# Florida car insurance: PIP and property damage to register, no-fault rules, FR-44 and costs

> Florida car insurance explained: the PIP and property damage you need to register, why bodily injury is optional, the PIP care deadline, FR-44 and costs.

Canonical page: https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/florida/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

To register a car in Florida you need $10,000 PIP + $10,000 property damage coverage; unlike most states, Florida does not require bodily injury liability for most drivers. Florida is a no-fault state: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays 80% of necessary medical costs up to $10,000, whoever caused the crash. Florida drivers spent $1,864.63 per insured vehicle in 2023, well above the national average.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required to register | Yes: PIP and property damage liability are required to register a vehicle; bodily injury liability is not required for most drivers |
| Minimum to register | $10,000 PIP + $10,000 property damage |
| Bodily injury liability when the financial responsibility law applies | $10,000 per person / $20,000 per accident |
| Fault system | No-fault |
| Personal injury protection | Required: $10,000 |
| Uninsured motorist | Included at bodily injury limits unless rejected in writing on an approved form |
| Underinsured motorist | Included in uninsured motorist coverage |
| Medical payments | Not required |
| FR-44 limits after a DUI | $100,000 / $300,000 bodily injury, $50,000 property damage |
| Average expenditure (2023) | $1,864.63 a year (US: $1,281) |
| Average premium with collision and comprehensive (2023) | $1,993.81 a year (US: $1,438) |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 20.6% (US: 15.4%) |
| Consumer help | Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services, 1-877-693-5236 (1-877-MY-FL-CFO) |
| Motor vehicle agency | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles |

## Florida's registration minimum: PIP and property damage only

Florida builds its minimum around two coverages:

- **Personal injury protection (PIP)** of $10,000, which pays your own injury costs after a crash
- **Property damage liability (PDL)** of $10,000, which pays for damage you cause to other people's vehicles and property

What is missing is **bodily injury liability**, the coverage that pays for injuries you cause to other people. Florida requires it only when the state's financial responsibility law applies, and then at $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident. A $30,000 combined single limit can also satisfy the property damage requirement.

A driver who carries only the registration minimum has no insurance to pay someone they seriously injure. That person may then pursue the driver's own money and assets. Our [liability coverage guide](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/liability/) explains what bodily injury liability adds, and our post on [no-fault vs at-fault states](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/blog/no-fault-vs-at-fault-states/) explains why Florida's system works this way.

## How Florida PIP pays after a crash

PIP is the heart of Florida's no-fault system. You claim from your own insurer first, regardless of fault. Under Florida Statutes section 627.736, the required PIP benefits work like this:

| PIP benefit | What it pays |
|---|---|
| Medical benefits | 80% of reasonable, necessary medical expenses |
| Disability benefits | 60% of lost gross income and earning capacity |
| Overall limit | $10,000 for medical and disability benefits combined |
| Limit without an emergency medical condition | Medical reimbursement capped at $2,500 |
| Death benefit | $5,000 per individual |

Because the overall limit is $10,000, a serious injury can use it up quickly. For example, if a crash leaves you with $30,000 of medical bills, PIP stops paying once it reaches its limit, and the rest falls to your health insurance, your [medical payments coverage](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/medical-payments/) if you bought it, or a claim against the at-fault driver.

Lawsuits against the at-fault driver for pain and suffering are limited to serious injuries under Florida's no-fault law. Our [PIP guide](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/personal-injury-protection/) and [tort threshold](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/glossary/tort-threshold/) entry explain the details.

## Get care quickly: Florida's PIP treatment deadline

Florida PIP medical benefits apply only if you receive initial services and care within 14 days after the crash. If you wait longer, PIP can refuse to pay. And if a qualified provider finds you did not have an emergency medical condition, PIP reimbursement for medical care is limited to $2,500.

What to do after a crash in Florida:

1. Get checked by a doctor, hospital or other qualified provider within 14 days, even if you feel fine.
2. Report the claim to your own insurer, because your PIP pays first.
3. Keep every bill and record of time missed from work.
4. If you were hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, tell your insurer and the police promptly.

Our guide to [what to do after a crash](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/claims/what-to-do-after-a-crash/) has a full checklist.

## When bodily injury coverage becomes mandatory: FR-44

Drivers convicted of DUI face a special filing called the FR-44. For DUI convictions after October 1, 2007, Florida requires liability limits of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage, kept for at least 3 years. Those limits are many times the normal minimum. Instead of insurance, a certificate of deposit of $350,000 is accepted. Our [FR-44 guide](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/fr-44/) and [car insurance after a DUI](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/after-a-dui/) go further.

## Uninsured motorist coverage when bodily injury is optional

The Insurance Research Council estimates that 20.6% of Florida drivers were uninsured in 2023, above the national estimate of 15.4%. And because bodily injury liability is not required to register, an "insured" driver who hits you may still have nothing to pay for your injuries.

If your policy includes bodily injury liability, uninsured motorist coverage is included at the same limits unless you reject it in writing on the state's approved form, and Florida UM also responds when the other driver's limits are lower than your damages. Choosing non-stacking UM must cut the UM premium by at least 20%. See our [uninsured motorist guide](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) and the [stacking](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/glossary/stacking/) entry.

## Florida costs and road safety

| Measure | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Average expenditure per insured vehicle (2023) | $1,864.63 | $1,281 |
| Average premium with liability, collision and comprehensive (2023) | $1,993.81 | $1,438 |
| Crash death rate by population (2024) | 13.4 per 100,000 people | 11.5 per 100,000 people |
| Crash death rate by miles driven (2024) | 1.26 per 100 million miles | 1.19 per 100 million miles |

Florida's cost averages are well above the national average: the average expenditure is about $155 a month. IIHS counted 3,138 crash deaths in Florida in 2024, and both death rates were above the national rates. One small plus: Florida comprehensive coverage carries a $0 deductible for windshield damage. Drivers aged 55 and older can also earn a discount for 3 years by completing an approved accident prevention course; see [defensive driving courses](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/saving/defensive-driving-courses/).

## Lapses and new residents

If your PIP and property damage coverage lapses, Florida can suspend your license and plate for up to 3 years, and reinstatement can cost up to $500. New residents have 10 days to get Florida insurance so they can title and register their car. See our [new residents guide](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/drivers/new-residents/) and compare neighboring [Georgia](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/georgia/) and [Alabama](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/alabama/), or all [states](https://mail.statecover-guide.com/location/).

## FAQ

### Is bodily injury liability required in Florida?

Not to register a car. Florida requires $10,000 PIP + $10,000 property damage. Bodily injury liability of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident becomes required when the financial responsibility law applies, and much higher FR-44 limits apply after a DUI.

### How long do I have to see a doctor after a car accident in Florida?

To use PIP medical benefits, you must receive initial care within 14 days of the crash.

### Does Florida PIP pay lost wages?

Yes. PIP disability benefits pay 60% of lost gross income, within the overall $10,000 PIP limit.

### What are FR-44 insurance limits in Florida?

$100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage, kept for at least 3 years.

### What happens if my Florida car insurance lapses?

Your license and plate can be suspended for up to 3 years, with a reinstatement fee of up to $500.

### Do I pay a deductible to fix a cracked windshield in Florida?

Not under comprehensive coverage. Florida law sets the windshield deductible at $0.

## Sources

- [Florida Statutes, section 324.022](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0324/Sections/0324.022.html) — property damage and financial responsibility requirements
- [Florida Statutes, section 627.736](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.736.html) — PIP benefits, the initial care deadline, emergency medical condition limit and death benefit
- [Florida Statutes, section 627.727](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.727.html) — uninsured motorist coverage and non-stacking
- [Florida Statutes, section 324.023](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0324/Sections/0324.023.html) — FR-44 limits after DUI
- [Florida Statutes, section 627.7288](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.7288.html) — windshield deductible
- [Florida HSMV, Insurance](https://www.flhsmv.gov/insurance/) — registration requirement, PIP share and lapse penalties
- [Florida HSMV, New residents](https://flhsmv.gov/new-resident) — deadlines after moving
- [Florida Department of Financial Services, Personal automobile insurance overview](https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/understanding-insurance/personal-automobile-insurance-overview) — consumer help
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf) — average expenditure and premium
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists) — uninsured driver estimates
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state) — crash deaths
- [Florida Statutes (2026), Section 324.021 (definitions; minimum insurance required)](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0324/Sections/0324.021.html), as of October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance), as of October 28, 2026
- [Florida Department of Financial Services, Automobile Insurance FAQs](https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/understanding-insurance/faq/auto), as of October 28, 2026
- [Florida Statutes 2026, section 627.727](https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.727.html), as of October 28, 2026
- [Florida Senate, Florida Statutes section 627.0652 (Insurance discounts for certain persons completing safety course)](https://m.flsenate.gov/Statutes/627.0652), as of October 28, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025