Florida Auto Insurance
Florida auto insurance regulations are based on two major laws: the No Fault Law and the Financial Responsibility Law. All vehicle owners in the state are required to maintain insurance policies that will cover both the injuries and damages to themselves and to the other parties in the event of an accident. Florida does not take insurance violations lightly. All car owners and drivers in the state are encouraged to abide by the laws to avoid heavy fines and suspension.
Florida's Financial Responsibility Law covers damage to other individuals or vehicles and does not relate to injuries or damages of your own. According to state law, drivers must carry the required minimal policies under any of the following circumstances: a DUI citation and license revocation, license revocation of a habitual traffic offender, a crash that you caused and that involved injuries, or a suspended license resulting from too many points.
Florida's No Fault Law is for coverage that relates to yourself and your vehicle. The minimum requirements are $10,000 for personal injury protection and $10,000 for property damage liability, should you be involved in an accident. Under the No Fault Law, car owners and drivers are obligated to carry insurance on any vehicle that is in the state for 90 or more days per year. Your policy provider will keep the Florida DMV informed of all transactions regarding your account, whether they are initiated by you or your provider, including failure to renew, renewal, and cancellations. The DMV will notify you if your policy is cancelled, at which time you will have the opportunity to present evidence of valid Florida auto insurance coverage. If you do not present this evidence in the designated time period, your driver's license will be suspended for up to three years or until you offer proof of an active policy. Neglecting to carry the required level of insurance will not only result in the suspension of your driver's license for up to three years but can also carry substantial fines. You will be charged a $150 fine to have your license reinstated at the end of this suspension, as well as a $250 fine for a second offense during the three year period, and a $500 fine for a third violation. Failure to abide by this law is not a reasonable option as the penalties are very serious. Compare Florida auto insurance quotes online to find affordable coverage.
Florida Auto Insurance Minimums
Most states require that motorists maintain liability coverage for bodily injuries and property damage on any registered vehicle. However, Florida is one of three states that do not require bodily injury liability coverage for all registered vehicles. In Florida, anyone with a valid registration tag has to maintain a minimum of $10,000 of personal injury protection coverage and $10,000 property damage liability coverage. If a motorist wants to purchase bodily injury liability coverage, this can be done by consulting with a Florida auto insurance agent and discussing the options available. Personal injury protection will pay for the medical and funeral expenses of the insured driver and passengers injured in an accident. This type of coverage also covers pedestrians struck by a vehicle that has an insured driver.
Maintaining Florida Auto Insurance
Florida is different than many other states because it has a number of residents who only live in the state for 6 months each year. During the hotter months, these residents live in other states and then return to Florida when the weather in the north begins to cool down in the fall. Even if you live out of state for 6 months of the year, you need to maintain insurance on your vehicle as long as it remains registered in Florida. If you do not want to do this, you can turn in your tag and registration card at any driver licensing center. When you return to Florida, you can register your vehicle again as long as you can provide proof of insurance.
Penalties for Lack of Insurance
If a driver is found to not have the required personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance, his or her driver's license and registration will be suspended for up to three years or until proof of insurance can be provided for that vehicle. Drivers who fail to maintain continuous insurance coverage will also be charged a reinstatement fee of $150 up to $500 for subsequent violations. Proof of Florida auto insurance must be provided at the time that these fines are paid.
