What is the minimum requirement for auto insurance in florida

by | Last updated Mar 2, 2022

You are driving and suddenly “CRASH” is the sound you hear. A car accident has just occurred. People are injured and property damages are in plain view. Law Enforcement arrives on the scene. What happens next? In order to get a better understanding of what happens next at the scene of the accident, it is important to understand the effects of having car insurance in Florida.

Law

If you have a motor vehicle that’s registered in the state of Florida, you are required to have certain car insurance coverages.

• What is a car insurance minimum?
• Personal Injury Protection Insurance Coverage

What is a car insurance minimum?

In the State of Florida, every driver is required to have car insurance. Furthermore, in order to legally operate a motor vehicle, every driver is required to have car insurance coverage for a minimum coverage amount. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, if you are a driver and a legal resident of Florida, you are required to have car insurance and an insurance coverage with a minimum amount of $10,000 for each of the following insurances:

1. Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP) and
2. Property Damage Liability Insurance (PDL).

Personal Injury Protection Insurance Coverage

Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP) covers [reasonable] medical costs for you. PIP applies whether you are the cause of an accident or not. In addition, PIP’s coverage extends to others as well.

PIP’s coverage applies to:

• Drivers/passengers who are relatives in your home,
• Drivers who drive your car with your consent,

and the extension of coverage might be applicable to

• Particular passengers who do not own a vehicle

Property Damage Liability Insurance Coverage

If you are at-fault in an accident, Property Damage Liability Insurance Coverage (PDL) covers property that you damage while driving.

PDL’s extent of coverage applies to:

• You; even if you were driving someone else’s vehicle
• Relatives in your home who drive your car
  and it might be applicable to
• Someone who uses your vehicle with your consent

Further Considerations

Although PIP and PDL are the two insurance coverages required in the State of Florida, you may find that different states might require different coverages. PIP and PDL insurance coverages are not required in every state. Each state has its own insurance minimum requirement. Additional insurance coverages that are merely optional for a Floridian might be a required coverage in another state.

For example, Bodily Injury Liability Insurance (BIL) is an insurance that is required in certain states. BIL covers injuries to people if they are injured or killed in a car accident. However, as of now, BIL insurance is not required in the State of Florida.

But, earlier this year in April 2017, Senate Bill 1766 was proposed in the State of Florida to require a different car insurance coverage to replace, at least, the PIP car insurance requirement. The bill proposed to exclude PIP insurance and to require BIL insurance instead in the State of Florida. However, on May 5, 2017, the bill Died in Appropriations. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, when a bill dies in appropriations, that means the bill died because it was not passed and approved for financial reasons. Based on the intent of the proposed bill, the State of Florida has indicated that they have considered amending the current car insurance requirements.

Therefore, if you are in a car accident, it is important to have car insurance. Being in a car accident alone can be unfortunate, but it becomes more problematic if an uninsured driver is involved. Thus, having the proper car insurance minimum will be to your advantage.

At the scene of an accident where there might be injured persons or property damage, contact Shiner Law Group. Shiner Law Group is a team of experienced and dedicated car accident attorneys and professionals who are knowledgeable about car accidents and can provide up to date information for your questions regarding. Click For A Free Case Evaluation.

If you or someone you love has died because of the negligent, reckless or intentional conduct of another, we welcome you to contact our experienced legal team so that we can evaluate your claim and advise you of your rights and options. We are committed to helping victims recover the compensation they need to move past injuries or loss, so call us 24/7 at 561-777-7700 or online for a free case review to see how we can help.

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