Florida insurance for new drivers

Coverage requirements

• Carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection, called PIP. It provides benefits for covered injuries regardless of who caused the crash; it is not a promise to pay every medical bill.

  Applies to: Ordinary four wheel vehicles with Florida registration. PIP benefits have statutory conditions and limits.

  Source 1Source 3

• Carry at least $10,000 in Property Damage Liability, called PDL. This covers damage you or someone driving your insured vehicle causes to other people's property. Keep coverage throughout registration, even when the car is not driven.

  Applies to: Ordinary four wheel vehicles with Florida registration.

  Source 1Source 2

• Proof may come from a Florida licensed insurer or a qualifying self insurance certificate issued by FLHSMV.

  Applies to: Registration financial responsibility; self insurance requires qualification.

  Source 1

• For the at fault injury crash situation described by FLHSMV, bodily injury limits are $10,000 for one person and $20,000 total per crash. Property damage liability is $10,000 per crash, with $10,000 PIP per person per crash. These are not a blanket bodily injury registration requirement.

  Applies to: At fault driver charged with a moving violation, with injuries or possible injuries noted on the crash report.

  Source 7

• When a policy provides bodily injury liability for a specifically insured or identified vehicle, it must include uninsured motorist protection unless a named insured rejects it in writing or chooses lower limits as allowed by law.

  Applies to: Policies subject to section 627.727; do not confuse this with the basic PIP and PDL registration rule.

  Source 4

• A nonresident owner must maintain the required security when the vehicle has been physically present in Florida for more than 90 days during the preceding 365 days. The days need not be consecutive.

  Applies to: Nonresident owners under section 627.733(2).

  Source 5

What can happen when you drive uninsured

• A lapse can lead to suspension of the driver license and plate for up to three years and a reinstatement fee up to $500. Turn in the plate before canceling coverage.

  Applies to: Failure to maintain required insurance. FLHSMV says no temporary or hardship license is available for these suspensions.

  Source 6

• If the at fault owner or driver lacked the required coverage for an injury crash, FLHSMV requires an insurer certified SR-22 filing and the stated liability coverage for three years from the designated suspension date. Releases or a security deposit and any applicable reinstatement fee are also required.

  Applies to: At fault driver charged with a moving violation, with injuries or possible injuries on the crash report and no required coverage. Not every lapse or property only crash.

  Source 7

What to do after a crash

1. Stop immediately at the scene or as close as possible and remain to exchange information and help anyone injured.

   Applies to: Injury or death, or damage to a vehicle or other property attended by a person.

   Source 19Source 20

2. Give your name, address and vehicle registration number. Show your driver license if requested and available. Give reasonable help to anyone injured, including arranging necessary medical transport.

   Applies to: Crash involving injury, death or damage to an attended vehicle or property.

   Source 8

3. If anyone is injured or killed, or property damage appears to be at least $2,000, immediately notify local police within a municipality, or otherwise the county sheriff or nearest Florida Highway Patrol office, using the quickest means available.

   Applies to: Crash with injury, death or apparent damage to a vehicle or other property of at least $2,000.

   Source 9

4. For property damage crashes that do not require a law enforcement report, submit a written driver report to FLHSMV within 10 days. Use its approved Driver Report of a Traffic Crash form and the agency's email or mailing instructions.

   Applies to: Driver self reporting under section 316.066(1)(e).

   Source 10Source 11

Talk through the family policy

• Before supervised practice, tell the insurer that your teen has a permit. Ask who is covered, whether the teen must be listed, and whether any driver is excluded. Check again when the teen becomes licensed. Ask for the answer in writing.

  Applies to: Family planning checklist, not a universal enrollment deadline. Policy terms vary.

  Source 13

• Read the family policy together. Confirm the drivers, vehicles, uses, limits and exclusions. A permit and a driver license are different stages; do not assume the policy treats them the same.

  Applies to: Questions to ask your insurer about your own contract.

  Source 13

Questions about cost factors

• Ask whether good student status or completed driver education affects your policy, what proof is needed and when eligibility ends. These are questions to check, not a promise of a discount or savings.

  Applies to: General planning questions. The cited New York consumer guide describes examples, not a benefit required in every state.

  Source 17

• Keep a clean driving record and ask how tickets and crashes affect your policy. A clean record does not promise a particular price.

  Applies to: General planning guidance; the insurer and policy determine the result.

  Source 18

Five terms to know

Premium

The amount you pay for an insurance policy. Source 14

Deductible

The part of a covered loss you must pay yourself when that coverage has a deductible. Source 14

Liability

Responsibility for harm to other people or their property. Liability coverage helps pay covered losses you cause. Source 15

At fault

Responsible for causing a crash. Responsibility can be shared. Source 16

Coverage

The protection a policy provides, subject to its limits and exclusions. Source 13

Check your understanding

Official sources

Each rule above links to its evidence below. Check the agency source for the full rule and exceptions.

1. FLHSMV: Florida insurance requirements

   General Information. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

2. Florida Statutes: property damage security

   Section 324.022(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

3. Florida Statutes: PIP

   Section 627.736(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

4. Florida Statutes: uninsured motorists

   Section 627.727(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

5. Florida Statutes: required security

   Section 627.733(2). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

6. FLHSMV: insurance lapses

   Penalties. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

7. FLHSMV: injury crash responsibility

   Crashes Involving Injuries. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

8. Florida Statutes: information and aid

   Section 316.062(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

9. Florida Statutes: immediate crash notice

   Section 316.065(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

10. Florida Statutes: driver crash report

    Section 316.066(1)(e). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

11. FLHSMV: report a crash

    Self-Report Online and By Mail. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

12. Florida Statutes: law enforcement crash reports

    Section 316.066(1)(a). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

13. California Department of Insurance: policy basics

    Your Auto Policy and Compare Policies. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

14. California Department of Insurance: insurance terms

    Auto Insurance Costs. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

15. California Department of Insurance: liability

    Liability Coverage. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

16. California Department of Insurance: glossary

    Comparative negligence. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

17. New York Department of Financial Services: policy questions

    Discounts and driver training. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

18. New York Department of Financial Services: driving record

    Driving Record. Reviewed 2026-11-03.

19. Florida Statutes: stopping after property damage

    Section 316.061(1). Reviewed 2026-11-03.

20. Florida Statutes: stopping after injury or death

    Section 316.027(2). Reviewed 2026-11-03.