How Florida No-Fault Car Insurance Works (2024)


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Florida's no-fault car insurance system means that after an accident, your insurance company will cover your medical bills (through personal injury protection coverage) and damage you cause to other's property (through property damage liability coverage), regardless of who was at fault.

Unlike most states, Florida drivers aren't required to carry bodily injury liability coverage since personal injury protection covers medical costs up to a certain limit. However, it's important to remember that personal injury protection won't cover things like pain and suffering or lost wages.

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Key Takeaways

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Florida requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in both personal injury protection and property damage liability coverage.

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Drivers can sue or be sued in cases of severe injuries, death or damages exceeding personal injury protection and property damage liability limits.

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Bodily injury liability is required after serious incidents like DUI convictions or accidents causing significant harm.

We collected the latest data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Quadrant Information Services to find the least expensive car insurance in Florida for different driver profiles.

These rates reflect the cheapest car insurance quotes in Florida as of May 2024.

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Florida No-Fault Car Insurance Requirements

In Florida's no-fault system, you'll need to contact your insurer directly after an accident, regardless of who caused it. If you're in a fender-bender, your insurer pays your medical bills through your personal injury protection coverage. If you hit someone else's car, your property damage liability coverage kicks in to cover the cost of repairs.

Coverage Type
Minimum Required
What It Covers
What It Doesn’t Cover

Personal injury protection

$10,000

Your own medical expenses, lost wages and death benefits (up to your policy limit)

Pain and suffering, damage to your vehicle and legal costs

Property damage liabiliy

$10,000

Damage you cause to someone else's property, such as their car

Your own vehicle's damage, your medical expenses and legal costs

A no-fault system can be more streamlined than traditional fault-based systems, but personal injury protection has its limits.

For example, personal injury protection won't cover pain and suffering, lost wages or damage to your own vehicle if you're at fault. If you have extensive medical bills or need additional protection, explore other coverage options beyond your state’s minimum car insurance requirements.

When You Can Be Sued Under Florida's No-Fault System

In Florida's no-fault system, you typically turn to your own insurance for coverage after an accident. However, there are specific scenarios where the other driver can sue you for damages even if you're at fault, including the following:

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    Serious bodily injury

    If the other driver sustains a serious bodily injury as defined by Florida law, they can sue you for damages beyond what their personal injury protection covers. This includes injuries that lead to significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement or death.

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    Exceeded personal injury protection limits

    If the other driver's medical expenses or lost wages exceed their personal injury protection coverage limits, they can sue you for the excess amount.

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    Exceeded property damage liability limits

    If the damage to the other driver's property (like their car) exceeds your property damage liability coverage limit, they may sue you for the remaining amount.

Even in these scenarios, the other driver will need to prove you were at fault to successfully sue for damages.

When You’re Required to Buy Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

While personal injury protection and property damage liability are mandatory for all Florida drivers, bodily injury liability is typically optional unless specific circumstances — like a previous DUI — require it.

Bodily injury liability includes $10,000 bodily injury per person and $20,000 bodily injury per accident. Drivers may opt for a combined single-limit policy of at least $30,000. This insurance covers expenses and situations not covered by personal injury protection or property damage liability when the policyholder is at fault in an accident, including medical expenses, legal fees, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.

Below are the scenarios that may require Florida drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance:

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    After causing an accident that led to injury or death

    If a driver has caused an accident that resulted in bodily injuries or death, they are required to carry bodily injury liability insurance. This is to ensure they can cover the costs of damages and injuries to others in any future accidents.

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    After receiving certain citations

    Drivers who have received citations for serious offenses may also be required to carry bodily injury liability. This includes drivers with violations that suggest a disregard for the safety of others.

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    Following a DUI conviction

    Drivers convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) are subject to much higher bodily injury liability requirements. They must purchase bodily injury liability coverage with limits of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident and $50,000 in property damage liability.

Bodily injury liability insurance in Florida covers expenses and situations when the policyholder is at fault in an accident not covered by personal injury protection or property damage liability, including:

How to File a No-Fault Insurance Claim in Florida

After a car accident in Florida, you'll file a claim with your own insurance provider, regardless of who was at fault. To navigate this process smoothly, follow these steps.

1
Contact your insurance company immediately after the accident

This should be your first step, even if the accident seems minor. Delays in reporting could lead to claim denial. Provide all relevant details about the incident, including the time, location and parties involved.

2
Gather information

Collect information from other drivers, including their names, contact details and insurance information. If there were witnesses, get their contact information as well. If the police are called to the scene, obtain a copy of the accident report.

3
Cooperate with your insurer

Your insurance company will likely conduct an investigation into the accident. Cooperate fully by providing requested documentation such as medical records, repair estimates or any other information that might be relevant.

4
File your claim

Your insurer will provide you with specific instructions on how to file your personal injury protection claim. You may need to complete forms and submit supporting documentation.

5
Review and accept the settlement offer

After investigating your claim, your insurance company will make a settlement offer. Review it carefully and consider negotiating if you believe it's not fair. You can also consult an attorney for assistance during this process.

6
Repair your vehicle (if applicable)

If your vehicle is damaged, you can choose your preferred repair shop. Keep in mind that your insurance company might use aftermarket parts (non-original manufacturer parts) for repairs.

7
Follow up on your claim

Stay in touch with your insurance company and promptly respond to any requests for information. Keep copies of all communication and documents related to your claim.

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Average Cost of No-Fault Car Insurance in Florida by Company

In the state of Florida, all car insurance policies are technically "no-fault" policies since no-fault laws dictate what coverage Florida drivers are required to carry. While coverage that meets minimum coverage requirements will put you in legal compliance with Florida's no-fault laws, full coverage offers you the most financial protection. Full coverage policies are slightly more expensive in Florida than in other states; full coverage car insurance costs $1,296 on average nationwide, but the cheapest average premium for Florida drivers is $1,360 annually.

Navigate the table below to estimate your car insurance costs from different providers for minimum coverage and full coverage no-fault policies.

Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Age Range:
Age Range:30-59
Coverage:
Coverage:Full Coverage
Travelers$1,360$113
State Farm$1,381$115
GEICO$1,579$132
Nationwide$1,885$157
Progressive$1,952$163
Mercury$2,044$170
Allstate$2,155$180
Farmers$2,785$232
Direct General Insurance$2,958$247

Florida's $10,000 minimum coverage might not be enough to cover the costs of a serious accident. To protect yourself from unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, consider increasing your coverage limits beyond the state minimum. This can provide a financial safety net if you're at fault in an accident and liable for damages exceeding the basic coverage.

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FAQ: Florida No-Fault Car Insurance

Have more questions about Florida's no-fault car insurance system? MoneyGeek answered some of the most common questions to help you better understand how coverage works in the state.

What does Florida no-fault car insurance mean?
What types of insurance are required to comply with Florida’s no-fault law?
Who pays for car damage in a no-fault state?

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.