Florida Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in 2026: PIP, PDL and What They Leave Out

Florida is a no-fault state, and its list of mandatory auto coverages is short. To register and drive a car here you need two coverages, and both have a $10,000 floor. Bills filed in the 2026 session to repeal the no-fault system (SB 522 and HB 769) died in committee on March 13, 2026, so the rules below still apply. This guide explains what the minimum actually does, using the 2026 Florida Statutes and the FLHSMV.

Who has to carry PIP and PDL

• The owner or registrant of any vehicle with four or more wheels that must be registered in Florida (s. 627.733 and s. 627.732). Motorcycles fall outside this definition.
• Coverage must stay in force for the whole registration period, even if the car is parked, broken down or out of state (FLHSMV).
• A nonresident whose car has been in Florida more than 90 of the last 365 days must carry it too (s. 627.733(2), s. 324.022(3)).
• While driving, you must have proof of coverage with you, on paper or on your phone (s. 316.646).

New to Florida? The FLHSMV notes that your agent can move your current insurance to a Florida policy. See our car insurance in Florida City page.

What PIP pays, and the 14-day rule

PIP pays for your own injuries no matter who caused the crash. Under s. 627.736 the $10,000 limit covers:

• 80% of reasonable medical expenses for medically necessary care: doctor, hospital, X-rays, dental, rehabilitation and ambulance.
• 60% of lost gross income if the injury keeps you from working, plus the cost of hiring help for household tasks you can’t do.
• A separate $5,000 death benefit per person.

PIP covers you and relatives who live with you, passengers, anyone driving your car with permission, and Florida residents on foot or on a bicycle hit by your car who don’t have PIP of their own. It also follows you in your own car anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.

What PIP does not do

• It never pays to repair any vehicle, yours or anyone else’s.
• It leaves 20% of medical bills and 40% of lost income to you, and stops at the limit.
• An insurer may exclude injuries in another car you own that isn’t on the policy, injuries to someone driving your car without permission, and injuries caused intentionally or while committing a felony.
• It is not liability coverage: if you seriously injure someone, PIP doesn’t pay their claim against you.

In exchange, s. 627.737 limits lawsuits: an injured person can claim pain and suffering only for a permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, the permanent loss of an important bodily function, or death. An owner who crashes without the required coverage loses that protection and must personally pay the PIP benefits (s. 627.733(4)).

What PDL covers

Property damage liability pays for damage you or someone driving your insured car cause to other people’s property: another car, a fence, a mailbox, a storefront. The minimum is $10,000 per crash; a policy with a $30,000 combined bodily injury and property damage limit also qualifies (s. 324.022). PDL does not fix your own car. That takes collision and comprehensive, which state law doesn’t require.

When bodily injury liability becomes mandatory

Bodily injury liability (BI) pays for injuries you cause to others. Florida doesn’t require it up front, but the state can demand it later:

• At-fault crash with injuries and no BI. If you got a moving violation, someone was hurt and you had no BI, the FLHSMV requires 10/20/10 coverage with an SR-22 filing for three years, plus releases or a security deposit.
• DUI conviction. An FR-44 with $100,000/$300,000 BI and $50,000 property damage, for at least three years (s. 324.023).

More detail: bodily injury liability and FR-44 and non-owner SR-22.

Lapses, suspensions and reinstatement fees

Insurers must report a PIP or PDL cancellation to the FLHSMV within 10 days, and after notice the department suspends the driver license and registration (s. 324.0221). The FLHSMV says a suspension can last up to three years, with no hardship license for insurance suspensions. To reinstate you show proof of coverage and pay a fee of $150 the first time, $250 the second and $500 for each later one within three years of the first (s. 324.0221(3)).

• No longer using the car? Turn in the plate before you cancel.
• Moving away? Keep the Florida policy until the car is registered in the new state or the plates are surrendered.
• Showing an officer proof of insurance you know is no longer in force is a first-degree misdemeanor (s. 316.646(4)).

Why the minimum may not be enough

Serious injuries can quickly outrun $10,000 of PIP, and $10,000 of PDL may not cover a newer car or a multi-car crash. With no BI, you face a serious injury claim on your own. Coverages worth discussing with an agent: BI limits, uninsured motorist coverage, collision and comprehensive, and a personal umbrella for homeowners.

Talk it through with a local agent

M&K Agency helps drivers across South Miami-Dade in English, Spanish and Russian. Request a quote or call (305) 859-3953. Office: 33550 S Dixie Hwy, Suite 102, Florida City, FL 33034; Monday to Friday 9 to 6, Saturday by appointment.

Coverage depends on the terms, limits and exclusions of each policy. Talk with a licensed agent before you buy or change coverage. This guide is general information, not legal advice.