Florida Auto Insurance Requirements: PIP, PDL and What Else to Consider

Florida’s minimum auto insurance is unusual. It requires coverage that pays for your own injuries and for other people’s property, but it does not require coverage for injuries you cause to other people. That gap surprises many drivers, including people who just moved here. This guide explains what the law requires, what each coverage does, and which extra coverages are worth a conversation with your agent.

Key takeaways

  • To register a vehicle with four or more wheels in Florida you must carry at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 of Property Damage Liability (PDL).
  • PIP pays for your injuries no matter who caused the crash, but only if you get treatment within 14 days.
  • Those minimums do not pay for injuries you cause to someone else. That is what bodily injury liability does, and it is optional for most drivers.
  • Letting coverage lapse can suspend your license and registration, so cancel only after you surrender the plate.

What Florida requires to register a vehicle

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), you must show proof of PIP and PDL before you register a vehicle with at least four wheels, with a minimum of $10,000 of each. Coverage must come from an insurer licensed in Florida, and it must stay continuous for the whole registration period, even if the car sits in the driveway or does not run.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

PIP is part of Florida’s no-fault system. Under Florida Statutes 627.736, it provides up to $10,000 in medical and disability benefits and $5,000 in death benefits for the named insured, relatives living in the household, passengers and certain pedestrians struck by the insured vehicle. A few details matter in practice:

  • The 14-day rule. You generally need to receive initial services and care within 14 days after the accident for PIP to apply.
  • The emergency condition rule. The full $10,000 is available when a qualifying provider determines you had an emergency medical condition. Without that determination, medical benefits are limited to $2,500.
  • It does not pay everything. Medical benefits are paid at 80 percent of the allowed charges, so you may still owe the rest, plus any deductible you chose.

Property Damage Liability (PDL)

PDL pays for damage you cause to other people’s property, such as their car, a fence or a mailbox. Florida Statutes 324.022 sets the minimum at $10,000 per crash. It does not pay to repair your own car. Ten thousand dollars is a low limit when many vehicles on the road cost far more than that, so ask your agent what limit fits your situation.

What the minimums do not cover

Injuries you cause to other people

Bodily injury liability (BI) pays when you are legally responsible for injuring someone else. It is not part of the basic requirement for registration. However, Florida’s financial responsibility law can come into play after certain crashes or after a license suspension. In those cases, the law references proof of $10,000 for one person and $20,000 for two or more people for bodily injury, along with $10,000 for property damage (Florida Statutes 324.021). FLHSMV may then require an SR-22, which is a filing your insurer makes to certify that coverage.

The practical point is that if you cause a serious crash without BI coverage, you could be personally responsible for the other person’s injuries. Many drivers choose BI limits well above the legal floor. A licensed agent can explain the options without pushing a particular number.

Damage to your own car

Collision pays to repair your vehicle after a crash. Comprehensive pays for non-crash losses such as theft, fire, flooding and wind damage. Neither is required by Florida law, but lenders and leasing companies typically require both while you owe money on the vehicle. In Central Florida, where storms and flooded roads are part of life, comprehensive deserves a hard look even on an older car.

Uninsured and underinsured motorists

Florida’s uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you if you are hurt by a driver who has no insurance or too little. Under Florida Statutes 627.727, a policy that includes bodily injury liability must also include UM coverage unless the insured rejects it in writing. So UM is something you opt out of, not something you have to ask for. Before you sign a rejection, ask what it would mean if an uninsured driver hit you.

What happens if coverage lapses

FLHSMV says that failing to keep the required coverage can lead to suspension of your driver license and registration, with a reinstatement fee of up to $500. Suspension can last up to three years. Two habits protect you:

  • Surrender your license plate before you cancel the insurance if you sell the car or move out of state.
  • Do not cancel your Florida policy until the vehicle is registered in the new state or the plate is turned in.

Auto insurance when you are buying a home

If you are in the middle of a purchase, auto insurance matters more than you might expect. A new car loan opened before closing changes your monthly debt and can complicate approval, which is why our mortgage partners cover pre-approval versus pre-qualification and what lenders review. Your budget also needs to include every recurring cost of the new house. The breakdown of first-year homeownership costs in Central Florida is a good place to check your numbers.

Many people also review home and auto together when they move. Our guides on what home insurance typically covers and ways to lower a Florida home insurance premium cover the property side, and what home buyers need to know before closing is worth reading before you commit to a date.

Questions to ask before you buy a policy

  • What are my PIP, PDL and bodily injury limits, and what would each pay in a crash?
  • Does my policy include uninsured motorist coverage, and did I accept or reject it?
  • What deductibles apply to collision and comprehensive, and can I afford them on short notice?
  • Does my lender or lessor require specific coverages?
  • Who else drives my vehicle, and are they listed?

Frequently asked questions

Is bodily injury liability required in Florida?

Not to register a vehicle. FLHSMV lists PIP and PDL as the required coverages. Bodily injury limits can still be required after certain crashes or suspensions, and carrying it protects your savings if you injure someone else.

Does PIP cover my passengers?

Under Florida Statutes 627.736, PIP extends to passengers in the insured vehicle, relatives residing in your household and certain people struck by the vehicle, subject to the policy terms and exclusions.

Do I need Florida insurance if my car is parked and not driven?

If the vehicle keeps a Florida registration, FLHSMV says coverage must continue even when it is not driven or is inoperable. Turn in the plate before you cancel.

Can a new resident keep an out-of-state policy?

Vehicles that must be registered in Florida need a Florida-compliant policy. Talk with your agent about the timing when you move.

Talk to a licensed agent

Laws and policy forms change, so confirm current requirements with an agent and with FLHSMV before you decide. This article is general education, not a quote or a promise of coverage. If you would like help comparing coverage options, you can request a quote or call 407-476-6667.

Written by Tariq AbouAdma, Insurance Agent, NPN 16445652. Quality RE Insurance LLC, 336 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 274-229, Casselberry, FL 32707.

Sources: FLHSMV Florida Insurance Requirements (flhsmv.gov/insurance); Florida Statutes 627.736, 324.022, 324.021 and 627.727 (leg.state.fl.us).