Question 1

What is the cheapest car insurance in Florida?

Accepted Answer

There's no single 'cheapest carrier' — it depends on your ZIP, vehicle, age, driving record, and credit. In our match pool, GEICO, Progressive, Mercury, and State Farm typically come in cheapest for clean-record drivers; Direct Auto, The General, Dairyland, and Bristol West tend to win for high-risk drivers (DUI, lapses, multiple tickets). Quoting all 12+ at once is the only way to find your real cheapest.

Question 2

What's the minimum car insurance required in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Florida requires $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL). FL is unique — it does NOT require Bodily Injury liability for most drivers (only for drivers with certain prior violations or commercial use). This is one of the cheapest minimum-coverage states in the US, but most experts recommend going above the minimum.

Question 3

How much does car insurance cost in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Florida is consistently ranked one of the top 3 most-expensive states for auto insurance. Statewide average for full coverage is approximately $3,200–$3,500/yr; liability-only averages $1,200–$1,400/yr. Miami, Hialeah, and Fort Lauderdale run 30–50% above state average; Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Pensacola run 25–35% below.

Question 4

Why is Florida car insurance so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Five drivers: (1) high uninsured-motorist rate (~20%, top 3 in US); (2) heavy population density and tourist traffic; (3) hurricane comprehensive claims; (4) PIP/no-fault fraud rings; (5) high litigation rate. State legislation (HB 837 in 2023) has started addressing rate pressure, but improvements are slow.

Question 5

What is an SR-22 in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Florida actually doesn't use SR-22s for most situations — the state uses the FR-44 form for DUI, alcohol-related, and other serious offenses (FR-44 requires 100/300/50 minimum liability). SR-22 is used for some other suspensions. Either form is filed by your insurance carrier with the FL DHSMV to prove you carry the required minimum coverage.

Question 6

What's the difference between SR-22 and FR-44 in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Both are state-mandated proof-of-insurance filings. SR-22 covers the minimum FL liability ($10K/$10K). FR-44 — used for DUI / alcohol-related convictions — requires 100/300/50 limits (100K bodily injury per person, 300K per accident, 50K property damage). FR-44 premiums are typically 60–100% higher than SR-22.

Question 7

How long do I need to carry an SR-22 / FR-44 in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Standard FL DHSMV requirement is 3 years from the date your license is reinstated. The filing must remain continuous — any lapse restarts the clock. Most carriers charge $15–$25 to file the form on top of your premium.

Question 8

Can I get car insurance after a DUI in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Yes — but standard carriers usually non-renew DUI drivers. You'll need a non-standard carrier (Direct Auto, The General, Dairyland, Bristol West, Infinity) and an FR-44 filing with 100/300/50 limits. Expect rates 60–100% above your pre-DUI premium for 3 years, then they reduce as the conviction ages off.

Question 9

How fast can I get insurance and proof of coverage?

Accepted Answer

Same day — most of the time within the hour. After you submit our quote form, a licensed FL agent calls/emails you with bindable quotes. Once you accept, you receive a digital ID card immediately. Same-day SR-22 / FR-44 filing with the FL DHSMV is standard with our partner carriers.

Question 10

Will my insurance lapse if I miss a payment?

Accepted Answer

FL carriers typically allow a 10-day grace period before non-renewing for non-payment, but they can cancel sooner with proper notice. If your policy lapses — even for one day — FL DHSMV can suspend your registration and require a $150–$500 reinstatement fee plus proof of new coverage.

Question 11

Do I need a Social Security Number to buy car insurance in Florida?

Accepted Answer

No. Florida law (FL Statute 627.7415) does not require an SSN to buy auto insurance. Several major non-standard FL carriers — Direct Auto, Bristol West, Infinity, GAINSCO, Acceptance — write policies using ITIN, foreign driver's licenses, or matrícula consular as ID.

Question 12

Do all FL carriers check credit?

Accepted Answer

No. Florida allows credit-based insurance scoring but bans it as the sole rating factor (FL Statute 626.9741). Carriers like Direct Auto, The General, and some Mercury programs don't pull credit at all. If you have low or no credit, these are typically your cheapest options.

Question 13

Can I get car insurance with no down payment?

Accepted Answer

Pure $0-down policies are rare in FL, but several carriers offer first-month-only payments as low as $20–$50 to bind the policy. The General, Direct Auto, and Acceptance commonly offer this. The trade-off is slightly higher monthly payments thereafter.

Question 14

Can I pay monthly instead of every 6 months?

Accepted Answer

Yes — but read the fine print. Most FL carriers default to 6-month policies with 'monthly payment plans' (still really one premium split into installments). True monthly-pay carriers (Direct Auto, The General, Mercury) let you cancel any month penalty-free. Non-standard carriers tend to be more flexible than standard.

Question 15

Does Florida have a low-income auto insurance program?

Accepted Answer

No — unlike California's CLCA program, Florida has no state-subsidized low-income auto policy. However, FL minimum coverage is among the cheapest in the US ($10K PIP / $10K PDL), and several non-standard carriers write reliable liability-only policies starting under $80/mo for older paid-off vehicles.

Question 16

Do I need full coverage if my car is paid off?

Accepted Answer

Legally, no — Florida only requires PIP and PDL. But if your vehicle is worth more than $3,000–$4,000, full coverage usually pays for itself in the event of a single comprehensive (theft/flood) or collision claim. The break-even tends to be around year 8–10 of vehicle age.

Question 17

How does Florida's no-fault insurance work?

Accepted Answer

Florida is a 'no-fault' state — your own PIP coverage pays for your medical bills (up to $10K) regardless of who caused the accident. To sue the other driver for additional pain & suffering, your injuries must meet a permanency threshold (FL Statute 627.737). PIP doesn't cover the other driver — that's what PDL and BI (if you carry it) are for.

Question 18

Will my insurance cover me if I drive for Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash?

Accepted Answer

Almost never on a personal policy. FL personal auto policies typically exclude paid passenger transport and commercial delivery. Uber and Lyft provide some coverage during certain trip phases, but there are gaps. If you drive for any rideshare/delivery app, add a rideshare endorsement (Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, Allstate offer them — $10–$25/mo).

Question 19

How long does a ticket affect my Florida insurance rate?

Accepted Answer

FL carriers typically rate on the most-recent 3 years of MVR history. A speeding ticket usually adds 20–40% for 3 years. An at-fault accident adds 30–50%. A DUI adds 60–100% for 3 years (then phases out). Shopping carriers right after the violation date — and again at the 3-year mark — is where the savings live.

Question 20

Does Florida use credit scores to set rates?

Accepted Answer

Florida allows credit-based insurance scores but prohibits them as the sole rating factor (FL Statute 626.9741). Drivers in the lowest credit tier in FL pay an average of 71% more than those in the top tier. This is why no-credit-check carriers (Direct Auto, The General) can win on price for drivers with thin or damaged credit.

Question 21

Are quotes I get through your site binding offers?

Accepted Answer

Estimates we display from our partner network are based on the data you submit and are subject to underwriting verification. The licensed agent who follows up will confirm the bindable rate after pulling your MVR, CLUE report, and (if applicable) credit score.

Question 22

Are you an insurance carrier?

Accepted Answer

No. We are an independent online auto-insurance comparison service. We are not a licensed insurance agent, broker, or carrier. We connect Florida drivers with licensed insurance professionals and carriers in the state of Florida who provide quotes and write policies.

Question 23

Do you sell my information?

Accepted Answer

We share your quote request with our partner network of licensed FL carriers/agencies for the sole purpose of quoting you. We do not sell your data to unrelated third parties. By submitting the form you consent to be contacted by phone, email, or text by these licensed professionals.

Question 24

How fast can I get a quote?

Accepted Answer

About 60 seconds to complete the form. A licensed FL agent typically follows up within 5–30 minutes during business hours with bindable quotes from the 3–5 carriers that fit your situation best. Same-day binding and SR-22 / FR-44 filing is standard.

Question 25

What carriers do you compare?

Accepted Answer

Our match pool includes 12+ FL-licensed carriers including Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, Allstate, Travelers, Mercury, National General, Direct Auto, The General, Bristol West, Dairyland, and Infinity. The carriers shown to you depend on your driving profile — high-risk drivers see non-standard carriers; clean-record drivers see standard carriers.

Question 26

Can I switch carriers mid-policy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it usually doesn't save money once you've already paid. The cleanest move is to switch at renewal. If you must switch mid-policy, your old carrier will refund the unused portion (minus any short-rate cancellation fee, typically 10%). Don't cancel until your new policy is bound — even one day uninsured can trigger DHSMV registration suspension.

Question 27

What FL cities and ZIPs do you cover?

Accepted Answer

All of Florida — every ZIP, every city. Quote pools differ slightly between high-density South FL metros (Miami, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood) and the rest of the state, but every FL ZIP gets at least 5 carrier options.

Question 28

I'm new to Florida. When do I need to switch my insurance?

Accepted Answer

Within 10 days of becoming a FL resident (or registering a vehicle here) you must have FL-compliant insurance ($10K PIP / $10K PDL minimum). Out-of-state policies don't satisfy FL DHSMV registration requirements. We can quote you a FL-compliant policy before you visit the tag office.

Question 29

Can I get classic car insurance in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Classic-car policies (Hagerty, Grundy, American Modern, J.C. Taylor) use agreed-value coverage and limited mileage tiers — often making them CHEAPER than insuring the same car as a daily driver. Vehicle generally must be 15–25+ years old, in restored condition, and not used as primary transportation.

Question 30

What discounts should I ask about in Florida?

Accepted Answer

FL-specific: Mature Driver Course (55+, saves 10%), Basic Driver Improvement Course (saves 8% for 3 yrs), good-student (3.0+, saves 10–15%), military / USAA (10–15%), multi-policy bundle (5–15%), homeowner (3–8%), low-mileage (10–25%), pay-in-full (5–10%), paperless billing (1–5%), telematics / safe-driver tracking (10–30%).

Florida auto insurance — straight answers.

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