• First offense: $150-$500 plus a license suspension until proof of insurance is filed.
• Second offense within 3 years: 3-month registration and license suspension.
• Third offense within 3 years: 1-year registration and license suspension.

An at-fault accident without insurance also triggers FLHSMV's Safety Responsibility Act suspension and may require posting a bond to cover damages.

What carriers see at quoting

Florida insurers pull two main reports at quoting: a Florida driving record from FLHSMV and a CLUE loss-history report from LexisNexis. Florida law allows credit-based insurance scoring, with restrictions. A clean record and good credit lands the lowest rate; a single ticket adds 15-25% for 3 years; a DUI typically doubles or triples the rate and pushes the driver into the non-standard market for 3-5 years with an FR-44 in force.

Florida JUA and the assigned-risk pool

Drivers who can't get coverage from a standard carrier can apply through the Florida Joint Underwriting Association (FJUA), the state's residual market. FJUA premiums are higher than standard but availability is guaranteed for Florida drivers who would otherwise be uninsurable.