Learn How To Buy Florida Auto Insurance That Protects Your Family

Start with what you have now. Pull out your current auto policy and declarations page. Many Florida drivers discover their coverage is thinner than they assumed. You can change carriers at any renewal, and you can usually improve coverage before the next bill.

Shop in person when you can. Get quotes from at least three major carriers and sit down with an agent when possible. Bring your current policy, your budget, and the worksheet on this page. Tell the agent you are comparing prices so they quote the full package, not a stripped-down teaser rate.

Bodily Injury (BI) protects people you might hurt. This is liability coverage for injuries you cause to someone else. Attorney Jeff Soud recommends at least $100,000 per person / $300,000 per accident. If your budget allows, consider 300/300, 300/500, or higher. If you have assets to protect, ask about a $1 million umbrella policy, often in the $200 to $400 per year range depending on your profile.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM) protects your household. This is the coverage that steps in when the at-fault driver has no bodily injury coverage or not enough. In North Florida, that situation is common. Buy as much UM as you can, usually matching your BI limits. This coverage can matter for medical bills, lost income, and the human cost of a serious crash.

PIP: do not elect a deductible. Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) generally pays 80% of accident-related medical bills and 60% of lost wages up to $10,000, regardless of fault. Attorney Soud's standing advice: do not elect a PIP deductible. Not $250, not $500, and not $1,000. PIP is there for your injuries even when someone else caused the crash.

Medical Payments (Med Pay) fills the PIP gap. Med Pay helps cover the portion of medical bills PIP does not pay. Consider at least $5,000, and more if you can afford it. For many families, $20,000 to $30,000 is a sensible target when the budget allows.

Property Damage (PD), Comprehensive, and Collision. Florida requires Property Damage liability, but the state minimum is often too low for modern repair costs. Consider at least $25,000 or more. Comprehensive covers theft, storm, and non-collision damage to your car. Collision covers crash damage to your own vehicle. Use the lowest deductible you can afford without straining the budget.

Rental, towing, and the fine print. Rental reimbursement matters when your car is in the shop and the at-fault driver has no coverage. Towing reimbursement matters because many tow companies want payment up front. Ask what each optional coverage costs before you decline it.

Pay premiums on time. If you can, pay six months at a time instead of monthly billing when it saves money and reduces the risk of an accidental lapse. A cancelled policy leaves you exposed twice: on the road and after a crash.