Florida Auto Insurance: Understanding PIP, Bodily Injury, and What You Actually Need
Florida's auto insurance requirements are changing. Here's a clear breakdown of PIP, bodily injury liability, and the coverages Dave Ramsey recommends — plus how to avoid overpaying.
Florida Auto Insurance: It Doesn't Have to Be Confusing
Florida has some of the most unique auto insurance laws in the country. Between PIP (Personal Injury Protection), the tort system, and recent legislative changes, it's easy to get confused — or worse, end up with the wrong coverage.
Let's break it down simply.
Florida's Minimum Requirements
Florida currently requires:
- $10,000 PIP (Personal Injury Protection) — covers your medical expenses regardless of fault
- $10,000 PDL (Property Damage Liability) — covers damage you cause to someone else's property
That's it. Florida does NOT require bodily injury liability coverage by law. But here's the problem...
Why Minimums Are Dangerous
If you cause an accident and injure someone, you could be personally liable for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Without bodily injury liability coverage, they can come after your savings, your home, and your future earnings.
"I see this scenario at least once a month. Someone with minimum coverage causes an accident, the injured person's medical bills hit $100,000, and suddenly they're facing a lawsuit that could wipe out everything they've worked for." — Ricardo Alonso
What Dave Ramsey Recommends
As a RamseyTrusted advisor, we follow Dave's guidance on auto insurance:
DO:
- Carry 500/500 liability ($500K per person / $500K per accident) if your net worth supports it
- At minimum, carry 100/300 liability ($100K per person / $300K per accident)
- Add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage matching your liability limits
- Raise your deductible to $1,000 to lower premiums
- Bundle with homeowners for multi-policy discounts
DON'T:
- Carry only state minimums
- Skip uninsured motorist coverage (Florida has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country)
- Pay for rental car coverage if you have a second vehicle
- Keep comprehensive/collision on vehicles worth less than $3,000-$5,000
How to Save on Florida Auto Insurance
Use our Auto Coverage Calculator to find the right coverage levels for your situation, then try these savings strategies:
- Bundle policies — Auto + home with the same carrier saves 5-15%
- Increase deductibles — Going from $500 to $1,000 can save 15-25%
- Ask about discounts — Good driver, multi-car, paperless, paid-in-full
- Shop annually — Rates change every year; we re-shop all our clients at renewal
- Maintain good credit — In Florida, your credit score significantly impacts your rate
Try Our Free Tools
- LionRater™ Auto Estimate — Get an instant auto insurance estimate based on real Florida data
- Auto Coverage Calculator — Find your recommended coverage levels based on your financial situation
Get Your Free Auto Insurance Quote
We shop 40+ carriers to find you the best auto insurance rate in Florida. Get a free quote or call (904) 900-5063.
Ricardo Alonso
Founder, Atesa Risk Advisors
Ricardo is a RamseyTrusted insurance advisor with a Harvard ALM in Finance. He founded Atesa Risk Advisors to bring honest, independent insurance guidance to Florida businesses and individuals.