Before you register a car with four or more wheels, Florida requires proof of two coverages, according to the FLHSMV insurance requirements:
- $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP)
- $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL)
Bodily injury liability is not on that list. That single fact explains most of what goes wrong for drivers who buy the minimum.
PIP Pays for Your Own Injuries, Up to a Point
Under s. 627.736, Fla. Stat., PIP pays 80 percent of reasonable expenses for medically necessary services, and only if you receive initial care within 14 days after the accident, so see a doctor promptly after any crash. Reimbursement goes up to $10,000 when a provider determines you had an emergency medical condition, and is limited to $2,500 when a provider determines you did not. PIP also carries a $5,000 death benefit.
Property Damage Liability Pays for Their Car, Up to $10,000
PDL pays for damage you cause to other people's property, mostly their vehicle. A $10,000 limit is the floor under s. 324.022. Damage above your limit is yours to pay.
