Best Car Insurance in Florida
Last Updated on November 5, 2022
Florida is known for having some of the most expensive car insurance premiums in the United States. Fortunately, anyone can get affordable car insurance in the Sunshine State with some preparation. Whether looking for the best car insurance companies in Florida or searching for the cheapest car insurance in the state, you can discover everything you need to know about the best car insurance in Florida today.
Table of Contents
- The 10 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Florida
- Florida Auto Insurance Requirements
- Driving Without Insurance in Florida
- Car Insurance in Florida with a DUI
- Car Insurance in Florida with At-Fault Accidents
- Car Insurance in Florida with Speeding Tickets
- Car Insurance in Florida for Young Drivers
- Car Insurance in Florida with Poor Credit
- SR-22 Insurance in Florida
Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Florida
Car insurance is more expensive in Florida than in most other states. However, many insurers continue to offer good value and fair pricing across the state. Here are the top 10 best auto insurance companies in Florida:
1) USAA
If you qualify for membership with USAA, then you can access one of the best-value and best-rated car insurance companies in Florida. USAA is known for its high claims satisfaction, strong customer service, and affordable pricing. In Florida, USAA members can pay over $1,000 less for car insurance than competing companies. The average USAA car insurance policy in Florida is around $1,237 per year.
| USAA | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288 |
| Phone Number | 1-210-531-USAA |
| Website URL | http://www.usaa.com/ |
2) Allied
Allied Insurance is a well-rated insurance company in Florida known for its competitive pricing. Although it’s not as affordable as USAA, Allied combines decent claims satisfaction with reasonable and transparent pricing. Expect to pay around $1,810 per year for car insurance with Allied.
| Allied Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 1100 Locust Street Des Moines, IA, 50391 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-532-1436 |
| Website URL | https://www.alliedinsurance.com/ |
3) State Farm
State Farm is one of America’s largest and best-known car insurance companies, so it makes sense they would offer competitive pricing throughout Florida. State Farm policyholders pay around $1,835 for one year of full coverage car insurance in Florida.
| State Farm | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 1 State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Phone Number | 1-309-766-2311 |
| Website URL | https://www.statefarm.com/ |
4) Travelers
Travelers charges drivers approximately $1,956 per year for car insurance in Florida, making them one of the cheapest providers in an expensive state. Travelers is available across the United States and serves customers throughout Florida.
| Travelers | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 485 Lexington Ave 10th Fl New York, NY 10017 |
| Phone Number | 1-866-218-5589 |
| Website URL | https://www.travelers.com/ |
5) GEICO
GEICO tends to be the cheapest car insurance company in most states – or at least among the top 5 cheapest. In Florida, the company tends to be among the cheapest options, although it varies between policyholders. Expect to pay around $2,210 per year for full coverage car insurance in Florida with GEICO.
| GEICO | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 5260 Western Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-861-8380 |
| Website URL | https://www.geico.com/ |
6) Auto-Owners
Although not one of America’s best-known insurance companies, Auto-Owners provides effective customer service and claims satisfaction at a reasonable price. Expect to pay around $2,280 per year for car insurance with Auto-Owners throughout Florida.
| Auto-Owners | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 6101 Anacapri Blvd. Lansing MI, 48917 |
| Phone Number | 1-517-323-1200 |
| Website URL | https://www.auto-owners.com/ |
7) 21st Century
Get rates for under $2,400 per year with 21st Century in Florida. The company is available in most states across the country. Although they’re not the cheapest option, 21st Century emphasizes strong customer service and claims satisfaction without breaking the bank.
| 21st Century Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 3 Beaver Valley Road Wilmington, DE 19803 |
| Phone Number | 1 (877) 401-8181 |
| Website URL | https://www.21st.com/ |
8) MetLife
MetLife serves policyholders throughout Florida, offering decent car insurance coverage at a transparent rate. The average Floridian with a good driving record pays around $2,398 per year for car insurance with MetLife.
| MetLife | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 200 Park Avenue New York City, NY 10166 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-638-5433 |
| Website URL | https://www.metlife.com/ |
9) Allstate
Allstate is one of the largest car insurance companies in the United States, and the company offers good-value car insurance throughout Florida. Whether you’re in the big cities like Miami or in smaller towns, Allstate provides effective car insurance for around $2,513 per year, on average.
| Allstate | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, IL 60062 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-255-7828 |
| Website URL | https://www.allstate.com/ |
10) Direct Auto
Although not as well known as other companies on this list, Direct Auto is popular throughout Florida for offering relatively reasonable car insurance premiums in an otherwise expensive state. The company is particularly popular for drivers with bad credit or drivers seeking minimum coverage. The average Floridian pays approximately, $2,710 to insure a vehicle with Direct Auto for one year, although the company offers steep discounts if you drop comprehensive and collision coverage.
| Direct Auto Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Company Address | 1281 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37217 |
| Phone Number | 1-877-463-4732 |
| Website URL | https://www.directauto.com/ |
Florida Insurance Requirements
Florida has unique insurance requirements compared to other states. Florida is one of 12 states in the country that uses a no-fault insurance system. Under this system, you make a claim through your own insurance company after an accident regardless of fault.
Because of the no-fault insurance system, Florida drivers must have personal injury protection – something most other states do not require.
However, Florida is also one of the only states where drivers do not need bodily injury protection coverage. Most other states require both property damage liability (PDL) and bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage, although Florida only requires BIL coverage on taxis.
Overall, drivers need both of the following car insurance coverages to legally drive a vehicle in Florida:
- $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.
- $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL) coverage.
If your vehicle is registered as a taxi, then you need $125,000 of bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage per person, $250,000 of BIL coverage per accident, and $50,000 of PDL coverage.
All of the numbers above are minimums. Many drivers exceed these minimums for added protection.
You must obtain PIP/PDL coverage from an insurance company licensed in Florida to sell car insurance.
Alternatively, you can obtain legal car insurance by obtaining a self-insurance certificate from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which involves depositing money with the organization and registering your vehicle as self-insured. If you self-insure your vehicle, then you do not need to pay regular insurance premiums, although your funds are locked with the FLHSMV for as long as your vehicle is insured.
Driving Without Insurance in Florida
Driving without car insurance in Florida is illegal. You must maintain the minimum car insurance limits above throughout the registration period of your vehicle.
In most cases, drivers caught without insurance will pay a reinstatement fee of $150 for the first violation, rising up to $500 for subsequent violations within a three year period.
If you are not able to provide proof of insurance within a specific period of time after being caught, then your license and registration could be suspended for up to 3 years. If you can provide proof of insurance, then you only pay the $150, $250, or $500 fine, based on whether this is your first, second, or third violation within the three-year window.
Car Insurance in Florida with DUI
Being convicted of a DUI in Florida can lead to a fine of $250 to $500 and a minimum license revocation of 180 days. Drivers may also be required to attend DUI school or perform up to 50 hours of community service. For subsequent violations, drivers could face jail time, vehicle impoundment, and other penalties.
Fortunately, some car insurance companies treat DUIs less seriously than other companies. If you have a DUI in Florida, consider getting a quote from any of the following insurance providers:
- State Farm: $2,020 per year
- Direct Auto: $2,469 per year
- GEICO: $3,665 per year
- Allstate: $3,781 per year
- Progressive: $4,011 per year
Generally, you can expect insurance premiums to rise 40% to 80% after a DUI in Florida – which is similar to other states.
Car Insurance in Florida with At-Fault Accidents
Florida uses a no-fault insurance system. Some drivers assume that fault doesn’t matter in accidents, although that’s not true. Yes, you make a claim through your own insurance company first, but insurers investigate accidents to determine fault.
An at-fault accident will raise car insurance rates in Florida. Fortunately, Florida insurance companies treat at-fault accidents in different ways:
- State Farm: $1,987 per year
- GEICO: $2,049 per year
- Direct Auto: $2,980 per year
- Allstate: $3,012 per year
- MetLife: $3,123 per year
Car Insurance in Florida with Speeding Tickets
Some car insurance companies raise rates sharply after a single speeding ticket, while others ignore a minor speeding ticket:
- State Farm: $1,823 per year
- GEICO: $1,901 per year
- Allstate: $2,703 per year
- Direct Auto: $2,450 per year
- MetLife: $2,801 per year
Car Insurance in Florida for Young Drivers
Florida already has some of the most expensive car insurance in America, and young drivers pay higher-than-average premiums across the Sunshine State. Fortunately, some companies welcome young drivers, while others charge them relatively high rates:
- State Farm: $2,100
- GEICO: $2,601 per year
- MetLife: $2,901 per year
- Allstate: $2,009 per year
- Direct Auto: $3,391 per year
The rates above assume you are a young driver (under 25-years old) with a clean record. If you are younger or have a bad driving record, then you could pay even higher rates for car insurance in Florida.
Car Insurance in Florida with Poor Credit
Florida allows insurance companies to assess policyholders based on credit. Drivers with a bad credit score will pay significantly higher rates for car insurance than drivers with a good credit score. Fortunately, some companies treat bad credit ratings less seriously than others:
- Direct Auto: $1,349 per year
- GEICO: $1,632 per year
- State Farm: $2,002 per year
- Allstate: $2,236 per year
- United Auto: $2,590 per year
The rates above are based on minimum coverage (i.e. PIP and PDL coverage with no collision or comprehensive coverage). This is the bare minimum insurance policy needed to legally drive on roads in Florida.
SR-22 Insurance in Florida
Florida requires certain drivers to obtain an SR-22 or FR-44 certificate. These certificates prove you are financially responsible for your vehicle and any damage it causes.
You may be required to obtain an SR-22 if you:
- Were involved in an accident without a license
- Received a license suspension because of too many license points or any other reason
- Have severe, recent, or multiple traffic violations on your driving record
You may be required to obtain an FR-44 if you:
- Were caught driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI)
SR-22 insurance and FR-44 insurance aren’t technically types of insurance. Instead, they’re certificates issued by insurance companies to verify coverage. Because you’re a higher-risk driver, you have different insurance requirements than other drivers.
With SR-22 insurance, you have identical car insurance requirements to ordinary drivers in Florida. The SR-22 certificate verifies that you have met the minimum insurance requirements in Florida.
With FR-44 insurance, you must exceed the minimum car insurance requirements in Florida, and the FR-44 certificate verifies you have exceeded these limits. The FR-44 certificate verifies you have $100,000 to $300,000 of bodily injury coverage, for example, and $50,000 of property damage liability coverage.
Some high-risk drivers in Florida cannot obtain car insurance through the normal market. Insurers may deny your application or charge excessively high rates. In this situation, you can request car insurance through the Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association.
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Florida
Florida has notoriously expensive car insurance. Fortunately, with some shopping, you can find the right car insurance provider for your unique needs. Whether you’re in the big cities of Florida or the smaller towns, consider requesting car insurance from any of the companies listed above to access the best auto insurance in Florida.
