# Auto Insurance

> What auto insurance may cover, which coverages Florida requires, what affects the cost, and how an independent agency can help you compare options.

We help drivers across Florida understand their auto insurance options, compare available insurers, and request a quote.

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## What is auto insurance?

Auto insurance is a policy made up of separate coverages. Some pay other people for injury or damage you are legally responsible for, and others pay for your own injuries or for damage to your vehicle. Florida requires two coverages to register a vehicle. The rest are optional, required only in certain cases, or required by a lender.

## What does auto insurance cover?

Each coverage addresses a different kind of loss and has its own limit, and some have a deductible.

- **Personal injury protection (PIP)** (Required in Florida): Generally pays 80 percent of necessary and reasonable medical expenses for a covered injury, up to the $10,000 limit, no matter who caused the crash.
- **Property damage liability** (Required in Florida): Pays for damage to another person's property, such as a vehicle, a fence or a building, caused by you or someone else driving your insured vehicle.
- **Bodily injury liability** (Required in some cases): Pays for injury or death to others when you are legally liable, and can include your legal defense if you are sued.
- **Uninsured and underinsured motorist** (Optional): May pay for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no bodily injury coverage or not enough of it. It is included with bodily injury liability unless you reject it in writing.
- **Collision** (Optional): Pays to repair your vehicle, or its actual cash value, when it collides with another vehicle or object or flips over.
- **Comprehensive** (Optional): Pays for damage to your vehicle from causes other than a collision, such as fire, theft, windstorm, vandalism, flood, falling objects or hitting an animal.
- **Medical payments** (Optional): Pays reasonable medical and funeral expenses from an auto accident that PIP does not cover, up to the limit you choose.
- **Rental reimbursement** (Optional): May reimburse the cost of a replacement vehicle after a covered loss, up to the limit shown on the policy.
- **Towing and labor** (Optional): Pays for emergency road service at the scene and towing, up to the limit shown on the policy.

Exact coverage, limits, deductibles and exclusions depend on the policy, the insurance company and underwriting. Lenders usually require collision and comprehensive on a financed vehicle.

## What auto insurance may not cover

These are common limits that Florida's consumer guide points out. Your policy is the final word on what is and is not covered.

- **Business use**: A personal auto policy typically will not cover a vehicle being used for business purposes. An endorsement or a different policy may be needed.
- **Motorcycles**: A motorcycle needs its own policy. PIP is not available on motorcycles, and the PIP on your auto policy does not cover you while riding one.
- **Depreciation**: Damage to your vehicle is normally paid based on actual cash value, which is the cost to replace it less depreciation. That can be less than a loan balance.
- **Added equipment**: In general, only equipment permanently attached to the vehicle is considered in a collision claim. Ask about tools, lifts or custom features.
- **Rental cars**: Whether your coverage extends to a vehicle you rent depends on the kind of vehicle, how and where it is driven, and your own limits.
- **Drivers who are not disclosed**: Leaving a household member or regular driver off the application can lead to a denied claim, whoever was driving.

## Coverage choices to review

Beyond which coverages to carry, a few choices shape how a policy responds. An agent can explain each one without choosing for you.

- **Deductibles**: Collision and comprehensive commonly come with a deductible of $250, $500 or $1,000, depending on the insurance company. A higher deductible can lower the premium, and you pay it out of pocket on each claim.
- **PIP options**: Insurance companies must offer PIP with a deductible of $250, $500 or $1,000 and the option to exclude lost-wage benefits in exchange for a lower premium.
- **Stacked or non-stacked**: With stacked uninsured motorist coverage, the limit is multiplied by the number of vehicles you own. With non-stacked coverage, the limit stays as written no matter how many vehicles you own.

## Florida situations worth knowing

- **No-fault and the 14-day rule**: Florida is a no-fault state, so your own PIP pays for your injuries first, whoever caused the crash. Initial treatment must be received within 14 days of the accident to be covered, and benefits are limited to $2,500 when the injury is not an emergency medical condition.
- **Financed and leased vehicles**: Most loan agreements require collision and comprehensive for the term of the loan and list the lender on the policy. A lease may add its own requirements.
- **Students and seasonal residents**: A vehicle registered in Florida needs PIP and property damage liability even while its owner attends college in another state.
- **Military service**: Service members called to active duty outside the United States in an emergency may be exempt from the required coverage while they are away and no one else uses the vehicle. The exemption has to be requested in writing.

## Liability, collision and comprehensive compared

| Coverage | Liability | Collision | Comprehensive |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it generally addresses | Injury or property damage you may be legally responsible for causing to others. | Damage to your own vehicle from a collision with another vehicle or object. | Damage to your own vehicle from events other than a collision, such as theft, fire, or storm damage. |
| Good to know | Can include the cost of your legal defense if you are sued over a covered accident. | Generally paid based on the repair cost or the vehicle's actual cash value. Usually only equipment permanently attached to the vehicle is considered. | Covers more than theft, such as fire, windstorm, vandalism, flood, falling objects and hitting an animal. Windshield glass claims are generally not subject to a deductible. |

## Ready to explore your options?

Get a personalized quote and see how easy it can be to find the right coverage for your needs.

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## What affects the cost of auto insurance?

Insurance companies do not all weigh these factors the same way, which is why comparing matters. A quote is an estimate, and the premium can change once the insurance company completes its underwriting.

- **The vehicle**: Year, make, model and value. Vehicles that cost more to repair or replace generally cost more to insure.
- **Driving history**: Past accidents and violations can lead to a higher rate, or to an insurance company declining to offer a policy.
- **How the vehicle is used**: The distance you drive to work or school and your yearly mileage, and whether the use is personal or commercial.
- **Where you live**: Insurance companies consider traffic density, repair rates, medical costs and the number of accidents in an area.
- **Age and gender**: Insurance companies may charge different premiums based on the driver's age and gender.
- **Credit history**: Credit information can be used in underwriting, within limits set by Florida law.

## Getting an auto insurance quote

You do not need to have every detail figured out to get started.

1. **Send your request**: Tell us about your vehicles and drivers and share how to reach you.
2. **An agent reviews it**: We look at your request and consider options that may fit your needs.
3. **Talk through options**: An agent follows up so you can ask questions and decide what feels right.

## What to do after a car accident

These are the steps Florida's Department of Financial Services recommends. Your policy and your insurance company's instructions come first.

1. **Report it**: Where you can, contact law enforcement, however minor the accident seems, and ask the officer for a copy of the driver exchange of information form.
2. **Gather details**: Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses.
3. **Call your insurance company and agent**: Do it right away. An insurance company may deny a claim that is not reported in a timely manner.
4. **Wait for the inspection**: Before repairs begin, make sure the insurance company has inspected the damage to your vehicle.

## Other coverage you may want to explore

These are other types of coverage we offer. Which ones may apply to you depends on your situation.

- [Motorcycle Insurance](https://www.quoteasy.com/personal/motorcycle-insurance/): A motorcycle needs its own policy. Auto PIP does not cover you while riding one.
- [Homeowners Insurance](https://www.quoteasy.com/personal/homeowner-insurance/): Protection for your house, belongings and liability if a guest is hurt on your property.
- [Flood Insurance](https://www.quoteasy.com/personal/flood-insurance/): A separate policy for flood damage to a building or the belongings inside it.

## Why work with an independent agent

An independent agency is not tied to a single insurance company.

- **More than one option**: We review options from the insurance companies we work with. What is available depends on your driving history and underwriting.
- **Coverage explained**: We walk through limits, deductibles, and exclusions in plain language before you choose.
- **Support as things change**: A new vehicle, driver, or move can change what you need. We can help you review your policy.

## Auto insurance questions

### What happens if my auto insurance lapses in Florida?

Florida requires continuous coverage for as long as a vehicle is registered. If coverage lapses, your driver license and registration may be suspended for up to three years, and reinstatement can involve a fee of up to $500. The state advises surrendering the license plate before cancelling a policy.

### Do I need bodily injury liability in Florida?

It is not one of the two coverages needed to register a vehicle, but Florida's Financial Responsibility Law requires it for drivers who have caused certain crashes or received certain citations, and at higher limits after a DUI conviction. An agent can explain what applies to you.

### Can I choose my own repair shop after an accident?

Florida's consumer guide says you have the right to select the shop that repairs your vehicle. Insurance companies often have a list of preferred shops, and your policy describes how repairs and rental costs are handled.

### What is a deductible?

A deductible is the amount you pay toward a covered claim before the insurance company pays the rest. Choosing a higher deductible can change your premium, and it also changes what you pay out of pocket if you have a claim.

### How do I get an auto insurance quote?

Complete the quote request form or contact us, and an agent will follow up to review your information and options. Quotes and coverage are subject to underwriting and the terms of the insurance company.

## Ready for an auto insurance quote?

Tell us about your vehicles and drivers and an agent will help you review your options.

[Get a Quote](https://www.quoteasy.com/get-a-quote/)

Source: https://www.quoteasy.com/personal/auto-insurance/