Florida Car Insurance Guide (2024 Coverage + Quotes)

Florida Car Insurance has been dedicated to bringing you the best car insurance in Florida since 2017, with fresh updates for 2021. You may have wondered, “Why is Florida car insurance so expensive?” Florida is one of the few states with a high uninsured motorist percentage, and no-fault insurance plays a role in high rates.

Florida also has several metropolitan areas that have a dense population and a high number of claims. However, we can show you cheap car insurance loopholes that’ll save you money. Read on to learn more about Florida discount car insurance and learn everything you need to know to buy Florida auto insurance.

Find the best car insurance in Florida with our free comparison tool. Enter your ZIP code for a comparison of Florida car insurance quotes.

What are Florida car insurance coverage and rates?

The biggest question in car insurance: “What will it cost?” The cost of Florida auto insurance is high, but it’s better to be insured than to be uninsured.

Have you tried to Google how much the top insurers in your state charge for the coverage you need? Before this guide, you’d be on a frustrating, time-draining wild goose chase with no definitive answers.

 

If you are looking for exact dollar amounts, specific Florida car insurance companies are charging without providing all of your personal information.

What are the Florida minimum car insurance coverage requirements?

Before we get into details, let’s examine Florida car insurance requirements.

Florida car insurance laws mandate a minimum of 10/20/10. Here’s what 10/20/10 insurance in Florida means, according to the Florida DMV:

• 1st number: (10 = $10,000) This is the bodily injury liability (BIL) required. It covers one person who is injured in one accident
• 2nd number: (20 = $20,000) This is the BIL that covers all of the injured people in one accident
• 3rd number: (10 = $10,000) This is the property damage liability (PDL) required. It covers the damages – you’re responsible for – to other people’s property

Florida is one of two states (New Hampshire is the other) that does NOT require bodily injury liability.

Forty-four states require at least $20,000 in bodily injury liability coverage, and some require as much as $50,000.

The Florida Financial Responsibility Act requires that if you’re found to have caused an accident, you’ll be required to cover $10,000 for one person per accident and $20,000 for multiple people per accident.

If you’re found to be at-fault without bodily injury liability coverage, you could pay out-of-pocket expenses you caused.

Although this could change, for now, Florida is one of 10 states that require drivers to have at least $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

PIP is also known as “no-fault coverage” which pays for your medical bills and personal injury costs regardless of who was at fault.

Here is the breakdown of what (and how much) PIP will cover:

• 80 percent of medical bills: Pays for surgeries, prescriptions, ambulance fees, rehabilitation, glasses, hearing aids, etc.
• 60 percent of lost wages: Pays you back for your actual lost income and your lost earning capacity.
• 100 percent of services: Pays for services for things you can no longer do, such as cleaning or yard work.
• 100percent of mileage: Pays for the distance you log going back and forth to the doctors’ offices and rehab centers.
• $5,000 death benefit: If someone on your policy dies. This is in addition to the $10,000 for the above four categories.

It’s important to note that personal injury protection claims must be made within 14 days of the accident.

What forms of financial responsibility are required in Florida?

Do you already carry the minimum car insurance required by Florida law? If you can answer “yes,” that’s great, but is it enough?

Every time you drive on Florida public roads, you must carry tangible proof that you and your vehicle are insured by an agent who works for a company licensed to sell auto insurance in Florida.

If you are involved in an accident or pulled over by a police officer, you MUST be able to show proof of insurance (POI) which includes the following:

• Insurance company
• Policy information
• Effective dates

If you can’t show proof of your insurance, you will be given a ticket and lose your license. You will not receive a temporary or restricted license in the meantime. You will have your driving privileges entirely revoked until you pay the penalty and reinstatement fees, provide proof of insurance, and reapply for a new Florida license.

The table below shows the price you’ll have to pay to get your license back:

There’s no excuse to be driving without insurance. Don’t get behind the wheel without it.

Don’t live in Florida but own a car that does? You still need Florida insurance for that vehicle.

Any person who has a vehicle in Florida for more than 90 days during 365 days must purchase personal injury protection and property damage liability. The 90 days do not have to be consecutive.

What percentage of income are car insurance rates in Florida?

Here’s a preview of car insurance rates as a percentage of income in Florida.

Disposable Personal Income (DPI) is the money you earn before you pay your bills but after taxes.

Check out how quickly an income of $75,000 drops after taxes are deducted in top cities. An excellent income of $75,000 quickly becomes $60,996 after taxes, and you still have all your bills to pay, including $1,257 a year for car insurance.

As a Florida resident, you should anticipate paying over three percent of your income for the state minimum required car insurance.

Is it expensive? That’s because it is. Florida has the fourth most expensive car insurance (compared to income) in the United States.

What are the core car insurance coverage costs in Florida?

To start this section off, we’ll explore core coverage rates from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

The average full coverage car insurance costs in Florida were almost identical from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, Florida had the biggest price increase in five years.

Here’s how those costs compared to the states nearest Florida and the national average:

Florida’s car insurance coverage has been consistently more expensive than the states nearby, while the national average increased by $200 to $400 a year.

What additional liability coverage is available in Florida?

Let’s look at some additional liability coverages and how car insurance companies pay out in Florida.

The loss ratio shows how much a car insurance company pays in claims versus the number of rates they earn from customers. It means that for every $100 earned from car insurance companies in Florida, $81 is spent on claims.

While personal injury protection (PIP) is required in Florida, medical payments (Med Pay) and uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage are all optional.

Florida is ranked first for the most uninsured motorists in the entire country. An alarming 27 percent of the motorists on Florida roadways were driving without car insurance in 2015.

What does this mean? Uninsured motorists don’t have ANY help paying for damages and injuries they cause in an accident. If you sue them, they will likely go bankrupt before spending even a small portion of all the bills you will rake in.

That’s when the additional coverage listed above is such a massive help to you, the responsible driver. If you get in an accident with an uninsured motorist, your PIP, Med Pay, and UM/UIM coverage will pay those bills while you focus on getting a working vehicle, your health, and your life back.

With over a quarter of all the motorists on Florida roads driving illegally without car insurance, you better not get behind the wheel without PIP at the VERY least.

Let’s elaborate on the loss ratio.

On average, auto insurance providers paid for claims amounting to 76 percent of the rates Florida residents paid for the additional liability coverage options: PIP, UM/UIM, and Med Pay.

The loss ratio is a lot more straightforward than it sounds. Here’s an example of Florida’s 76 percent loss ratio: you pay $1,000 for coverage, and your provider pays $760 for damages.

Florida’s loss ratio for additional liability coverage has been right where you want it. Here’s what can happen if they get too high or too low:

1. If the loss ratio is too high, the insurance provider will soon be raising the rates to keep the business running
2. If the loss ratio is too low, it means that the insurance provider is not paying out all of the claims they should be

Be sure to look at the provider’s loss ratio when choosing where to get your car insurance. Don’t just focus on what you’ll be charged, but more importantly, the coverage you will get back for that money you invest.

What add-ons, endorsements, and riders are available in Florida?

Sometimes you will need more than just the standard car insurance coverage. Here are a few other coverages to consider depending on your situation:

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP) – GAP helps cover the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what it is worth. Many insurers will require you to carry this coverage on a new car.
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP) – This offers additional liability coverage if you want more than your standard policy.
• Rental Reimbursement – This pays for a rental car in the event of an accident.
• Emergency Roadside Assistance – Roadside Assistance will offer services like a jump start or bring gas if you run out.
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance – The coverage will help cover the cost of things like a new transmission or brake repair.
• Non-Owner Car Insurance – If you borrow a car or drive a family member’s car, non-owner car insurance offers you coverage on a car you don’t own.
• Modified Car Insurance Coverage – This covers damages to modifications to your car, like a custom paint job.
• Classic Car Insurance – This coverage is great if you have a classic car that you rarely drive.

Auto insurance isn’t one size fits all. Customize your coverage to fit your specific needs.

What is pay-as-you-drive or usage-based car insurance in Florida?

Pay-as-you-drive auto insurance bases your rate or discounts on how well you drive. Common factors looked at are speed, time of day you drive, and how many times you brake hard. In some cases, poor driving habits can actually make your car insurance rate increase.

Usage-based car insurance allows you to only pay for car insurance based on how many miles you drive. It generally doesn’t factor in your driving behavior, just the distance you drive each month. You pay a base rate and then so much per mile.

This type of insurance goes by a few names:

• Pay-as-you-drive (PAYD)
• Usage-based insurance (UBI)
• Pay-how-you-drive (PHYD)
• Pay-per-mile
• Pay-as-you-go

All of the above terms refer to car insurance companies using telematics to determine how you drive. Usually, your provider will use the driving data provided to adjust your rates.

The box below lists four of the most popular usage-based programs that are available in Florida. Click on the program name for more details.

Most auto insurance providers offer a telematics program that helps streamline your coverage and lower your rates based on your driving and mileage.

Be sure to ask your local agent. Don’t have one yet? Use our free comparison tool to find the best provider for you.

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What are car insurance rates in Florida by gender and age?

Let’s take a quick look at how car insurance rates are affected by age and gender.

As you can see, your age and gender make a big difference in how much you pay for your car insurance.

On average, in Florida, a 17-year-old male can be expected to pay $15,654 more than a 60-year-old male.

Essentially this means that a teen boy living in Florida is having to spend more on car insurance than he would on buy his very first car. In addition to getting older, getting married can grant you lower rates too.

Plus, each provider charges their rates (within state laws). Take a look at this graph comparing three of the largest car insurance providers in Florida:

All three providers charge more for student driver insurance in Florida, but Allstate puts a drastically high price tag on 17-year-old drivers’ car insurance rates.

The reason teen and student drivers have expensive car insurance because they’re high-risk drivers.

What are Florida car insurance rates by ZIP code?

It was difficult locating Florida car insurance rates by county, but we’ve got Florida car insurance by ZIP code.

The ZIP code in Florida with the cheapest car insurance is found in Waldo, where the rates are $4,150 less a year than they are in parts of Miami. This table will show you the five least and most expensive ZIP codes in Florida.

This rate table is a perfect example of why price comparing is so important in car insurance. In Miami, for example, Allstate charges an average of $7,582 more a year than Geico. That is no little difference.

Allstate’s car insurance rates are drastically higher in many parts of Florida, especially Miami. The best car insurance in Miami, regardless of cost, is USAA and Geico.

What are Florida car insurance rates by the city?

Miami holds the top seven most expensive areas in Florida for car insurance, and Gainesville has the most zip codes with the least expensive car insurance in the state.

Here’s how the 10 most and least expensive areas in Florida compare to the state average for their car insurance rates.

How do your car insurance rates compare to Florida’s average annual cost of $4,681? Stick with us, and we can help you keep your prices below the average.

What are the best Florida car insurance companies?

Commercials, flyers, billboards, emails, Facebook ads. Car insurance companies seem to be everywhere these days. Do you feel overwhelmed by the topic? Does it seem impossible to know who you can trust in the insurance world? You’re not alone.

You face a personal, highly sensitive decision of where to invest your hard-earned money.

It’s essential that you know – without a doubt – that your insurance will fully cover costly damages and medical care you and your family could desperately need in the horrible event of a crash.

This is a major decision that no one should take lightly. Keep reading for some quick, essential statistics about the car insurance companies in Florida. This guide will help you know who you can trust.

Don’t worry. We are an impartial source. We don’t work for any of these companies. We’re just rounding up and laying out the must-know facts for our readers.

Let’s start by looking at the financial strength of the biggest car insurance providers in Florida.

What are the Florida car insurance financial ratings of the largest companies?

Let’s examine the A.M. Best ratings of Florida’s largest car insurance companies.

You probably recognize those grades we all wanted in school, but do you know what they mean when it comes to an insurer’s financial standing?

Four of the largest auto insurance companies in Florida have the highest A.M. Best score possible (A++) thanks to a “superior ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.”

Everyone deserves the peace of mind that their insurance provider will pay for any claims they owe.

What car insurance companies have the best ratings in Florida?

J.D. Power has successfully collected and analyzed the opinions of consumers worldwide for over 50 years. Here is what they found in their most recent study regarding customer satisfaction of their car insurance companies:

USAA (only for military families) and MetLife are the only two companies in Florida to receive J.D. Power’s highest rating: “Among the best.” USAA car insurance in Florida is the cheapest company.

The phenomenal score of 849 (23 points higher than the national average) proves that MetLife’s Florida customers have been thrilled. What’s impressive is that MetLife and USAA scored higher than the most well-known names in car insurance.

J.D. Power shared insight from their findings in this 2018 auto insurance study:

“Overall satisfaction tends to be highest when customers interact via a mix of online and offline communication methods. When there is an insurer-initiated rate increase, it is important to communicate that an increase is coming.”

Car insurance customers want multiple ways to get the info and help they need, and they wish to be warned before their rates go up. That’s not much to ask. Good job, MetLife.

What car insurance companies have the most complaints in Florida?

What’s just as telling as financial strength and happy customers?

That’s why we found the complaint index for the 30 largest car insurance companies in Florida.

Complaint index is a weighted ratio of the number of consumer complaints filed with the Department of Insurance against the number of premiums written by that same insurance company.

The below table ranks the largest Florida providers by the number of confirmed complaints that have been filed against them. The car insurance companies with the highest complaint ratios are at the top.

Here’s an explanation of rankings.

• Ranking of 1 = Least Complaints
• Ranking of 30 = Most Complaints

It’s not included, but The General car insurance in Florida is among the cheapest companies in Florida. The General’s complaint index is 1.21.

A complaint index of one is average. According to their complaint index, here’s a visual for the five best and worst Florida car insurance providers (out of the 30 largest).

It’s very impressive when a provider can maintain a high market share and low complaint index such as the below five (pulled from the above table):

Although Geico has a lower rank, it’s the largest company in Florida in terms of market share.

What are the cheapest Florida car insurance companies?

Through a partnership with the data powerhouse, Quadrant, we were able to collect average car insurance rates drilled down to specific coverage and driver details.

Our team of experts analyzed and organized the – exact dollar amount – average annual rates across hundreds of categories for each of the largest car insurance providers in the nation by market share.

Three of the top ten did not have rate information in Florida. Those three were:

• American Family
• Farmers
• Travelers

American Family does not provide car insurance in any part of Florida, but Farmers and Travelers both do.

Here are the remaining top seven providers, their average annual rates, and how they compare to the state average for car insurance costs in Florida. They are listed by what they charge, cheapest at the top:

In the same state, one company charges an average of $4,591 more a year for the same coverage.

We can’t repeat enough how important it is to price compare and shop around before choosing your car insurance provider. Just enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool to get started.

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What are the car insurance rates by commute and miles in Florida?

Most car insurance companies factor the length of your commute to and from work every day and the total miles you drive each year into how much they are going to charge you for your car insurance coverage.

Here’s a table that shows the average annual rates of top providers in Florida charge according to how much you drive each day and all year:

Did you catch it? Not all car insurance providers are going to increase your rates based on how much you drive.

Nationwide and Progressive’s rates do not increase when the commute and annual miles are driven are doubled.

Do you have a long commute to work every day? Take weekend road trips whenever possible? Have a child on a travel team? Regardless of the reason, if you shop around, you probably can avoid being penalized for those extra miles.

What are the car insurance rates by coverage level in Florida?

Another significant factor that affects the cost of your car insurance is how much coverage you invest. Finding the best Florida car insurance coverage isn’t always what you’d expect. The table below might surprise you.

Here are the average annual rates from the top car insurance providers in Florida based on the level of coverage you buy:

If you compare the providers’ rates in your area, you could end up paying less for more coverage.

According to the average rates in Florida, you could pay $1,122 less for a high level of coverage from State Farm than for low coverage from Liberty Mutual.

On average, with the top providers in Florida, the annual price jump from low to medium coverage is $940, and the increase from medium to high coverage is only $476 a year.

With Liberty Mutual, you can raise your coverage from low to high for as little as $67 a month. And, military families insured by USAA can pay for even cheaper, just $60 a month.

What’s even more important than keeping your rates low is making sure you have sufficient coverage. Remember, investing in a higher level of coverage will likely save thousands in out-of-pocket expenses after an accident.

What are the car insurance rates by credit history in Florida?

The way your car insurance rates are determined has changed a lot over the past decade.

The most significant cost factors have shifted from how safely you drive to how you shop and your credit score.

Consumer Reports conducted a massive study analyzing over two billion price quotes across the U.S. which revealed the following:

“We found that behind the rate quotes is a pricing process that judges you less on driving habits and increasingly on socioeconomic factors. These include your credit history, whether you use department-store or bank credit cards, and even your TV provider.”

The below table lays out the average annual rates the top providers in Florida charge depending on your credit score:

The biggest providers in Florida continually increase the price of your car insurance when your credit score is lower.

Drops in your credit score will cause severe spikes in your car insurance rates. A fair credit score will mean an average annual rate increase of $783, and a poor score will cost you another $2,203 a year. Someone with a poor credit score in Florida should expect to pay $2,987 more than someone with a good credit score.

Here are the average annual rates and percent of increase you should expect based on your credit score in Florida:

• Good Credit (670+) = average annual rates: $3,424
• Fair Credit (580-669) = 11-38 percent increase: $4,207
• Poor Credit (300-579) = 51-182 percent increase: $6,410

The national average credit score in 2017 was the highest in five years, with a “good” score of 675. According to Experian, the average credit score in Florida is 668.

How does your credit score compare to the norm? Count on this: working diligently to raise your credit score will save you some serious dough on your car insurance payments.

What are the car insurance rates by driving record in Florida?

You should know this by now, but just in case you don’t. How you drive WILL affect how much you pay for your car insurance no matter where you live.

It’s also important to know that every car insurance provider handles claims and moving violations differently. Some insurers will drastically raise your rates, while others will let you stay at your current price point even after making a costly mistake.

Car insurance for high drivers in Florida will be more expensive. Here are the average annual rates the top providers in Florida charge based on your driving record.

The cheapest rates for car insurance for a bad driving record is USAA car insurance. USAA is likely to have the best car insurance rates in South Florida.

High-risk car insurance companies in Florida will increase your car insurance rates by thousands if you’ve convicted for multiple vehicle violations or a DUI. The key to cheap high-risk car insurance in Florida.

Florida state law prohibits insurance providers from increasing your car insurance rates after an accident unless you were found to be at least partially at fault.

Keep in mind, the rate increases you see in the table above after “one accident” are ones in which the insured customer was found to have some level of fault in the accident.

Since it’s tricky to compare all those rates, we broke down each event and associated increase for you below:

Most car insurance providers increase your rates in the following order (higher increases from left to right):

Clean Record >> One Speeding Ticket >> One Accident >> One DUI

However – like most things in the insurance world – there are exceptions to this. For example:

Geico, Liberty Mutual, and Nationwide charge more for a speeding ticket than an at-fault accident, and what’s more surprising is that Progressive and State Farm charge more for one accident than a DUI.

Not only will accidents and violations raise your rates, but safe driving can do the opposite—lower them. For instance, if you maintain a driving record free of at-fault accidents and significant violations for five years, Nationwide will lower your rates by up to 10 percent.

Do you have a teen driver on your policy who added a claim to your once pristine record? Be sure to shop around, many of the biggest and best providers offer accident forgiveness.

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What are the largest car insurance companies in Florida?

Let’s take a closer look at market share and compare the largest companies by premium written.

Why is it important to know who the largest auto insurance providers are in your state? Because the biggest insurance companies are the ones who not only write the highest number of premiums in a calendar year, but they also have the biggest share of the auto insurance market.

These companies are the most experienced and most successful. They deserve a pretty graph for all they do to protect the motorists across the state of Florida. Check it out:

How many insurers are in Florida?

Florida runs out of dry land and roadways for all of its full-time residents, spring breakers, and snowbirds. But one thing Florida isn’t short on is insurance providers.

Here are the total number of Property and Casual Insurance providers operating in the state of Florida:

• Domestic – 114 Rank: 7th
• Foreign – 953 Rank: 4th

Florida is ranked in the top ten in the country in both categories for having such a high number of this specific type of insurance provider.

What are the state laws about driving in Florida?

A common consequence of breaking the law as a motorist is being required to trade your license for hefty fines and high-risk insurance. It’s an embarrassing and financially painful trade nobody wants to make.

How do you avoid this scenario? Don’t break the law. That’s easier said than done—especially if you don’t know the laws in your state.

We believe every motorist should know and understand the laws that govern insurance and our public roadways. You don’t want to be blindsided with citations, fines, or higher insurance rates.

What are the car insurance laws in Florida?

If insurance providers do not follow strict guidelines, they risk losing their license to sell insurance. Many people don’t realize that insurers are closely watched and restricted by state laws.

The following section covers the rules that govern insurance providers in Florida.

How are state insurance laws are determined in Florida?

The form filing regulation in Florida is referred to as “Prior Approval.” Here’s what that means:

In Florida, insurance forms must be sent to the state insurance department and approved before they can be officially established and used.

The requests for approval must be sent at least 30 days before they are used. If the forms are not denied in time, they are considered approved. The state commissioner can extend the approval time frame by 15 days if he or she provides notice.

The rate filing regulation in Florida is referred to as “Use and File.” This means insurance rates don’t need to be filed with the state insurance department until after they are set.

Good news. If the rates are too high, the insurer is ordered to lower the rate and return the excess dollar amount. If the new rate is still too high, the state commissioner can set a lower rate.

What are the windshield damage and repair laws in Florida?

Florida does not have a specific law that makes driving with a cracked windshield illegal. However, some loopholes can make it very possible for you still to get a ticket for a crack or chip.

The state of Florida does have laws that make anything that obstructs the driver’s view illegal. Plus there are federal laws that make the following unlawful:

• Windshield cracks located in front of the driver’s line view
• Windshield cracks that are located within three inches of other cracks

Since there are no specific Florida laws in place, police officers can write a ticket if they feel windshield cracks obstruct the driver’s line of view or break federal law.

Plus, there is a Florida law that makes it illegal to drive without fully functioning windshield wipers. So be sure your windshield cracks or chips don’t affect the use of your wipers.

Take Note: Even though there are no specific laws in Florida in regards to windshield cracks, you can still get a ticket, be required to pay a fine, and be required to repair or entirely replace the windshield.

So, before you get pulled over, find one of the many windshield repair companies eager to help.

Speaking of repairs, did you know that many states have laws on what type of repairs and replacement parts are used?

In Florida, insurance companies are not required to pay for repairs to be done with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. The parts must all be the “same fit, quality, and performance” as the original parts.

Can you trust Florida repair shops with your beloved vehicle?

The Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act can help to put your worries at ease. Since settling in place in 1980, this act has required anyone paid to repair vehicles to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and many strict laws govern these repairs.

That’s not all. Good news for Florida residents: you live in a “zero deductible” state. Florida is one of only three states that require insurance companies to replace or repair your windshield for free.

The catch: vehicle owners must have comprehensive car insurance for this fee to be waived. If you don’t have one, we strongly suggest you get it. Use our free comparison tool to help you find the best comprehensive coverage in your area.

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What high-risk car insurance is offered in Florida?

Choosing to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, without a license or insurance, or being reckless in general will land you on the high-risk driver list before you know it.

In Florida, there are two forms of insurance companies file and send to the DMV as proof of a high-risk driver’s extended (quite costly) level of coverage: SR-22 and FR-44.

Only two states use FR-44s: Florida and Virginia.

In Florida, individuals convicted of a DUI or DWI must have FR-44s (aka “DUI Insurance”) before they can reinstate. FR-44s must be maintained for three years.

An SR-22 is required for all other reasons that need a driver to obtain high-risk insurance, such as having a suspended license, failing to maintain insurance, and serious driving violations.

To be clear, you do not want an SR-22 or FR-44. These labels hit both your reputation and wallet—hard.

Do you think basic car insurance costs a lot? State minimum insurance requirements are nothing compared to high-risk insurance.

Check out the higher levels of coverage an SR-22 and FR-44 require:

FR-44 has as much as 15 times the coverage requirements of an SR-22. Florida doesn’t even require bodily injury liability for drivers who aren’t high risk, so these amounts are astronomically high compared to the state minimums.

Are you a high-risk driver in Florida who has been denied coverage?

In 1973 the Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association (FAJUA) was created for drivers just like you. The Florida Insurance Commissioner created this “High-Risk Market” or “Market of Last Resort” to ensure that all drivers in the state can have adequate car insurance.

High-risk coverage from FAJUA cost motorists up to 200 percent more. If it’s the only way to get back on the road, you should take the opportunity and start mending your driving reputation.

Does Florida have low-cost car insurance?

Although Florida has a program for high-risk drivers, it does not have one to help low-income drivers.

California, Hawaii, and New Jersey are the only three states with government-funded programs to help low-income families pay for their car insurance.

If you’re living on a small income, you need to realize that being caught without insurance will cost you much more than the car insurance bills. We know it’s tempting to save all that money, but driving without insurance is never worth it.

Struggling financially? Here are some tips to help you be able to afford Florida’s coverage requirements:

• Drive a cheap car to insure – Smaller vehicles with lots of safety features that are under ten years old, but not brand new usually cost less to insure.
• Don’t miss payments – Almost as bad as having no insurance is to have a lapse in your car insurance coverage. Once you have an error in coverage, other providers will charge you more or deny you altogether.
• Evaluate your coverage – As we discussed above, sometimes more coverage costs less. Make sure you have the best rates for the best price.
• Try to own just one car – The more cars you own, the more you have to pay for insurance. Also, fewer cars mean fewer maintenance costs.
• Don’t settle on a plan – Shop around. Compare companies and the various policies they have to offer. Our free comparison tool makes that easy.
• Look into discounts – Your car insurance agent might forget or not realize a discount you could qualify for. See what’s available and ask about any savings you might be able to earn. Common discounts include multi-car, multi-policy, good student, and safe driving discounts.

Take advantage of any savings you can to lower your auto insurance rates.

What are the penalties for automobile insurance fraud in Florida?

Here’s a list of penalties for insurance fraud.

Out of all the laws listed by the Insurance Information Institute (III), Florida has taken every step to stop insurance fraud. Many states have only two or three of the above actions in place.

Below are the criminal penalties for insurance fraud in Florida:

In addition to those serious penalties, people caught trying to steal money through fraudulent behavior in Florida are also hit with hefty fines:

Did you know? Florida is considered one of five “hot spot states” for insurance fraud, and this increased prevalence of fraud is a primary reason car insurance is so expensive in these states.

In 2011 car insurance fraud cost Florida consumers and insurers roughly $658 million.

“Auto insurance fraud is a crime, and all Floridians pay for it. Auto insurers are paying out more than they should in no-fault claims, and their policyholders are paying out more in rates.”

– Insurance Information Institute

A Florida resident insuring two cars has to pay over $115 fraud taxes alone thanks to all the selfish scammers across the state.

Is there a statute of limitations in Florida?

In Florida, the statute of limitations for claims are:

• Property Damage – four years
• Personal Injury – four years

What this means: You have four years to file a lawsuit over property damage or personal injury.

The statute of limitations in Florida is much longer than in most of the U.S. In 25 states, the time frame to take someone to court over harm or loss is only two years or less.

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What are the licensing laws in Florida?

Back in 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID Act, which lays out specific standards for official forms of identification. This act will eventually make all driver’s licenses that don’t meet every specification invalid.

Florida is one of 37 states that is “compliant,” meaning all Florida forms of identification now meet the standards set forth by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the REAL ID laws.

Beginning October 1, 2020, non-DHS compliant identification will no longer be accepted for travel by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Do you have a gold star on the top right corner of your Florida driver’s license?

Whether you plan to travel by plane or not, be sure to get your updated REAL ID driver’s license so you can have documentation accepted across the country.

Why can your license be suspended in Florida?

Here are the top reasons Florida residents can get their driving privileges suspended or fully revoked:

• Driving Impaired: being found guilty of a DUI will (at the very least) cause a license suspension. Depending on the number of offenses and severity of the crime, the individual’s license could be permanently revoked.
• Points on the License: if a driver gets 12 or more points in a year, his/her license will get suspended anywhere from 30 days to three years, depending on the total number of points he/she accumulated.
• Refusing a Breath Test: if a driver is stopped for a DUI and refuses to take a breath test, his/her license will get suspended.
• Failing a Breath Test: if a driver registers over the legal limit (BAC .08) on a breathalyzer, his/her license will get suspended.
• Driving without a License: driving without a license will, at the very least, suspend the driver’s license (if he has one) or result in jail time if the individual has prior offenses.
• Driving on a Suspended License: driving on a suspended license outside of the terms will result in additional suspension and up to five years in jail time.
• Driving without Insurance: getting caught driving without the Florida minimum insurance will result in license suspension.

Those are just the seven most common reasons Florida drivers get their license suspended. You can also lose your driving privileges for other serious moving violations, not paying child support, providing false information, not responding to a DMV notice, failing to appear in court, not paying fines owed, and more.

Value your driver’s license and recognize the privilege it represents. Getting your driver’s license suspended will cost you time and money if you ever want to get it back. You do not want this to happen.

This is what it will cost you to get your license back after the suspension period is over.

The fees listed above are for the first offense only. The reinstatement fees increase for subsequent offenses.

What are the penalties for driving without insurance in Florida?

As we discussed earlier, you do NOT want to get caught driving without insurance.

You’re completely wrong if you think driving uninsured will save you money. It might seem smart, but unless you want to be bankrupt, lose your home and car, and even face jail time, don’t do it.

It is considered a subsequent offense if it happens within three years from the prior offense.

Don’t forget. Those fees are nothing compared to what will cost you if you get in an accident without insurance.

An accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, who practices law in Gainesville, Florida shares this warning:

“It is heartbreaking to see how, in one second, a person’s life can be devastated because they failed to plan and purchase adequate insurance. Beware: Neither the state of Florida nor the other driver will protect you – only you can plan and protect yourself and your family.”

Make sure you don’t let your auto insurance lapse so that you don’t have to face any of these penalties.

What are the teen driver laws in Florida?

We need to do all we can to keep our youth safe. Below are some of the laws in place for young drivers to give them the safe and supervised experience behind the wheel that they desperately need.

Here are the specific requirements teenagers must meet to get their Florida driver’s license:

During the 12-month holding period while they have an intermediate license or learner’s permit, teen drivers in Florida have set times they are not allowed to drive:

Do those laws seem strict? They aren’t at all compared to other states.

Florida is one of only four states in the country that does not have restrictions on the age or number of passengers their brand-new, teen drivers are allowed to have.

Three states and D.C. don’t allow their learner’s permit drivers to have any passengers of any age (parents excepted), and six states only allow these young drivers to have one passenger of any age.

What are the laws for license renewals and older drivers in Florida?

Florida is very lax compared to other states concerning older drivers. Look at the requirements for older drivers for license renewal.

Twelve states start having new requirements for drivers in their 60s. In Oregon, those stricter rules start for drivers who are only 50.

With its large population of elderly residents, Florida’s older driver laws really should start before motorists reach 80 years of age. Seventy-six percent of Florida residents are 60 and older, while only 8 percent are 80 or older.

Most would expect Florida to be the strictest in this department.

Do visitors and new residents need a Florida driver’s license?

Not sure if you need a Florida driver’s license? The below box should help with some of the tricky scenarios:

Teen drivers take note. You must be at least 16 years old to drive in Florida with a license from another state.

Are you moving to Florida? As soon as you do one of the following: become employed, enroll your child in school, or establish residency, you have 30 days to get a Florida driver’s license and register your car.

Trying to get your Florida license by mail or online? Here’s a list of reasons you would be required to go to your local DMV office in person:

• If you are getting your first Florida driver’s license
• If your last license renewal was done by mail or online
• If your current driver’s license is not REAL ID-compliant
• If you have legally changed your name since your previous license

If this is your first REAL ID driver’s license, you must bring original documents that validate your identity, Social Security Number (SSN), and Florida residential address.

How to be sure: REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses started being administered in Florida on January 1, 2010. If your last Florida license was before that date, it is not compliant. Another easy way to tell is the DHS compliant REAL IDs have a gold star in the top right corner.

How do driving record points, suspensions, and revocations work in Florida?

Did you get nailed with points on your driving record? These are the kind of points that no one wants.

Why? Because points on your driving record will increase the cost of your car insurance. Plus, if you get too many of these points, you can lose your license and be labeled a high-risk driver who is required to have an SR-22.

Here is a list of the most common traffic violations and the number of points you get for each one in Florida:

Regardless of what you did to accumulate them, if you get too many points on your driving record, your insurance will skyrocket, and you will risk losing your driver’s license.

Here are the specifics on the license suspensions these points will cause in Florida:

As we discussed earlier, racking up points isn’t the only way Florida residents can lose their driving privileges. Below are examples of violations that cause an immediate license suspension or even revocation.

We can’t repeat it enough: driving is a privilege. Remember that every single time you get behind the wheel.

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What are the rules of the road in Florida?

You would think that the states making up the United States of America would have the same traffic laws, but that’s not the case. Due to these variances, we suggest all drivers learn the road rules where they’re headed before crossing state lines.

You are responsible for knowing the traffic laws where you drive. Don’t get blindsided by an expensive ticket waiting for you in your mailbox because you broke a law you didn’t know existed.

Whether you’re moving to Florida, educating your teen driver, a non-resident newly employed in Florida, or just planning to drive through on vacation, the below details are essential for you. Keep scrolling to learn more.

Is Florida a fault or no-fault state?

In 1971, Florida was the second state in the nation to adopt a no-fault insurance policy to govern its motorists. Today, only Florida and eight other states have fixed no-fault insurance laws.

Florida’s no-fault law means that no matter who caused the accident, your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays for your vehicle’s damage and injuries.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), “The no-fault system is intended to lower the cost of auto insurance by taking small claims out of the courts.” If that’s the case, it’s scary to think what the rates would look like in Florida if it weren’t a no-fault state.

No-fault systems have their benefits, but Florida has a bad combination that can cause severe problems for the innocent victims of a crash. Florida is a no-fault state plus not requiring bodily injury liability (pays for injuries you cause to others).

When a driver causes a crash resulting in injuries to you and everyone in your car and damage to your vehicle, YOU are the one who pays, even though you didn’t do anything wrong.

According to Florida law, there are situations where the innocent victims of a crash can sue the at-fault driver if the injuries they sustained are serious enough. Below are some examples that may warrant a bodily injury lawsuit:

• Complete loss of bodily function
• Permanent bodily injuries
• Significant scarring or disfigurement

The tragic event of death resulting from a car crash is another example where the innocent victims can sue the at-fault driver to recoup expenses.

If you are being sued because of a car accident you caused in Florida, be sure to find an experienced lawyer to help you.

What are the seat belt and car seat laws in Florida?

Our data experts conduct hundreds of studies every year to compare drivers, states, roads, laws, and more. One of these studies includes seat belt use across the nation. After compiling detailed statistics from NHTSA reports, our team discovered the following:

Florida is ranked 22nd in the country for drivers and passengers wearing their seat belts (21 states are doing better). Our five-year study found that nearly 12 percent of Florida residents do not obey the seat belt laws in their state.

Here are the laws that millions of people in Florida are ignoring:

Let’s hope Florida residents take heed to the laws below since they are in place to protect our precious youth:

Surprise, Surprise, Yet another area Florida is extremely lax – child restraint laws. Almost every other state has specific weight, height, and age requirements for all three types of child car seats:

• Rear-Facing Seats
• Forward-Facing Seats
• Booster Seats

Florida doesn’t have a law in place regarding these specific seats, only a law stating that children aged five and under need to be in a separate car seat of some kind. This car seat law is insufficient because rear-facing seats make a huge difference in protecting small children.

Besides lacking specific car seat guidelines, Florida doesn’t have any laws requiring kids to sit in the back seat.

Due to the intense impact of air bags, it’s hazardous for children younger than 13 or under 65 pounds to ride in the front seat of the vehicle, but it is perfectly legal in Florida.

However, Florida law has laws prohibiting people from riding in the cargo area of pickup trucks. Anyone 18 and older is allowed to ride in the flatbed of a truck. There are four instances when people aged 17 and under are also allowed.

If they are sitting in an enclosed cargo area, sitting in a seat with a seat belt, riding on a “non-limited-access” road, or duty as an employee, it’s allowed.

Local law can override these exceptions and completely prohibit minors from riding in the cargo areas of pickup trucks and flatbeds.

Does Florida have keep right and move over laws?

According to Florida statute 316.081, motorists in Florida must drive on the right side of the road unless:

• they are passing another vehicle that is operating in the same direction
• there is an obstruction in the road (drivers must yield right-of-way)
• making a left turn at an intersection, private road, or driveway
• authorized by an official traffic control device
• during rush hour traffic when all lanes are full

Drivers must stay right when they are traveling slower than the rest of the traffic. Motorists who don’t follow Florida’s keep right law, are subject to a moving violation with a minimum fine of $121.

You can’t always keep right. Generally, you should drive in the right lane. If there’s a vehicle stopped on the side of the road such as a police officer, ambulance, utility vehicle, tow truck, broken down or crashed cars, Florida has a law in place (statute 316.126) ordering that you move over a lane to your left.

If you are traveling on a one-lane road or the lane to your left isn’t available, you must either:

Slow down 20 mph below the speed limit

– OR –

Slow down to 5 mph if on a 20 mph road

Violating Florida’s Move Over Law results in a moving violation, fines of up to $500, and three points added to your driving record.

What are the speed limits in Florida?

Speed limits vary in Florida. Here’s a quick look into what you can expect.

Before you drive over the posted speed limit in Florida, keep in mind most of the U.S. is much more strict on how fast vehicles can travel.

Compared to Florida, 31 states have slower speed limits on their interstates. On many major highways across America, motorists aren’t allowed to travel over 55 mph.

When you see a speed limit sign, please realize that number is the fastest you can drive, not how fast you need to drive. Also, that maximum posted speed is not safe in certain conditions such as rain, snow, or low visibility.

Remember, even if you drive under the posted speed limit if you’re driving too fast for the conditions, you can get a ticket and three points added to your driving record, according to Florida law.

Are there ridesharing laws in Florida?

A study conducted by Pew Research found that from 2015-2018 the percentage of U.S. adults who used rideshare services. Uber or Lyft grew from 15 to 36 percent.

Ride-hailing services are top-rated in Florida by residents and tourists alike.

From 2016 to 2017, 14.5 percent of Uber trips in Florida were taken by out-of-staters, and 27.3 percent of users said they spend more money on their vacations now that they can get around easier thanks to rideshare.

Nowadays, most people use ride-hailing and ridesharing interchangeably. “Rideshare” means a ride you request (and pay for) through an app on your phone that usually arrives in under 5 minutes and begins at your current location.

Florida legislators felt the need to set some boundaries on this ever-growing commodity.

According to Statute 627.748 (the “Uber/Lyft Bill”), which became effective on July 1, 2017, here are the Florida rideshare laws:

Florida law also specifies the exact car insurance coverage requirements for rideshare drivers in each stage of the job and whenever they operate their vehicle, as listed in the table below:

Uber and Lyft provide $1 million in both bodily injury liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This insurance only covers their drivers when they are en route with a paid customer.

These two TNCs also offer coverage for when drivers are logged in and not giving a ride. However, drivers must already have their own comprehensive and collision coverage to qualify, and the deductibles are $1,000 for Uber and $2,500 for Lyft.

What are the laws for automation on the road in Florida?

The table below shows Florida’s status and current requirements for Autonomous Vehicles (updated April 2019):

Florida is one of only 14 states that allow autonomous vehicles (AVs) to be driven on its public roads—many states still only allow fully self-driving cars to be tested under specific parameters.

Florida and only five other states do not (yet) require liability insurance for these self-driving vehicles. On the other hand, four states require as much as $5,000,000 of liability coverage before AVs can legally be deployed.

Are there toll roads in Florida?

Florida is ranked first for having the most toll roads in the country, and it’s home to the top ten most expensive toll roads in America: State Road 417.

With expensive tolls seemingly at every turn and many stops that don’t even have a cash lane, most Florida residents use a prepaid SunPass transponder.

Especially to drivers new to the area, tolls can be confusing and cause deadly crashes, which is why the Florida tolls are now set up to take a photo of your license plate and mail you an invoice if you don’t pay.

Warning: you only have ten days to pay the invoice, or you face fines that increase with time, and you’ll be unable to renew your license or vehicle registration without paying it all off.

Can you have tinted windows in Florida?

If you know anything about Florida, you know it gets a lot of sunshine, and it gets hot. All that sunshine does a great job of heating cars.

One short errand can turn your vehicle left in the parking lot into an unwanted sauna. Let’s just say that dark leather seats are not the best welcome when you hop back in. What’s a good solution to this problem? Tinted windows.

There are laws on that too. Before you pay someone to tint your vehicles’ windows, make sure they follow these strict rules or risk a ticket and have to pay to have it removed.

The rules on window tinting are twofold. Here are the details.

What is an AS-1 line? It’s an imaginary parallel line that runs across the windshield at the point “AS-1” is printed on the glass. Most vehicles have this imprint, but if it’s not visible, five inches below the top of the windshield is the distance used instead.

There are also rules on window reflection.

Making sure you are following the rules for your car windows is an easy way to avoid tickets.

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What are the safety laws in Florida?

The busier life gets, the more we usually slip up. Let’s slow down and remember how important it is never to take our eyes off the road and always value the privilege of operating a motor vehicle before we lose that right altogether.

Below are laws in Florida that every motorist who drives anywhere in this state must know and follow.

What are the distracted driving laws in Florida?

Imagine the scenario: you’re driving, and hear a beep. A text has come through on your cell phone. Intrigued, you grab your phone with one hand while you keep your other on the steering wheel. Everything seems good until suddenly, you’ve lost control.

The next thing you know, your car has flown off of the street and onto somebody’s front lawn. Not only have you damaged their landscaping and their property, but you’ve also damaged your car.

Here’s the deal: distracted driving is dangerous. Washington D.C. and 24 states have laws banning hand-held cell phone use while driving, and 39 states (including D.C.) completely ban cellphone use by teen drivers (each with their specifications). However, Florida didn’t have laws prohibiting either until it finally joined the fight in the middle of 2019.

Florida’s new texting while driving law (effective July 1st, 2019) is a primary traffic offense that will be enforced by fines, and subsequent offenses will assign points to the driver’s record.

There are some loopholes to this new law. For instance, drivers can hold their phones to talk, touch, and look at their phones when using them for navigation, and texting, while stopped at traffic lights, is allowed.

Please Note: The laws are more strict in school zones and active work zones with workers present. Beginning October 1st, 2019, only hands-free phone use is allowed when driving in these areas. As Florida’s new distracted driving laws are implemented, drivers will receive warnings only until January 1, 2020.

Also, the Florida DOT created 64 “Safe Phone Zones,” which are rest areas, welcome centers, and service plazas designated as areas where motorists should pull over to use their cell phones safely.

Hopefully, these efforts make a difference. Florida is ranked second for having the most distracted drivers in America just behind nearby Louisiana.

What are the drunk driving laws in Florida?

In 2017, there were 839 people killed in Florida car crashes involving a drunk driver. Let’s see what laws are in place to make that deadly act of driving under the influence illegal:

In Florida alone in 2017, there were 32,727 motorists arrested for driving under the influence. Those are just the ones who got caught.

Here are the penalties in place for each conviction in Florida:

Florida’s DUI laws and penalties are average, but there’s one state in particular that makes Florida look easy: Utah, where at just 0.05 percent, you’re considered a drunk driver.

If you’ve ever been convicted of a DUI, you can still get car insurance. Enter your ZIP code to compare car insurance in your local area.

Does Florida have marijuana-impaired driving laws?

Twenty states have laws in place regarding drivers impaired by marijuana, but Florida does not.

Even though there’s no specific law on marijuana-impaired driving, you can still get arrested for it in Florida.

Driving intoxicated most definitely put others in danger, and you can be intoxicated by many substances other than alcohol, including marijuana.

However, since marijuana stays in your system for so long, it’s difficult to prove an individual was impaired by marijuana while driving.

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What do you need to know about driving in Florida?

We have laid out the essential traffic and insurance laws that govern Florida, and we have shown you how your state stacks up in every category from drugged-driving to monthly insurance rates.

Now it’s time to go over some dangers every driver and car owner in Florida could encounter.

What are vehicle theft statistics in Florida?

Some clarification for the table below: the three pickup trucks listed are all the full-size versions. The totals in the “number stolen” column are stolen vehicles for that make and model of any year. The “most popular year” column shows the model years that were stolen most frequently.

There were 936 more Ford pickup trucks stolen than any other vehicle in Florida in 2016. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that the 2006 model was the most-stolen Ford pickup truck. When thieves target a specific year, it’s usually because that model lacks an anti-theft feature that makes it easier to steal.

It’s not just in Florida that the full-sized pickup by Ford is a favorite among thieves. It was the third most stolen vehicle in the nation in 2016 just below the Honda Accord and Civic.

What car do you drive? Always lock your doors, keep an eye on your keys, and don’t walk away from your vehicle while it’s idling. Stay Alert. Car thieves have smart distraction tactics you’d least suspect.

What cities in Florida have the most vehicle theft?

Below are the number of vehicles stolen for every city in Florida, as documented by the FBI for 2016. The cities are listed and ranked by the total number of thefts from greatest to least. The search box makes it easy to find a city.

About 3,027 vehicles were stolen in 2016 in that one city alone. There were 1,031 more vehicles stolen in Jacksonville than in Miami – the city ranked second.

How many road fatalities occur in Florida?

Although this section of our Florida guide is rather dreary, we feel all drivers should know the risk factors that result in injuries and deaths. Once you’re educated on the dangers to be wary of and the driving behaviors to avoid, you can do your part to save lives on Florida’s public roadways.

Okay, now that you were warned, let’s begin by looking at how specific weather conditions affect death totals.

What is the number of Florida fatal crashes by light and weather conditions?

Let’s look at the number of fatal crashes by light and weather conditions.

The table above shows the total number of car crashes in Florida in 2017, that resulted in lives lost. It is a crash count, not a death count. The disturbing reality is that one car crash often causes multiple, devastating injuries, and deaths.

How many Florida traffic fatalities occur by County?

The table below shows the car crash death totals from 2013-2017 in every county in Florida.

All 67 counties are listed in alphabetical order. Use the search box to pull up the area quickly.

All five years, the three counties with the most traffic deaths remained the same. Here are their five-year fatality totals:

• Miami-Dade County – 1,423
• Broward County – 1,047
• Hillsborough County – 937

It’s bad news: for all three counties, the 2016-2017 death totals were significantly higher than their 2013-2014 totals. Miami-Dade County had a drastic 27 percent increase in traffic fatalities from 2013 to 2017.

Remember, these numbers consist of preventable tragedies.

How many traffic fatalities occur in Florida by road type?

Okay, now let’s look at rural vs. urban roadways.

Here are the car crash death totals by road type across ten years:

Interestingly, rural road safety in Florida has improved from 2008 to 2017, while urban roads have experienced an increase in traffic deaths across those same years.

There were 1,508 more traffic deaths on urban roads from 2013-2017 than there were the five years prior (2008-2012), and 977 less compared to those same time frames for rural roads.

How many traffic fatalities occur in Florida by person type?

What were all those people doing when they were killed? This next table breaks down the deaths by the types of vehicle drivers used.

Pedestrian fatalities have been on the steady rise in Florida since 2013, with up to 18 percent in just 12 months.

How many traffic fatalities occur in Florida by crash type?

Now let’s look at some crash specifics for the accidents that caused all these deaths:

Traffic accidents involving intersections were the only category that had constant increases all five years.

Alarming facts: in 2017, there were 246 more single-car crash deaths and 370 more intersection crash deaths in Florida than there were in 2013.

What Florida counties have the most traffic fatalities?

The table below shows a five-year trend for the ten counties in Florida where the most traffic deaths occur:

Overall the death count is going up across Florida, but the greatest increase this five-year trend shows is Orange County.

In 2017 there were 65 more people killed in Orange County traffic deaths than in 2013.

Approximately 55 percent of ALL the traffic deaths in Florida are happening in these ten counties.

Here’s a graph to see the comparison of traffic deaths in these ten counties from 2015-2017:

As you can see, 2016 was a bad year for traffic deaths, especially in Broward, Hillsborough, and Polk counties. In 2015, Miami-Dade had a scary spike in deaths—fortunately, there were 54 fewer people killed on those same roads in 2017.

How many traffic fatalities in Florida involve speeding?

In a rush? Is it worth risking a lifelong injury (or death) to shave a few minutes off your commute? Is it worth a $376 fine?

Just remember if you get in a car accident, you’ll never make it on time. And much worse – if you kill someone while speeding, you’ll only end up without a license, in handcuffs, facing jail time. Slow down. Speeding kills. Below are the numbers to prove it.

The counties in Florida with the most speeding fatalities in 2017 were Miami-Dade, Broward, and Hillsborough. These three counties alone had a combined 67 deaths caused by one deadly decision in that year.

In 2015 and 2016, Palm Beach was the county in Florida, with the most traffic deaths caused by speeding. Here’s the five-year fatality total for those top four counties:

• Hillsborough County – 140
• Miami-Dade County – 138
• Broward County – 127
• Palm Beach – 120

Miami-Dade County had the most fatalities, while Palm Beach had the least deaths.

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How many traffic fatalities in Florida involve alcohol?

You think having a little alcohol, being a little tipsy, then driving yourself home is okay? A lot of Floridians think it’s okay to mix drinking and driving.

In 2017, 58 percent of the traffic deaths in Florida involved drivers with alcohol in their system—27 percent of those drivers were drunk.

If you’re convicted of DUI manslaughter in Florida, a second-degree felony, you can go to prison for 10 to 15 years.

The table below lists the total number of traffic deaths that involved a drunk driver (BAC = .08+) from 2013-2017 in all 67 Florida counties:

From 2013 to 2016, the three counties with the most DUI fatalities were consistently Broward, Hillsborough, and Miami-Dade. In 2017, Orange County had more than Hillsborough. Here are the five-year death totals for those top four counties:

How do Florida’s top 10 counties compare in fatalities?

In the sections above, we showed you how many total fatalities happened in all 67 Florida counties every year from 2013 to 2017, and we gave you the breakdown of how many of those traffic deaths were caused by speeding and drunk driving.

In all ten counties, over 30 percent of the traffic deaths were caused by speeding or drunk driving.

If law enforcement in these counties started to crack down on these two offenses alone, there would be a significant reduction in deaths across the state.

What are the teen drinking and driving stats in Florida?

Underage drinking and driving is a major problem in Florida that can’t be ignored. Florida’s rate of drivers (under 21) impaired by alcohol and killing people in car crashes was worse than 36 states and D.C. in 2016.

What doesn’t add up here is that Florida’s death rate by underaged impaired drivers was worse than 73 percent of the county, but its DUI arrest rate for teen drivers was low.

Here are the stats: Florida had 1.6 deaths for every 100,000 people caused by an illegal drinker who was driving impaired, but according to the FBI reports for that same year, Florida only had 109 teen driver DUI arrests.

What is the EMS response time in Florida?

Most people don’t ask until someone is hurt or in trouble: “How fast will help arrive?”

How long it takes for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to arrive in your area is very helpful to knowledge to have, but I bet none of your neighbors know the answer.

It’s not just random trivia either. Knowing how fast EMS arrives at crash sites can help you make split-second decisions such as if someone needs CPR or a tourniquet.

Check out the average EMS response times below for both rural and urban fatal car crashes in Florida:

EMS teams can arrive at the scene of a fatal crash much faster in the urban areas of Florida

An important fact to keep in mind is that even in urban areas in Florida, from the time of a fatal crash until medical help arrives will likely be over seven minutes. In those crucial minutes, you can move the injured out of traffic, give CPR if needed, and apply pressure to a wound. You might not be an expert, but a little help could save someone’s life.

Here’s the deal: if someone is injured in a car accident, every minute counts. And if you, the driver, are in some way responsible for the crash causing the injury, you’ll want to know that the person hurt is transported safely, and in a timely matter. Although HIPPA guidelines may prevent you from knowing the exact medical status of the injured, knowing that he or she can get medical attention quickly will certainly bring some peace of mind.

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What are the transportation facts for Florida?

In addition to the scary stuff, we have covered DUI manslaughter and emergency tourniquets. It’s essential to know basic commuter facts in your area that will affect your daily life.

If you live in a friendly, safe neighborhood, it’s easy to become oblivious to your surroundings. But, things can be much different, just a few miles from your home.

Let’s start by looking at how many vehicles there are per family across the state.

What is car ownership in Florida?

A combined 67 percent of Florida families own one or two cars. In the rest of the country, it is less common to own one car and more common to own three cars than it is in Florida.

What are the commute times in Florida?

Overall, Florida residents have a longer commute than the average American employee.

The most common commute length for Florida residents is 30-34 minutes one-way, whereas the highest percentage of Americans have a much shorter average commute of only 15-19 minutes each way.

Ten percent of Florida employees have to endure a 45-59 minute commute to and from work, which is a higher percentage than the national average. Fortunately, Florida beats the U.S. average, with under three percent of residents having a “super commute” (over an hour and a half long).

What does commuter transportation look like in Florida?

When comparing the average Floridian to the rest of the country, the travel mode used to get to and from work is similar.

The biggest differences are more Florida residents drive alone and work from home, and fewer use public transportation or walk to work than the average American employee.

In Florida, just under 80 percent of those employed drive alone to work every day.

What does traffic congestion look like in Florida?

Each year INRIX does a massive traffic study that analyzes congestion and mobility in over 200 cites and 38 countries around the world. Their 2018 findings showed that Americans lose an average of 97 hours a year sitting in traffic, which costs the nation over $87 billion.

For two consecutive years, four cities in Florida have ranked in this global traffic study due to having some of the busiest roads in the world. Let’s see how the most congested cities in Florida compared to the other 216 cities in the 2018 update to this study.

In Miami, residents are losing 105 hours a year to traffic. In addition to being infuriating, this congestion costs the city an outrageous $1,470 for each motorist. This troubling expense is $122 (per driver) more than the national average.

Traffic Results in Crashes: Drivers stuck in traffic kill time on their phones, then even after the cars start moving, they’re still distracted and cause an accident. It happens all too often.

Make sure you have the car insurance you need to cover vehicle damages and maybe even a chiropractor bill to fix your neck from the whiplash. In Florida, no matter who is at fault, your PIP coverage is what pays

Shop around to find cheap auto insurance in Florida to fit your needs. Enter your ZIP code to compare the top Florida car insurance companies in your area for the best auto insurance in Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions: Florida Car Insurance

Let’s go over a few frequently asked questions for the final section of the guide. For more information about Florida car insurance, visit our main page.

#1 – Who has the cheapest car insurance in Florida?

USAA, Geico, and State Farm have the most affordable Florida car insurance rates.

What is the best car insurance in Florida? Geico, Progressive, and Allstate are the best car insurance companies in Florida based on ratings and reviews.

#2 – How much is car insurance in Florida per month?

Florida car insurance averages $105 per month.

#3 – Is car insurance high in Florida?

Yes. According to Forbes, Florida is fourth in the most expensive states for car insurance. Why is car insurance so high in Florida?

Florida has the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in the United States, and no-fault insurance makes rates go up as well.

#4 – Can I find cheap car insurance in Melbourne, FL?

Direct Auto Insurance is one of the cheapest companies in Melbourne.

#5 – What are the best insurance companies to work for in Florida?

The top three best companies to work for are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Florida Health Care Plans, and Citizens Property Insurance.

#6 – What does FL mean on BACtrack?

“FL” means there was an error when the BACtrack Keychain doesn’t get a sufficient breath sample in order to measure the blood alcohol content.

#7 – Do you need insurance to drive in Florida?

Yes. All drivers in the United States are required to comply to state minimum requirements for car insurance.