Many insurance companies in Florida will continue to have motorists keep PIP insurance as part of their policy as the state of the no-fault law was in flux and was only recently decided by the Florida Legislature.
Currently (refer to update date at the bottom) CarInsurance.com has some carriers that will continue to sell PIP and others will wait until January 1, 2007 to offer the coverage again. Most of the reasons are the logistics that go along with rate filings and problems created by the on again, off again scenarios that Floridians were put through by the legislature.
As of Friday, October 5, 2007 the Florida Legislature has passed a bill to reform Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law. The new reforms will take effect January 1, 2008, once the governor signs it.
Through the end of 2007, however, you may be financially liable for automobile accidents if you are the at-fault driver. Or, you may find yourself in an accident with another driver who is unable to pay your medical bills.
For this reason the insurance regulatory body for Florida, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), states that it is essential that consumers review their insurance policies and purchase adequate coverage in the event of an accident.
The new no-fault law will not change your existing coverages until your policy renews. Your current coverage will stay in effect until then, a representative from the state DFS has stated. However the DFS also notes that different auto insurance companies will have different rules for dealing with and also renewing customers' policies before the new no-fault law take effect January 1, 2008.
There are a variety of reasons to keep PIP on your policy after the law no longer requires, which now due to the new legislature that Governor Christ will sign into law, will only be 3 short months. Dropping PIP midterm is not the intention of the sunset and may even hurt those who do it.
A driver who drops PIP during the sunset period will not have first-party coverage in the event of an accident with someone who carries Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage only.
The Florida insurance regulator states that consumers with questions should call their agents to discuss this no-fault law situation and see how your provider is dealing with it and this new legislation that will go into affect. You can also call the state's insurance consumer hot-line at 1-800-342-2762.