Coverage explained
Uninsured motorist coverage in Florida: do you need it?
Short answer
Yes, for most Florida drivers. Because Florida doesn't require bodily injury liability, many drivers on the road have no insurance money to pay for your injuries. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays you when they can't, including in hit-and-runs.
Why UM matters more in Florida
In most states, the driver who hurts you has to carry bodily injury liability, and their insurer pays for your injuries. In Florida, bodily injury liability isn't required to register a car. So when someone with the Florida minimum causes a crash, there is often no insurance money for your injuries beyond your own PIP. Add the drivers who carry nothing at all, and the hit-and-runs, and UM is the coverage that steps in.
What UM pays for
- Your medical bills beyond what PIP pays
- Lost income beyond PIP
- Pain and suffering, which PIP never pays
- Injuries from a hit-and-run driver
- You and your passengers, and usually you and your household as pedestrians
UM in Florida is about injuries. Damage to your car from an uninsured driver is paid by your collision coverage.
A worked example
A driver with only PIP and PDL runs a red light and breaks your arm. Your medical bills are $32,000 and you miss six weeks of work worth $6,000.
| Who pays | What |
|---|---|
| Your PIP | 80% of medical and 60% of lost income, up to $10,000 |
| The other driver's insurance | Nothing for your injuries: they have no bodily injury coverage |
| Your UM (with a $100,000 limit) | The rest of your bills and lost income, plus pain and suffering, up to $100,000 |
| Without UM | You, your health insurance, or a lawsuit against a driver who may have nothing to collect |
Stacked or non-stacked
- Stacked: if you have more than one car on the policy, the UM limit multiplies by the number of cars. Two cars with $100,000 stacked UM gives you up to $200,000. More protection, higher price.
- Non-stacked: one limit no matter how many cars. Cheaper. Florida requires your written choice for non-stacked.
Families with two or more cars should look at both prices. Single-car households get little from stacking.
The rules insurers must follow
Florida insurers must offer you UM equal to your bodily injury limits. You can only turn it down, pick lower limits or choose non-stacked in writing, on a state-approved form. If you never signed that form, ask David to check your policy: the signature matters if you ever have a claim.
How much to buy
A simple rule: match your UM limit to your bodily injury liability limit. Your UM limit can't be higher than your bodily injury limit, so if you want strong UM, you need bodily injury liability too. Most people David quotes compare 100/300 for both.
Price check
UM is usually one of the smaller lines on a Florida policy compared with what it protects. Ask for the quote both ways and decide with the numbers in front of you.
FAQ
Is UM required in Florida?
No, but insurers must offer it, and rejecting it takes your signature.
Does UM cover my passengers?
Yes, people in your car are covered.
Does UM pay for my car?
No. In Florida, UM is for injuries. Collision pays for your car.
Do I need UM if I have good health insurance?
Health insurance doesn't pay lost income or pain and suffering, and it has its own deductibles. UM fills those gaps.
Does UM cover a hit-and-run?
Yes, for your injuries, under the policy's conditions. Report it to the police right away.
How many Florida drivers are uninsured?
About 1 in 5. The Insurance Research Council estimated 20.6% of Florida drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 7th highest rate in the country (the national rate was 15.4%).
Your policy’s wording decides what’s covered. David can walk you through yours.