AUTO INSURANCE · COVERAGES EXPLAINED
Florida is a no-fault state with some of the most misunderstood auto coverages in the country — and one in four drivers on the road here is uninsured. Here is what every line on your policy actually does.
PIP is Florida's mandatory no-fault coverage: $10,000 that pays your own medical bills and lost wages after an accident regardless of who caused it. Every Florida driver must carry it — it is why Florida is called a "no-fault" state.
BI pays for injuries you cause to other people, shown as two numbers like 100/300 — $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident. Florida does not require BI for most drivers, but driving without it puts everything you own at risk after a serious at-fault accident. It is the single most important coverage to buy generously.
PD pays for damage you cause to other people's property — their car, a fence, a storefront. Florida requires $10,000 minimum, which one modern SUV can exhaust; $50,000 is a more realistic floor.
UM steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little — it covers your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. With roughly 1 in 4 Florida drivers uninsured, UM is the coverage Floridians most regret skipping.
Comprehensive covers damage to your car from everything except collisions: theft, vandalism, flood, falling branches, windshield damage, and animal strikes. In Florida, it is also your car's hurricane coverage.
Collision pays to repair or replace your own car after an accident, regardless of fault. Together with comprehensive, it is what people mean by "full coverage" — and lenders require both on financed vehicles.
Two inexpensive add-ons: roadside covers towing, jump-starts, and lockouts; rental reimbursement pays for a rental car (commonly $30/day) while yours is in the shop after a covered claim.
Also explained: Home insurance coverages · Flood insurance coverages · Florida insurance guides