Florida car insurance requirements are short but unusual. As of the 2025 Florida Statutes, every car that must be registered in Florida needs $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL). Florida does not require bodily injury liability for most drivers, which makes it different from almost every other state.
Florida is also a no-fault state. Your own PIP pays the first part of your medical bills after a crash, no matter who caused it. Proposals to replace this system were filed again in 2026, but they did not pass, so PIP is still required as of October 2026.
This guide covers what the law requires, how no-fault works, the 14-day treatment rule, the FR-44 for DUI cases, uninsured motorist choices, what happens if coverage lapses, and why comprehensive coverage matters in hurricane season. We are an independent publication, not an insurer or agent; this is education, not legal advice.
What car insurance does Florida require?
Florida requires two coverages on every vehicle that must be registered in the state: $10,000 of PIP and $10,000 of property damage liability. You must keep both in force the entire time the car is registered.
| Coverage | Florida minimum | What it pays for | Law (2025 edition) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $10,000 medical and disability benefits, plus $5,000 death benefit | Your own injuries and those of certain others, regardless of fault | § 627.736 |
| Property damage liability (PDL) | $10,000 per crash | Damage you cause to other people’s property | § 324.022 |
| Bodily injury liability (BI) | Not required for most drivers | Injuries you cause to others | §§ 324.023, 324.021 (when required) |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Not required; must be offered with BI | Your injuries caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver | § 627.727 |
PDL can also be met with a policy that has at least $30,000 of combined bodily injury and property damage liability per crash, under § 324.022. Florida law also lets an owner meet the rules through certain other approved methods, but nearly all drivers use an insurance policy.
For how Florida compares with other states, see our state minimum car insurance guide.
How does Florida’s no-fault system work?
In Florida’s no-fault system, your own PIP pays the first $10,000 of covered injury costs after a crash, whoever caused it. In exchange, your right to sue another driver for pain and suffering is limited.
Under Florida Statutes § 627.736 (2025 edition), PIP pays:
- 80 percent of reasonable, medically necessary medical expenses,
- 60 percent of lost income (disability benefits),
- $5,000 in death benefits,
up to the $10,000 overall limit for medical and disability benefits. PIP covers you, relatives living in your household (unless excluded), people driving your car, your passengers, and pedestrians your car hits who are not in another vehicle.
When can you sue in Florida?
Under § 627.737, you can sue the at-fault driver for pain, suffering and similar damages only if the injury involves:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function,
- A permanent injury (other than scarring or disfigurement),
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or
- Death.
For a broader comparison, read no-fault vs at-fault states.
What is the 14-day rule for PIP in Florida?
To use PIP medical benefits, you must receive initial care within 14 days of the crash. If you wait longer, PIP may not pay those medical bills.
The 14-day rule comes from Florida Statutes § 627.736. It is about treatment after a crash, not about registration. Initial care must come from certain providers, including a licensed physician, osteopathic physician, chiropractic physician, dentist, certain advanced practice registered nurses, a hospital or a hospital-owned facility, or emergency medical services.
The law also sets two benefit levels:
| Finding by a qualified provider | PIP medical benefit limit |
|---|---|
| You had an emergency medical condition | Up to $10,000 |
| You did not have an emergency medical condition | Up to $2,500 |
When does Florida require bodily injury liability?
Florida does not require bodily injury liability for most drivers. It does require it in a few situations, most notably after a DUI conviction and in some cases after a crash or suspension.
After a DUI: the FR-44
Under Florida Statutes § 324.023, anyone convicted of (or who pleads guilty or no contest to) DUI after October 1, 2007 must carry liability limits of:
- $100,000 for bodily injury to one person,
- $300,000 for bodily injury to two or more people in one crash, and
- $50,000 for property damage,
for a minimum of 3 years. Insurers prove this to the state with a certificate called an FR-44. Our SR-22 explainer covers how these certificates work.
After certain crashes or suspensions
Florida’s financial responsibility law defines proof of financial responsibility as at least $10,000 per person and $20,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $10,000 property damage (§ 324.021, 2025 edition). The state can require this proof, often filed on an SR-22, before restoring a license after some crashes and suspensions. Your suspension notice from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) will say if it applies to you.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Florida?
No, but it is the default when you buy bodily injury liability. Insurers must include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage unless a named insured rejects it, or picks lower limits, in writing on a state-approved form.
Under Florida Statutes § 627.727 (2025 edition):
- UM coverage equals your bodily injury limits unless you choose lower limits or reject it.
- Rejection must be on a form approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, with a bold warning heading.
- A signed rejection applies to everyone on the policy and carries over to renewals with the same limits.
- Your insurer must tell you about your UM options at least once a year.
Why it matters: the Insurance Information Institute reports Insurance Research Council estimates that 15.9 percent of Florida drivers were uninsured in 2022 (III, 2026). Since most Florida drivers are not required to carry bodily injury liability, an injured person may have few places to turn without UM.
If you only carry PIP and PDL, ask your insurer whether UM is available to you. Under the statute, UM is tied to policies that include bodily injury liability.
What happens if your Florida insurance lapses?
If your PIP or PDL ends, your insurer must report it to the state within 10 days, and the state can suspend your driver license and registration. You must pay a reinstatement fee and show proof of new coverage to drive again.
Under Florida Statutes § 324.0221 (2025 edition), reinstatement fees are:
| Reinstatement | Fee |
|---|---|
| First | $150 |
| Second (within 3 years of the first) | $250 |
| Third and later (within 3 years of the first) | $500 each |
Florida also limits short-term policies under § 627.7295. Most policies cannot be written for less than 6 months, and you generally cannot cancel a new policy in the first two months unless the car is destroyed, sold, or covered by another policy.
Do you need Florida insurance if you are moving to Florida?
Yes, to register your car in Florida you must show proof of Florida PIP and PDL. Florida law also requires coverage for a nonresident’s car that has been in the state more than 90 days of the past 365.
Proof of coverage must be provided when you apply to register the vehicle (§ 320.02, 2025 edition), and the coverage must come from an insurer authorized to write policies in Florida (§ 627.733). Set up the policy before your registration appointment.
Does Florida car insurance cover hurricane and flood damage?
Only comprehensive coverage pays for storm and flood damage to your own car. PIP and PDL do not cover your vehicle at all, and the National Flood Insurance Program covers buildings and contents, not cars.
Hurricane-season checklist:
- Check your declarations page to confirm comprehensive is listed for each car and note the deductible.
- Do not wait for a storm. Insurers commonly stop accepting new coverage or changes once a storm threatens an area.
- Photograph your car and keep the photos with your policy.
- Move the car to higher ground or a garage before a storm, if it is safe.
- Do not start a flooded car. It can cause more damage. Contact your insurer first.
For help after a storm, the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Consumer Services runs a consumer helpline for insurance questions. Its phone number and hours are on its website.
Our car insurance coverage types guide explains comprehensive, collision and other optional coverages in more depth.
Did Florida repeal PIP in 2026?
No. Bills to end Florida’s no-fault system were filed in the 2026 session but did not become law. PIP remains required as of October 2026.
The Florida Senate’s bill page for SB 522 (2026), which would have changed motor vehicle insurance law, shows it died in the Banking and Insurance Committee on March 13, 2026. Before 2026, the Legislature has debated repealing PIP several times. If a future bill passes, the required coverages, and the dates they change, will be written into Florida Statutes. We review this page at least every 12 months, and sooner when the law changes.
This article is educational and is not insurance or legal advice. For questions about your own policy, contact your insurer or the Florida Department of Financial Services.
