4.10. Florida Motor Vehicle Insurance Laws

In Florida, there are two motor vehicle insurance laws. They are the Financial Responsibility Law and the No-Fault law. It is important that you understand these laws because if you do not have the proper insurance, you can lose your driver license and license plate(s) and have to pay large fees to get them back.

4.10.1 - The Financial Responsibility Law

The Financial Responsibility Law requires owners and operators of motor vehicles to be financially responsible for damages and/or injuries they may cause to others when a motor vehicle crash happens.

This law requires any person to have bodily injury liability insurance at the time of the following:

1. A citation for DUI which results in a revocation. These cases require the following minimum insurance coverage:
   • $100,000 Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) (to one person)
   • $300,000 Bodily Injury Liability to two or more persons.
   • $50,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL)
2. If you do not have required insurance to comply with the Financial Responsibility Law, your driver license and/or license plates will be suspended for up to three years. You will have to pay a reinstatement fee and show the department certified proof of full liability insurance on Form FR-44 for three years from the original suspension date to get your driving privilege back.
3. A suspension for excessive points against your driver license.
4. A crash where you are at fault and injuries have occurred.
5. A revocation for Habitual Traffic Offender.
6. A revocation for any serious offense where this department is required to revoke your license.

The cases listed above (excluding DUI) must have the following minimum insurance coverage:

• $10,000 Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) (to one person).
• $20,000 Bodily Injury Liability to two or more persons.
• $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL), or
• $30,000 Combined single limits.

If involved in any of the above violations (excluding DUI) and you do not have insurance to comply with the Financial Responsibility Law, your driver license and/or license plates will be suspended for up to three years. You will have to pay a $15 reinstatement fee and show the department certified proof of full liability insurance on Form SR-22 for three years from the original suspension date to get your driving privilege back.

In addition, if you are the driver or the owner of a vehicle which is in a crash that is your fault, this department can require you to pay for the damages before your driving privilege is reinstated.

Under this law, to protect yourself and others, you should have liability insurance on any motor vehicle you own or drive, including motorcycles.

4.10.2 - The No-Fault Law

The Florida No-Fault Law requires owners of motor vehicles with four or more wheels (excluding taxis and limousines), that has been in the state for at least 90 days or non-consecutive days during the past 365 days to purchase a policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state. The minimum coverages are:

• $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
• $10,000 of Property Damage Liability (PDL)

You cannot buy a license plate and registration for a car, or other four-wheel vehicle, without having coverage issued in Florida. Once you have this insurance, anytime you renew it, fail to renew it, cancel it, or the insurance company cancels, the insurance company must notify this department. The department will then notify you to provide proof of new coverage. If you fail to provide proof of insurance, your driver license and license plate(s) will be suspended for up to three years.

You must maintain insurance coverage throughout the vehicle registration period or you must surrender the license plate(s) to any driver licenses office.

If your driver license and license plate(s) are suspended for not having insurance under the No-Fault Law, you will have to pay $150 and show proof of current insurance to get them back. For a second offense within three years, you will pay $250. For a third offense within three years, you will have to pay $500. Also, if your driver license and plate(s) have been under suspension for 30 days or more for a no-fault insurance violation, a police officer can seize your license plate immediately. To prevent an insurance suspension of your license and avoid reinstatement fees turn in your license plate to a Florida driver license or tax collector office prior to canceling your insurance.

Effective 10/01/06, all taxicabs are required to maintain the following insurance to register a vehicle in Florida.

General Information

You will be issued a Florida Insurance I.D. Card from your insurance company. You must have this card ready to show to any law enforcement officer to prove that you have the required insurance. If not, you may receive a ticket for not having proof of insurance.

If your driver license or license plate(s) are suspended for not obeying either of these laws, you cannot get a temporary license for any reason, not even for work purposes only. Any person who makes a false statement or commits forgery about their motor vehicle insurance can be guilty of a second degree misdemeanor.

The Department will always provide you with an opportunity to prove insurance coverage or be heard before being suspended.

How to comply:

1. By purchasing a motor vehicle insurance policy from a company licensed to do business in Florida.
2. By obtaining a Financial Responsibility Certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility after posting a satisfactory surety bond of a company licensed to do business in Florida.
3. By obtaining a Financial Responsibility Certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility by depositing cash or securities with the Department.
4. By obtaining a Self Insurance Certificate from the Bureau of Financial Responsibility by providing satisfactory evidence of possessing a net unencumbered capital.

Remember: Automobile insurance is an important part of your driving privilege. Protect yourself and others by having and keeping the proper insurance coverage.

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