Florida requires you to buy the least auto insurance of any state in the nation, which might sound like a great deal for its drivers. But having less coverage always means you carry more risk, and that’s especially true in the Sunshine State, for several reasons. For starters, Florida is one of a dozen states with “no-fault” insurance laws, meaning that each driver’s insurance pays for his or her own damages after an accident. This means that even if you cause a crash, your policy covers medical expenses for yourself and your passengers — but only up to the limits you set. If you’re not at fault, you can potentially sue the other driver for damages beyond what your insurance covers, but given that more than a quarter of Florida motorists are uninsured, it’s not certain how much you’ll be able to recover. Comprehensive insurance, which covers non-accident claims, is also a smart idea in a state that ranks fourth nationally in insurance losses from disasters like hurricanes. The bottom line is that purchasing only Florida’s state minimums leaves you open to financial headaches at best, and a devastating financial hit at worst.
Florida Minimum Liability
Florida only requires that you buy two types of auto insurance. The first is personal injury protection (PIP), which automatically pays for up to 80 percent of the medical expenses for you and your passengers after a crash, regardless of who was at fault. PIP also covers 100 percent of “replacement services,” should you or your passengers need help with daily household tasks because of your injuries, and 60 percent of your wage losses if you’re unable to work. The second type of required insurance is property damage (PD) liability coverage, which pays for damages to other people’s property if you’re the one at fault. The minimum levels can be expressed in the shorthand 10/20/10, which means the following: