Florida law
What is the minimum car insurance in Florida in 2026?
Short answer
Florida requires every registered car to carry $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 of Property Damage Liability (PDL). That's it: Florida does not require bodily injury liability to register a car, which is why so many drivers here carry only the minimum.
The Florida minimum at a glance
| Coverage | Required? | Minimum | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Yes | $10,000 | Your own medical bills (80%) and lost income (60%), no matter who caused the crash |
| Property damage liability (PDL) | Yes | $10,000 | Damage you cause to other people's cars and property |
| Bodily injury liability (BI) | No, except after certain violations or a DUI | none | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | No, but it must be offered | none | Your injuries when the at-fault driver can't pay |
| Collision and comprehensive | No, but lenders require them | none | Your own car |
What the two required coverages pay
- PIP ($10,000): your own medical bills and lost income after a crash, no matter who caused it. It pays 80% of reasonable medical bills and 60% of lost income, up to the limit. It comes with a 14-day rule most people never hear about until they need it (see Florida PIP explained).
- PDL ($10,000): damage you cause to someone else's car or property. If you total a $35,000 SUV, $10,000 is all your policy pays; the rest can come back to you.
What the minimum leaves out
- Injuries you cause to other people. Without bodily injury liability, you have no insurance money for the other driver's injuries. If you're found at fault, that claim is aimed at you: your savings, and in some cases your wages.
- Your own car. Minimum coverage pays nothing to fix or replace your car. That's collision and comprehensive, and in South Florida comprehensive is the only coverage that pays for a flooded car.
- Drivers who hit you with no insurance. That's uninsured motorist coverage, and in Florida it matters a lot (see Uninsured motorist coverage in Florida).
An example with real numbers
You run a red light in Hialeah and hit a newer pickup. Its repairs cost $24,000, and its driver needs surgery on a shoulder.
- With the minimum: your PDL pays $10,000 of the truck; the other $14,000 can be claimed from you. You have no bodily injury coverage, so the driver's injury claim is aimed at you too. Your PIP pays 80% of your own medical bills up to $10,000.
- With 100/300 bodily injury and $50,000 property damage added: the truck is covered in full, and your insurer pays the injury claim up to $100,000 and provides a lawyer to defend you.
The difference in price between those two setups is usually smaller than people expect. That's why David always shows them side by side.
When Florida does require more
- After a crash where someone was hurt, or certain violations, the state can require proof of bodily injury liability (an SR-22, at least 10/20/10).
- After a DUI, Florida requires an FR-44 with 100/300/50 limits. See SR-22 vs FR-44.
- If your car is financed or leased, your lender almost always requires collision and comprehensive, and leases often require higher liability limits. See Insurance for a leased or financed car.
Who has to carry Florida insurance
Anyone with a car registered in Florida, and anyone whose car has been in Florida more than 90 days in the last 365 days, needs Florida PIP and PDL. You must keep it the whole time the plate is active, even if the car sits parked.
What happens if it lapses
Insurers report cancellations to the state. If your coverage lapses, FLHSMV can suspend your license and registration until you show proof of new coverage and pay a reinstatement fee (up to $150 the first time, $250 the second and $500 the third within three years).
If you're going to stop driving a car, turn in the plate first, then cancel the insurance. Doing it in the other order is how most people end up with a suspension letter.
The three setups most people compare
Minimum coverage is the lowest price, not the best value. Most of the people David quotes compare three setups side by side:
- State minimum: PIP and PDL only. Lowest price, the least protection.
- Minimum plus protection from other drivers: add bodily injury and uninsured motorist, usually 100/300, and raise PDL to $50,000 or $100,000. This is the setup most people land on for a paid-off car.
- Full coverage: everything in setup 2, plus collision and comprehensive with a deductible you could pay tomorrow. Required for financed and leased cars.
Seeing the price difference between them is usually what decides it.
FAQ
Is bodily injury liability required in Florida?
Not to register a car. It becomes required after certain crashes or violations (SR-22) or a DUI (FR-44).
Is Florida a no-fault state?
Yes. Your own PIP pays your first $10,000 of injury costs no matter who caused the crash. You can still be sued for injuries you cause above certain thresholds.
Did Florida get rid of PIP in 2026?
No. The 2026 repeal bills (SB 522 and HB 769) died in committee when the session ended on March 13, 2026, so PIP is still required.
Do I need insurance if my car doesn't run?
If the plate is active, yes. Turn the plate in before you cancel.
Is the minimum enough if I don't own much?
It's legal. But a judgment for injuries you cause can follow you for years, and uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you, can't be bought without bodily injury coverage.
How much more does it cost to add bodily injury?
It depends on the carrier, ZIP code and drivers. Ask David to quote the minimum and 100/300 side by side.
Your policy’s wording decides what’s covered. David can walk you through yours.