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Written by:
Michelle Megna
Contributing Researcher
Michelle is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. She's a former CarInsurance.com editorial director. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News.
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Penny Gusner
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Consumer Analyst/Insurance Expert
Penny has been working in the car insurance business for more than 10 years and has become an expert on procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has seen it all, and working with CarInsurance.com from its inception, she researches the routine and the bizarre with equal enthusiasm. She has three very active children and a husband with a zeal for quirky cars.

According to Florida law, vehicle owners or operators may be required to carry two types of insurance – personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability.

What is the financial responsibility law in Florida?

If you own a car in Florida or plan to purchase one, you must carry a minimum of $10,000 for personal injury protection (PIP), which will pay for your medical expenses, disability or lost income in case of a crash. The coverage is regardless of who is at the fault.

However, in Florida, PIP only covers 80% of the cost of the care, where you are responsible for the remaining 20% cost.

The Florida Responsibility Law requires you to carry property damage liability insurance (PDL) of no less than $10,000. In case of a crash, property damage liability pays for the damages caused to another person’s property if you are at fault in the accident. 

Since $10,000 is a low coverage amount, CarInsurance.com editors recommend higher coverage for PDL as it is not expensive and can help you save thousands of dollars to pay for the damages if you are responsible for the crash. 

The Florida no-fault law states that any person who has a car in Florida for more than 90 days during the preceding 365 days, resides in Florida, is employed in Florida or has children in school in Florida must purchase personal injury protection ($10,000) and property damage liability coverage ($10,000).

The Financial Responsibility Law’s purpose is to require motor vehicle owners and operators 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 liability insurance at the time of the following:

  • A crash where you are at fault and injuries were a result.
  • A suspension for too many points against your driver’s license.
  • A citation for DUI.
  • A revocation for Habitual Traffic Offenders.
  • A revocation for any severe offense requiring this department to revoke your license.

The Florida financial responsibility law comes into play if you were involved in any of the above violations and did not have insurance coverages that comply with the financial responsibility law.

What if I do not have minimum coverage in Florida?

If you do not carry the minimum coverage required by the law in Florida, there are multiple penalties you can face, including fines of $150-$500 and suspension of your driver’s license for three years for the first offense.

You must pay a reinstatement fee and show the department certified proof of full liability insurance on form SR-22 for three years from the original suspension to reinstate your driving privileges.

Learn about the minimum liability car insurance requirements by state

– Michelle Megna contributed to this story.

Laura Longero

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Laura Longero

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Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

John McCormick

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John McCormick

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John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.

Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz

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Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.

Nupur Gambhir

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Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.

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Michelle Megna
Contributing Researcher

Michelle is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. She's a former CarInsurance.com editorial director. Prior to joining CarInsurance.com, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News.