- Florida drivers must all take out personal injury protection (PIP). The state sets the minimum amount, for example, $10,000 in 2011. Personal injury protection covers your medical bills regardless of who caused the accident, even if you're riding in someone else's car. It also covers your passengers if they don't have their own PIP; your children, if they're in a school-bus accident; and it pays if you're hit by a car while walking or bicycling.
- Florida also requires you take out property damage liability insurance -- a $10,000 minimum in 2011 -- to cover damage you cause to anyone else's property. The state doesn't exactly require you to take out bodily injury liability insurance, but you have to have it if you injure someone in an accident that's found to be your fault. The minimum coverage is $10,000 per person, $20,000 per crash. If you're uninsured, the state can suspend your Florida license.
- You may want to take out more insurance than Florida requires you to. Your PIP and property damage liability don't cover repairs to your car; to cover those, you'll need collision insurance. Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance pays for your injuries if the other party in the crash doesn't carry bodily injury liability insurance. Florida ranks near the top of the 50 states for its number of uninsured drivers.
- Any vehicle with a valid Florida license plate must have Florida insurance, even if it stays in your garage. If you're an out-of-state resident who drives in Florida more than 90 days in a 12-month period, you must have Florida insurance. It makes no difference whether the 90 days are consecutive or not. If you move out of state, you must keep your Florida insurance until you've transferred your registration to your new location.
PIP
Liability Insurance
Optional
Rules
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