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If you are thinking about moving from Florida to Virginia or vice versa, auto insurance requirements in Florida vary from those in Virginia.

In Florida, property damage liability per accident is required to be $10,000. In Virginia, car insurance is optional but mandates certain limits if purchased.

In this guide, MoneyGeek researched the differences in car insurance requirements and laws in Florida and Virginia to identify the cheapest companies.

Car Insurance Laws in Florida vs. Virginia

Florida auto insurance regulations require drivers to carry minimum coverage of property damage liability per accident and personal injury protection per person. Virginia's minimum car insurance requirements include 25/50/20 coverage limits, as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance. This is one of the most important factors influencing insurance costs.

In Florida, a minimum-coverage vehicle insurance policy costs an average of $1,123 annually. The same coverage costs $433 in Virginia. Virginia has more insurance requirements than Florida, but it is less expensive. This could be related to a variety of factors, including population density and accident frequency.

MINIMUM CAR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS IN FLORIDA AND VIRGINIA

Florida Requirements

  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $10,000 personal injury protection per person

Virginia Requirements (optional)

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $20,000 property damage liability per accident
  • $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident
  • $20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage
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How Are Car Insurance Laws Enforced in Florida and Virginia?

In the United States, there are 12 no-fault states, including Florida. The state of Florida is known as a no-fault state because it has a statute that requires a form of car accident insurance that pays regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Keep in mind that this type of coverage may result in higher premiums.

Meanwhile, Virginia is an "at-fault" tort state. This means that drivers who cause an accident must bear the financial responsibility.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Florida vs. Virginia

Car insurance premiums fluctuate between companies and states. MoneyGeek recommends that you shop around to get the best rates.

On average, the following are the most affordable companies in Florida and Virginia:

  • Cheapest in Florida: GEICO ($590 per year)
  • Cheapest in Virginia: Progressive ($333 per year)

MoneyGeek found USAA to be the cheapest company on average in Florida, at $406, and Virginia, where it tied with Progressive at $333 a year. However, it is only available to military families.

Keep in mind that costs vary by state. For example, GEICO, which is the cheapest insurer in Florida, is one of the more expensive options in Virginia.

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Florida
Company
Annual Rate

1.

USAA

$406

2.

GEICO

$590

3.

Allstate

$1,034

4.

Allied

$1,056

5.

State Farm

$1,085

6.

Travelers

$1,120

7.

Mercury

$1,356

8.

Progressive

$1,564

Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Virginia
Company
Annual Rate

1.

Progressive

$333

2.

USAA

$333

3.

Erie

$350

4.

GEICO

$350

5.

State Farm

$392

6.

Mercury

$425

7.

Nationwide

$439

8.

Allstate

$460

9.

Travelers

$464

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THE CHEAPEST COMPANY FOR YOU MAY DIFFER

The cheapest car insurance company in Florida is GEICO, while the cheapest auto insurance company in Virginia is Progressive. These rates apply to the state’s minimum coverage. Your premium will be determined by the amount of coverage you buy, your age, driving history, location and other factors. MoneyGeek analyzed the most cost-effective options in both states:

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Average Cost of Car Insurance in Florida vs. Virginia

How much coverage you purchase impacts the cost of your car insurance.

The average cost of state minimum coverage in Florida and Virginia is $1,123 and $433, respectively. This means that drivers in Virginia save an average of $690 on the state's minimum coverage when compared to drivers in Florida. Meanwhile, the average cost of full coverage in Florida is $2,208. In Virginia, it’s roughly $790.

These are average prices. Your actual charges may vary based on the level of coverage you choose.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Florida vs. Virginia
Driver
Florida Annual Premium
Virginia Annual Premium

Minimum Coverage

$1,123

$433

Full Coverage

$2,208

$790

Adding a Young Driver

$4,913

$2,202

Drivers With a Violation

$2,902

$977

Drivers With Poor Credit

$4,194

$1,263

Why Are Car Insurance Rates More Expensive in Florida vs. Virginia?

Car insurance rates can be impacted for various reasons, but it’s impossible to blame the differences on one factor. Several reasons, like the state's high theft rate, the state's high number of uninsured drivers and natural disaster probability, contribute to Florida's higher rates when compared to Virginia.

Car Insurance Costs by City in Florida vs. Virginia

The cost of auto insurance varies by state, and your rates are influenced by the city in which you reside. MoneyGeek found the cheapest and most expensive cities for vehicle insurance in Florida and Virginia on average.

Florida

  • Cheapest city: Gainesville ($693 per year)
  • Most expensive city: Hialeah ($1,461 per year)

Pennsylvania

  • Cheapest city: Newport News ($408 per year)
  • Most expensive city: Alexandria ($462 per year)

Although car insurance requirements are the same in all cities in each respective state, this is not a cost consideration. Higher rates are more likely in areas with higher population densities.

Car Insurance Costs by City in Florida
City
Average Annual Rate

Cape Coral

$813

Clearwater

$1,054

Coral Springs

$1,214

Davie

$1,157

Fort Lauderdale

$1,277

Gainesville

$693

Hialeah

$1,461

Hollywood

$1,248

Jacksonville

$869

Lakeland

$846

Miami

$1,334

Miami Gardens

$1,390

Miramar

$1,107

Orlando

$964

Palm Bay

$853

Pembroke Pines

$1,094

Pompano Beach

$1,208

Port St. Lucie

$932

St. Petersburg

$1,086

Tallahassee

$738

Tampa

$1,288

West Palm Beach

$1,338

Car Insurance Costs by City in Virginia
City
Average Annual Rate

Alexandria

$462

Chesapeake

$419

Hampton

$417

Newport News

$408

Norfolk

$443

Richmond

$440

Virginia Beach

$432

Moving Between Florida and Virginia? What to Know

If you are moving from Florida to Virginia or vice versa, you need to transfer your driver's license, vehicle registration and auto insurance coverage.

If you're moving to a state where your current insurance provider is available, you may be able to keep it. However, your rates may increase to reflect the additional risks and coverage requirements.

MoneyGeek provides a number of resources to help you select the insurance coverage that best meets your needs.

  • computer icon

    Use MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculators for Florida and Virginia

    MoneyGeek's car insurance calculators in Florida and car insurance calculators in Virginia will show you an estimate of how much you'll pay for auto insurance in each state depending on the information you provide.

  • accident2 icon

    Learn about car insurance for high-risk drivers in Florida and Virginia

    If a driver in Florida or Virginia commits a major traffic violation, such as driving without insurance, driving on a suspended or expired license or DUI/DWI, they must file an SR-22.

  • wristwatch icon

    Figure out your options for temporary car insurance in Florida and Virginia

    Keep in mind that most plans are valid for at least six months. However, there are methods to get temporary car insurance in Florida or temporary car insurance in Virginia if you are only visiting the state for a short time.

  • coins icon

    If you’re a low-income driver, see if Florida or Virginia offer car insurance programs

    MoneyGeek’s resources can help you find ways to save money on premiums for low-income drivers in Florida as well as low-income drivers in Virginia.

FAQs About Florida and Virginia Car Insurance

The regulations and rates for auto insurance in Florida and Virginia vary. MoneyGeek answered some commonly asked questions regarding car insurance in Florida and Virginia to help you get the best coverage.

Methodology

To calculate average car insurance rates by company and across Florida and Virginia, MoneyGeek collaborated with Quadrant Information Services to collect auto insurance quotes from both locations. We used a sample profile for a 40-year-old driver with a clean driving record and minimum coverage unless modified by criteria like coverage level, age, driving offenses and credit score. Learn more about how costs are calculated in our MoneyGeek car insurance methodology.

Minimum car insurance requirements by state were sourced from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the respective state.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark 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 economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.