One such service that is useful to you when comparing auto rates is something like floridainsurancequotes.net which is going to allow you to compare rates of different companies based on your current automotive condition. When getting a quote it is important to know the make and model of your car as well as the milage on the vehicle. All these things can play a factor in how much you pay and could also help you maybe narrow down a decision on what type of coverage or price you’d be willing to pay. If you are driving a 300,000 mile Kia Sorento you might not wish to opt for the the full coverage but if you are driving something like 1973 Corvette Stingray you may want to consider this. The make, model and condition of the car can determine the value and how much you would maybe want to insure it for.

Another thing that can play a factor in how much you pay for coverage and something to take note in while doing your comparisons is where you live. Where you live can determine how much you pay. Whether you live in the suburbs or a dangerous city or something in between prices can fluctuate. If you hold dual residency in other states than it might be in your best interest to have your vehicle registered in an area where car insurance is cheaper. However, if you do this it will probably be required for you to have your driver’s license registered in the state as well. So if you are a snowbird and come […]

What is No-Fault Insurance?

No-fault insurance in Florida requires all drivers to purchase auto insurance that includes personal injury protection and property damage liability benefits.  Personal Injury Protection (PIP) will be able to pay (the insured) medical bills, no matter who is at fault for an auto accident. This will only cover up to the amount stated in your policy, while the minimum coverage limit for this is $10,000.

Here is an example of how pip insurance in Florida works. Let’s say that you choose the minimum coverage of $10,000. Expect Personal Injury Protection in FL to pay:

• 80% of your medical bills
• 60% towards lost wages, due to not being able to work
• 100% of replacement costs

Personal injury protection also should provide you with a $5,000 in the case of a death. This would be put into action if a driver dies due to an automobile accident. PIP claims MUST be made within 14 days of an accident.

Personal injury protection in Florida also covers your children, other members in your household, and passengers who do not have any PIP insurance (as long as they aren’t a vehicle owner). If you are a passenger in someone else’s vehicle and are covered with your own PIP, you will be covered as well.  In addition, anyone that is riding in your car that has proper PIP protection will receive coverage under their own PIP for any injuries sustained.

Where does No-Fault Insurance fit into my auto insurance policy?

Personal Injury Protection is added to auto insurance policies in Florida. It will kick in and pay the insured persons […]

Minimum requirements

There are minimum Florida automotive requirements that every driver and vehicle registered in the State of FL must meet.  The first requirement is that every single vehicle registered in the state must have coverage at all times.  This means that even if you are only a seasonal resident of the state and your vehicle goes into storage for part of the year that you still must maintain current coverage on that vehicle.  There are fines if coverage lapses and these fines go up in increments for each occurrence.  When you purchase a policy in the State of FL the company will notify the state of coverage or if coverage lapses.  The state will then notify the driver that both their registration and driver’s license will be suspended on a certain date unless the insurance is reinstated.

Florida car requirements for liability

The State of FL has established minimum coverage requirements for liability coverage that every driver must […]

Required Insurance

Florida has all drivers who register vehicles with four or more wheels to carry insurance coverage on their vehicle.  Unlike most other states, Florida only demands two types of coverages to legally operate a vehicle.

Personal Injury Protection

PIP insurance is required in Florida.  All drivers must carry a minimum of $10,000 PIP insurance.  This insurance provides coverage in several different instances, regardless of who is at fault in the accident, including:

• Household members, children, or other passengers that are not covered under another PIP policy, and do not own their own vehicle.
• PIP provides coverage for people who are driving your vehicle with your permission
• Children who are injured while riding the school bus
• If you are riding in another person’s vehicle and are injured
• If you are injured by another vehicle while riding a bicycle or walking

Property Damage Liability or PDL Insurance

PDL is another type of insurance that is required in the state of Florida.  This insurance provides coverage for any damages that you or someone driving your car with your permission may cause to someone else’s property during a crash.  This can include damages to their vehicle, fence, mailbox, or other personal property that might be damaged due to an accident involving your vehicle.  Drivers must carry a minimum of $10,000 in coverage for this insurance as well.

Other Coverages

Even though Florida only demands PIP and PDL insurance, many drivers also opt for Bodily Injury Liability insurance […]

No. 1: Even if you do Not Have coverage, you are Still Liable for Damages and Injuries

Just because a driver does not have auto insurance does not mean they will not be held responsible for an accident deemed their fault. It certainly does change the dynamic of a lawsuit but it does not excuse liability. However, instead of a payout and a premium spike, drivers are looking at the possibility of thousands and thousands of dollars in bills. In fact, the medical bills alone for an injured driver are staggering. This does not even mention having to replace a totaled vehicle or even repair one that is just battered. In total, either way, uninsured drivers are risking their financial stability to simply avoid a premium.

No. 2: It will make you “High Risk” for the Rest of your Driving Career

Driving without coverage, even for a short period of time, will make a high risk candidate for future providers. It is illegal, so you will be seen as someone who does not set much stock in following the law, and it shows a level of irresponsibility that will allow providers to charge you more down the line when you decide to go back to driving legally. You will be deemed a “high risk” driver and will see all of your premiums shoot drastically upward. Sometimes even almost doubling depending on the company […]

However, that’s just part of the bitter pill that we have to swallow when we own a vehicle and want to drive it out on the open road. Not only is it a part of being a responsible driver, vehicle owner, and community member, but it’s also a big part of the legal operation of your vehicle.

At the same time, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg when it comes to auto insurance rates in Florida. You should be able to find a number of rock-bottom auto insurance policies that are priced for just about any budget without too terribly much headache or hassle.

But the real question is, can you trust that kind of coverage?

It’s not just about price, but more about value

The first thing that you should be focusing on when looking for the best auto insurance rates in Florida is not who can offer you the lowest possible price out there, but the insurance company that gives you the best possible value for your investment.

And make no mistake about it – paying slightly higher auto insurance rates in Florida and you could get elsewhere (but getting more coverage for that extra bit of money) is most definitely an investment. It’s all about the value of your policy.

After all, at the end of the day, a policy that you pay $25 a month for but have absolutely no coverage or benefits if you get into a bit of a pickle isn’t worth nearly as much as a policy you pay twice as much for but covers you completely and comprehensively from bumper to bumper.

Make sure that you read the fine print

Secondly, you need to make sure that you are reading all of the fine print to your insurance terms of agreement, before you lock into the cheapest […]

No one likes paying a lot for car insurance, but insurance is a requirement if you want to operate a vehicle in the state. Smart consumers often get additional riders on their policies to cover them for additional risks and get higher coverage amounts. It’s important to remember that FL car insurance quotes are only good if you accurately describe the type and amount of driving you’re planning on doing. If you misrepresent your driving habits, even unintentionally, you may end up voiding your insurance and incurring big liabilities with no insurance payout to cover them. The most common way to run afoul of car insurance requirements is to use your car for commercial purposes while only carrying a standard driver’s insurance policy.

The Difference Between Personal And Commercial Driving Isn’t Always Clear

It’s an easy mistake to make. There’s a gray area between normal car insurance policies and commercial insurance policies, and it’s possible for a driver to start using their car to do commercial driving without even realizing it. If you are a self-employed person, for instance, there are limits to how many miles a day you can drive your personal vehicle for work before it’s considered a commercial vehicle. If you’re transporting others for work more than occasionally, you might void your policy entirely.

Letting Others Use Your Car For Business Is A No-No

There are many other situations like these that call for discretion when dealing with the type of auto insurance you carry. Let’s say you start making deliveries on a regular basis. That will probably be a red flag for your insurer, so it’s best to check with them before you begin delivering things for a part-time or full-time job and use your personal vehicle to do so. In addition, if you allow others to use your […]

Your personal policy will not cover your vehicle when you start using it solely for business purposes like making deliveries, allowing other drivers to use your vehicle for business reasons, transporting others for business purposes or using it for other business related uses.  That’s when you need to get commercial auto that will allow for higher liability coverage for you and your employees, and additional vehicles.

When you get a commercial auto policy you will have greater liability coverage as well as additional protections not covered by a personal policy.  Commercial coverage will cover you and any employees you may have when driving other vehicles, even if they aren’t owned by your company.  It can also have options for covering additional items that may be lost or destroyed in an accident as long as they are business related, like tools, for instance.

Benefits of Florida Commercial Auto Insurance

A commercial policy protects your business in several ways.  If you have employees driving business vehicles, you are liable for any accidents they cause or are involved in.  You will be responsible for paying their medical bills, cover their lost wages and any other expenses related to the accident.  If you don’t have coverage, your […]

Here comes a million dollar question for you. What is the best auto insurance in Florida? Before we go there, let’s step back for a moment to gather some important information that may help determine your choice.

First, best is a relative term. Every Florida insurer will claim to be the best, if you never need it. The focus of any answer will depend on you and your particular needs.  If you can afford top-of-the-line coverage there is a company or even companies that will cater to your specific needs. On the other hand, if you are someone with an 8 to 5 job, can’t afford the very best in auto insurance, and have a pretty decent driving record you might find yourself better served by a different company than our first example.

Going to the other end of the scale, if you need coverage, just graduated high school, are a male who has never had coverage before your needs are going to be entirely different as well. What follows is a simple process you can use to answer this question for yourself.

Prepare yourself: This means doing some online research into what Florida requires in coverage from you, which firms offer the type of coverage you need, and of course your budget.

Apply the information: Information is only as valuable as how you use it. If you have done your research you should have a pretty good idea of what kind of coverage you should have and who provides that kind of coverage

Get a quote: Once you have narrowed your choices down, fill out our form and get a free quote. This is not only a simple courtesy, but as your policy needs changed it is important to have an agent that keeps you in the loop. In many instances it is your agent that becomes your advocate in case […]

What to look for in a Florida automobile policy

First and foremost, Florida state law requires car owners and operators to have minimal coverage.  This essentially entails covering property damage as well as personal injury.  Moreover, Florida is a no-fault state which means that it’s up to the providers to pay for medical costs in the event of an accident.  While this might not seem important now, it could end up being very critical finding discount auto insurance in Florida, especially if you end up choosing a provider which is known for denying lots of accident claims and so forth.

The bare-minimum requirements are as follows:

• $10k of property damage liability (PDL)
• $10k of no-fault or personal injury protection (PIP)

Those are just the basics, what you need to legally be out driving around and so forth. 

Naturally, when you live in a state that requires you to buy it, there are lots of options in addition to some corporate competition.  In effect, this helps to keep rates for the discount-minded companies lower, thereby passing the savings on to the consumers.  Because of this, it is advised […]

Visit the Florida Department of Insurance Site First

Just like every other state in the country, Florida’s government maintains its own website. There you can find things like the ratio of complaints different companies have suffered. While every company is going to have a complaint or two, a high ratio should be taken as a warning about how bad their customer support is.

Visit an Auto Body Mechanic

Few people think to speak to their local mechanic about auto insurance companies in Florida, but it’s one of the best choices you can make in your decision making process. It helps if you have a personal relationship with one, but many mechanics will find it cathartic to talk about automotive companies they’ve dealt with.

Mechanics are such a great source because their body shops need to work hand in hand with companies when cars get damaged. So they know who pays out the most, who is quickest with these payouts and who uses the best parts. This is all very important information you’ll want to consider and chances are they’ll have plenty more to pass on.

Check with J.D. […]