Cheap car insurance in Florida

Florida auto insurance has some unique qualities compared with insurance in other states, and we?ll help you understand it all. Here we provide Florida auto insurance requirements, our recommendations for the coverage you should buy, and insurance laws that are specific to Florida. Also, you can see average car insurance rates for nearly every ZIP code in Florida to help inform you as you shop for auto insurance in the Sunshine State.

The average car insurance rate in Florida is $1,823 a year. Car insurance companies use different formulas and weigh risks differently for each driver. This means rates can vary significantly by insurer, which is why you should compare rates. For example, in Coral Gables ZIP code 33135, the highest rate among six carriers is $5,710. That?s over $4,000 more than the lowest ($1,500).

Florida car insurance requirements
State law requires the following coverages:
Personal Injury Protection $10,000
Minimum property damage liability $10,000
Florida laws mandate that drivers carry $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP). It covers you, your passengers and other authorized drivers of your car who are injured while in your insured vehicle. You also must have $10,000 of property damage liability to pay for damage to others? cars.

You certainly can drive with just the minimum coverage mandated by the state. But we strongly recommend that you also purchase bodily injury liability coverage. This pays, up to your policy limits, for injuries others receive in an accident caused by you or other drivers listed on your policy. While not required by the state, many car insurance companies require it as part of any policy they issue in Florida. Here's why: Florida is a no-fault state. Treatment for any injuries you suffer is covered by your personal injury protection, up to its limit. This is regardless of who caused the accident. If bills exceed that limit, the at-fault driver is legally personally responsible unless he or she has bought bodily injury liability coverage.

If you buy bodily injury liability coverage, the smallest amount you can buy is $10,000 per person (up to $20,000 per accident). Homeowners and those with substantial assets need more than that.

Buying the recommended liability coverage with comprehensive insurance and collision coverage will cost more, but generally won?t break the bank. Increasing your insurance from the state minimum to full coverage with a $500 deductible costs, on average, $939 more, or $78 a month.

Coverage limits Average annual rate
PIP and property damage liability state minimum $884
Liability Only - 50/100/50 BI/PD $930
Full Coverage - 100/300/100 BI/PD
$500 Comp/Collision deductible $1,823
**The table shows the average annual rate of nearly every ZIP code in Florida from up to six major insurance companies. Rates are for a male driver, age 40, with a clean record and good credit for a 2016 Honda Accord. Data was provided for CarInsurance.com by Quadrant Information Services.

Recommended car insurance coverage
The best car insurance coverage may not be the cheapest, so how much insurance should you buy? Bare-bones coverage may be a good choice if you have few assets or have an old car and don?t drive much. But if you have a home and investments, consider buying more insurance. If you don?t, you?re at risk for having your money and house taken to cover the cost of an accident. If you financed your car you will be required to get additional comprehensive and collision coverage.