Floridians are required to maintain automobile coverage at all times while operating a vehicle and automobiles must continuously be insured in order to maintain registration in the Sunshine State. The state requires that all self propelled vehicles with four or more wheels be covered by a car insurance policy consisting of a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) and $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP). Although this does satisfy Florida laws, these requirements are quite low compared to the majority of other states and can leave a driver uncovered in certain instances and in some cases, facing financial hardship.
Compared to FL, the state of New York requires that motorists carry a minimum of $50,000 in personal injury protection, which can help cover policyholders much more adequately for bodily injuries sustained in an accident than the $10,000 required in the Sunshine State. It may be wise to compare the cost of Medical Payments from multiple Florida auto insurance companies which may cover expenses that PIP may not to see if this coverage can be afforded, especially if the individual does not have a health care plan. Additionally, the property damage liability limits may prove to be inadequate in the event that the insured is at fault for causing a traffic accident where substantial damage is sustained by another party’s vehicle. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the average sales price of a new automobile is $28,400, therefore, if an individual was to cause a collision where the other vehicle was to be declared a total loss, the motorist may be held responsible for paying any compensation due above and beyond the $10,000 minimum requirement. A common suggestion is to purchase a policy consisting of $50,000 of property damage liability.
Beneficial Car Insurance Coverage in FL
Although the state only requires two types of protection to be listed on a policy, there are additional options that can be added to a motorist’s coverage that may be quite beneficial. One such option is to purchase protection from uninsured drivers. The state of Florida has very strict laws when it comes to keeping vehicles insured, but this does not seem to deter many individuals from driving without proper auto insurance policies in place. It is estimated that nearly 25% of motorists are occupying the roads while uncovered. This among the highest percentage in the nation and it may be a good idea to protect against such operators.
Insurers offer Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage that pays for bodily injuries to the policyholder, family members and passengers of the automobile if injured due to the negligence of an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Covered scenarios include being struck by a party without liability coverage, has inadequate liability limits or if victim of a hit-and-run. This addition to a policy will pay for medical expenses and lost wages once PIP limits have been exceeded. Although adding this option to a policy may cost a little bit more in premiums it can be well worth the cost. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, individuals who are struck by a party that does not have insurance will have to contact the Bureau of Financial Responsibility where a judgment will be enforced and the at-fault party’s driving privileges and registration will be suspended for 20 years or until the judgment has been taken care of.
The Palmetto State, just as the majority of states in the country, requires motorists to carry Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability in order to operate a vehicle legally; also required is Uninsured Motorist coverage. The current SC car insurance liability limits required are $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident and $25,000 for property damage. Higher limits may be purchased to help cover losses that exceed these amounts and may help a motorist avoid having to pay for expenses due to another party on one’s own.
Obtaining as many quotes as possible and completing a comparison of companies is one of the most effective way to find the an affordable and reliable automobile policy for drivers in the market for coverage. Fortunately for consumers, insurers offer the cost of auto insurance premiums to individuals without costing the consumer a cent. This is done in hopes that the carrier will acquire new business from those who are shopping around for new policies.
The rates that individuals pay for automobile coverage may vary for many different reasons for the residents of the United States. Insurers calculate their premiums based on many factors such as driver’s record, gender, age and the vehicle to be insured. Another factor that may cause a major difference in rate is the place of residence. Living in a highly congested area can raise the chances of being involved in a traffic accident and therefore carriers may charge higher prices to insure these motorists. Also, areas with a higher crime rate can affect the price of comprehensive and collision prices due to the fact that vehicles are more likely to be be stolen or vandalized.
Unfortunately there are many individuals who take the risk of driving uninsured simply because they believe that they cannot afford coverage. What these motorists do not realize is that it can be quite dangerous and end up being very expensive if they are caught driving without a policy in place. One thing that a driver may not be aware of is the fact that the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles will suspend their vehicle’s registration once they are notified by an insurer that the policy has been cancel. The fine for being caught without coverage can be quite high, but operating an unregistered automobile in conjunction can put a person in a very bad financial situation.
The majority of consumers are well aware of the fact that auto insurance companies take a number of factors into consideration when an individual applies for automobile coverage in order to calculate rates. The most common factors used to determine what an insurer will charge a motorist for a policy is a driver’s age, gender, driving history, the vehicle to be insured and place of residence. Dependent on which state a consumer resides in, a consumer’s credit history may even be used as a rating factor, but this practice is closely regulated by state departments.
As a younger motorist, the thought of automobile coverage is usually not a pleasant one. Not only due to the fact that auto insurance is just one other expense that individuals do not look forward to, but the cost of insuring a youthful driver can get quite expensive. Unfortunately for motorists under the age of 25, insurers view these potential policyholders as being a higher risk to cover and will usually charge inflated premiums due to these risks in order to compensate for the raised chance of a future claim, and subsequent payout.
The cost of automobile coverage can become very expensive and hard to maintain depending on the particular factors of one’s insuring needs. Some things may raise a person’s premiums that do not necessarily pertain to anything to do with their driving history or their vehicles; one such item is their place of residence or where they work. For example, if an individual lives in a congested areas such as Los Angeles or New York, both of which are very expensive areas to get coverage and has to commute to their job, they may be subject to an increased premium. This is due to the fact that with the more vehicles on the road and the more a person drives, the more likely that they will be involved in a traffic collision.
As of 1977, the Volunteer State implemented the Financial Responsibility Law and similar to other states, began requiring motorists behind the wheel of a vehicle to have the ability to compensate for injuries and property damage that they may cause while operating an automobile. The financial responsibility law was designed by state legislatures to ensure that individuals who are struck by another motorist while in an auto or as pedestrian are compensated for their losses. By mandating that operators keep coverage in place, the insurer will pay for damages up to the limits of the policy.
If a resident of the United States wishes to register and operate a vehicle legally then the chances are that they must carry a car insurance policy that meets a particular state’s requirements to do so. States vary substantially in the type of coverage required by law and in the limits each portion of a policy must meet. The majority of states require motorists to carry some type of property liability, but some states may require bodily liability, personal injury protection, or Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage; some states may require them all.