How Florida No-Fault Car Insurance Works (2024)

Florida's no-fault car insurance system means that after an accident, your insurance company will cover your medical bills (through personal injury protection coverage) and damage you cause to other's property (through property damage liability coverage), regardless of who was at fault.

Unlike most states, Florida drivers aren't required to carry bodily injury liability coverage since personal injury protection covers medical costs up to a certain limit. However, it's important to remember that personal injury protection won't cover things like pain and suffering or lost wages.

• Requirements for Florida No-Fault Car Insurance
• How to File a Florida No-Fault Insurance Claim
• Cost of No-Fault Car Insurance in Florida
• Florida No-Fault Car Insurance FAQ

In Florida's no-fault system, you'll need to contact your insurer directly after an accident, regardless of who caused it. If you're in a fender-bender, your insurer pays your medical bills through your personal injury protection coverage. If you hit someone else's car, your property damage liability coverage kicks in to cover the cost of repairs.

A no-fault system can be more streamlined than traditional fault-based systems, but personal injury protection has its limits.

For example, personal injury protection won't cover pain and suffering, lost wages or damage to your own vehicle if you're at fault. If you have extensive medical bills or need additional protection, explore other coverage options beyond your state’s minimum car insurance requirements.

In Florida's no-fault system, you typically turn to your own insurance for coverage after an accident. However, there are specific scenarios where the other driver can sue you for damages even if you're at fault, including the following:

Even in these scenarios, the other driver will need to prove you were at fault to successfully sue for damages.

While personal injury protection and property damage liability are mandatory for all Florida drivers, bodily injury liability is typically optional unless specific circumstances — like a previous DUI — require it.

Bodily injury liability includes $10,000 bodily injury per person and $20,000 bodily injury per accident. Drivers may opt for a combined single-limit policy of at least $30,000. This insurance covers expenses and situations not covered by personal injury protection or property damage liability when the policyholder is at fault in an accident, including medical expenses, legal fees, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.

Below are the scenarios that may require Florida drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance:

Bodily injury liability insurance in Florida covers expenses and situations when the policyholder is at fault in an accident not covered by personal injury protection or property damage liability, including:

In the state of Florida, all car insurance policies are technically "no-fault" policies since no-fault laws dictate what coverage Florida drivers are required to carry. While coverage that meets minimum coverage requirements will put you in legal compliance with Florida's no-fault laws, full coverage offers you the most financial protection. Full coverage policies are slightly more expensive in Florida than in other states; full coverage car insurance costs $1,296 on average nationwide, but the cheapest average premium for Florida drivers is $1,360 annually.

Navigate the table below to estimate your car insurance costs from different providers for minimum coverage and full coverage no-fault policies.

Florida's $10,000 minimum coverage might not be enough to cover the costs of a serious accident. To protect yourself from unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, consider increasing your coverage limits beyond the state minimum. This can provide a financial safety net if you're at fault in an accident and liable for damages exceeding the basic coverage.

Have more questions about Florida's no-fault car insurance system? MoneyGeek answered some of the most common questions to help you better understand how coverage works in the state.