What Florida requires
To register a car in Florida, you need two coverages:
| Coverage | Minimum | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | $10,000 | Pays your own medical bills and lost income after a crash, whoever caused it. |
| Property Damage Liability (PDL) | $10,000 | Pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or property. |
That's all the law requires for most drivers. It doesn't include coverage for injuries you cause to other people, or for damage to your own car.
How PIP works
Florida is a no-fault state: after an accident, your own PIP pays first for your injuries, whoever caused it. Under the statute, PIP generally pays 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost income, up to the $10,000 limit.
The 14-day rule. To use PIP benefits, you must get initial medical treatment within 14 days of the accident. Get checked out promptly even if you feel fine.
Why the minimums aren't enough
- $10,000 of property damage won't replace most newer vehicles. If you total someone's $40,000 truck, you're personally responsible for the rest.
- Bodily injury liability (BI) isn't required for most Florida drivers, but without it you have no insurance protecting your savings and income if you seriously injure someone. Drivers convicted of certain offenses, such as DUI, are required to carry it.
- Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM) pays for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no BI coverage, or not enough. Because BI is optional here, many Florida drivers carry none. Florida insurers must offer UM, and you have to reject it in writing to go without.
A practical starting point
Most of the households we insure are better protected with:
- Bodily injury liability of at least $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident, matched with the same UM limits.
- Property damage liability of $50,000 or more.
- Comprehensive and collision on any car you couldn't easily replace with cash. Comprehensive covers flood and falling-tree damage, which matters in Florida.
- An umbrella policy once your assets or income are worth protecting.
The right limits depend on what you own and earn. We'll quote a few options side by side so you can see what each step up actually costs.
Sources: s. 627.736 (PIP benefits and 14-day treatment rule), s. 324.022 (property damage liability), s. 627.727 (uninsured motorist coverage), s. 324.023 (bodily injury requirement after certain convictions), Florida Statutes. General information only.