Florida Motor Vehicle Insurance

Reader’s Question:

I am currently living in Florida and will be registering my car in this state. I have my own car insurance already that has been issued in another state. Do I still have to get a Florida motor vehicle insurance policy?

Eleonore

Miami FL

Yes. It is mandatory that your motor vehicle insurance policy with the required minimum insurance coverage is issued through an insurance agent representing an insurance company licensed to sell insurance policies in Florida. Most of the insurance companies in Florida are licensed to issue Florida motor vehicle insurance. These companies must be licensed by the Florida Department of Insurance. Any vehicle with at least four wheels to be registered in Florida must have insurance. As for the case of motorcycles, issuance may not be required for registration under certain circumstances. In your case, you can seek the help of your insurance agent in Florida to transfer your present vehicle insurance to Florida when you register your vehicle.

However, if you leave Florida for at least six months, you may surrender your Florida registration to your local driver license office to avoid maintaining your insurance policy. You can register your vehicle anytime you come back to Florida. The proof of Florida insurance must be presented.

Even businessmen who are not Florida residents but have operations in the state for a few months at a time must comply with the Florida insurance law. Those who has vehicles in Florida for more than 90 days within a 365-day duration must have personal third party liabilities insurance coverage, even if the 90 days are not consecutive.

Your Florida motor vehicle insurance must have a coverage of $10,000 for personal injury liabilities and and $10,000 for property damage liabilities as long as your vehicle is registered under the Florida tag. This also applies even if your vehicle is in another state.

If you fail to provide a Florida motor vehicle insurance for a Florida-tagged vehicle, you run the risk of having your driving privilege and your vehicle registration suspended by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for up to three years or until you can provide proof of having Florida vehicle insurance. To reinstate your suspended driving privilege, there is a fee of $150 and up to $500 for subsequent violations. Providing proof of active Florida insurance is also mandatory.

How Much SR22 Insurance Do I Need?

Reader’s Question:

I need an SR22 insurance in Miami. How much SR22 insurance should I get?

Gary

Miami FL

If you’re trying to obtain Miami SR22 insurance, then the insurance coverage you need is the amount which is mandated in the state of Florida. The state of Florida required coverage is really set pretty low, and will not be enough to cover damage in your vehicle and other injuries that you may cause. Auto insurance providers suggest that you obtain more insurance coverage to get you fully covered, but of course that would also mean additional payment. Before I go on, here’s what’s actually required minimum liability coverage in the state of Florida:

• $10,000 of bodily injury liability coverage for a single person
• $20,000 of BIL for the whole accident
• $10,000 of property damage liability coverage

Florida confused itself last year and spent a few months in confusion about what exactly its car insurance laws were, but as of the first of January 2008, no fault car insurance is back. But here’s the no fault insurance you’ll be needing:

• $10,000 of personal injury protection coverage
• $10,000 of property damage liability coverage

SR22 Insurance In Florida

Reader’s Question:

Hi! I’d like to know if my non owner SR22 insurance in Florida will be accepted if I drive in New York. Thanks.

Dwight

Miami, FL

Yes, your SR22 insurance in Florida will be accepted or honored in New York. If you bought your SR22 insurance to save on auto insurance, then you don’t have to worry about driving around in New York. Your SR 22 insurance policy gained in Florida will be honored there.

Normally, SR22 insurance in Florida is requested from a driver based on several conditions. First, it may be required from a driver involved in a major traffic violation and was not able to show any proof that he or she has insurance coverage. SR22 insurance may also be required from a driver whose car was involved in a traffic accident and subsequently cannot show insurance to cover the damages. Both of these situations can result to a driver being asked to file SR22 primarily to certify that the driver is aware of his financial responsibilities.

In your case, since your SR22 was obtained just because you wanted to save on your car rental insurance, then you can still drive around any other state with your SR22 insurance.

Auto Insurance for Males Florida FL

Reader’s Question:

I am 22, male and a graduating college student at the University of Florida, but I am a resident of Miami. Why does my younger sister (19 years old) have a lower rate insurance policy quote than me when I am a more responsible driver than her? She comes home drunk almost every night. I’m perplexed by these sexist standards.

Richard

Miami, Florida

Good for you, Richard! You give 22-year-old male drivers a good name. Unfortunately, most of the male drivers your age have a different opinion of what constitutes being an ideal driver. As stereotypes go, college age kids are most aggressive when behind the wheel and more likely to get into accidents, thus sucking the cash out of the car insurance company’s hard earned profit. So, for as long as there are many testosterone-induced accidents, you can’t be awarded lower premium.

However, there is hope. In three years, you will be 25. That will make your sister 22 years old. And you know what that means? Another algebra problem involving age differences! Just kidding. Actually statistics show (Oh, it’s too bad statistics can’t separate the good male drivers, the bad male drivers, and the bad-female-drivers-who-happen-to-be-your-sister) that when you get to 25, the data is more or less the same. So, when you reach this age, the chances that a male or female driver is involved in an accident are almost the same. Therefore, you can enjoy lower car premiums by then. Well I would like to think that the reason why statistics even out by that age is that the college age “evil” drivers are dead by that time. Or as I’ve watched this humorous video clip, it is because when we reach 25, we go to this second puberty, where all of a sudden we have this urge to drive safely.

And if your sister comes home drunk every night, one of these days, she’ll get caught and be convicted with DUI. And Florida law states that she can have her license revoked, either be sent to jail or do community service. Best of all she will be charged higher premiums! You don’t have to envy your sister, anymore!

Tags: auto insurance premium, DUI, Female Car Insurance, women car insurance

Shopping for Auto Insurance Florida FL

Reader’s Question:

I have had multiple speeding tickets and am worried that my auto insurance provider will refuse to renew my policy. What can I do?

Jill

Miami, FL

Auto insurance providers generally will not refuse to renew your policy. They may increase your premiums, though. This is because insurers think that motorists who receive citations are high risk, thus they need to pay more. Motorists who have received Florida traffic citations are given the option of paying the ticket and taking online traffic school. By taking this course, you will qualify for a fine reduction. Your safe driver record will also be maintained since there will be no points on your driving record. This means that your auto insurance provider may not increase your insurance rates so long as there was no wreck associated with the ticket. You can also choose to attend a classroom course on Florida Basic Driver Improvement. This can only be taken once in any one-year period, and not more than five times in your lifetime. This course is permitted by the State of Florida to teach defensive driving techniques.

About your insurance renewal, if your insurer declines to renew your policy, do some more shopping. Auto insurance companies use different methods to determine your risk. You might want to inquire from an independent insurance agent since they usually represent multiple companies. This will save you time because you can find out about many insurance companies and what they offer instead of calling each of these companies individually.

Tags: auto insurance premium, traffic school, traffic violation

Automobile Insurance Policy Miami Florida FL

Reader’s Question:

Before I purchase car insurance in Miami Florida, do I need a title on the car?

Greg

Miami FL

You will need to prove that you have insurable interest in an automobile through either being the individual on the title and/or registration of the vehicle you are trying to place insurance on.

Most insurance providers require that you have an insurable interest in the vehicle before you can insure on your car insurance policy in Miami Florida. Some insurance providers require that your name show on the registration or title in order to be able to buy a car insurance policy under your name.

Most insurance providers require you to have insurable interest in a car before purchasing car insurance, some insurance carriers, will permit someone without insurable interest in a vehicle to get a car insurance policy.

 

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance

Occasional Driver Insurance Miami Florida FL

Reader’s Question:

If I add an occasional driver to my car insurance policy in Miami Florida, how many hours can he drive in a week?

Paul

Miami FL

Insurance carrier’s differ with their definition of an occasional driver. Some insurance companies defines an occasional driver as someone who is under the age of twenty one, not married and operates the vehicle less than twenty five percent of the time.

Generally, an occasional driver should not be operating the vehicle for more than once a week as a rule of the thumb.

For someone to be considered as an occasional driver by an insurance carrier vary from insurer to insurer in Miami Florida so you may ask your car insurance agent to check their requirements regarding this.

Generally some insurance carrier would cover an occasional driver as long as the driver does not live in your household and the automobile is garaged in your residence.

So if you are planning to add an occasional driver in your car insurance policy in Miami Florida, you may contact your car insurance company to know exactly how many hours an occasional driver should drive the car or what the requirements are to be considered as an occasional driver.

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company

Automobile Insurance Company Miami Florida FL

Reader’s Question:

I got involved in an accident and found at fault, my vehicle was totaled but my vehicle was insured at the time. I am wondering why would the other party’s insurance carrier needs to talk to me? should not they just need to speak to insurance carrier in Miami where my vehicle was insured under?

Jason

Miami, FL

The other insurance carrier may need to talk with you for a few reasons. Likely if the other party’s insurance carrier is trying to contact you it would be for your statement regarding the accident. If the individual put in an auto insurance claim against their own collision insurance, instead of through your property damage coverage, then their insurance carrier would be investigating the incident.

Part of the investigation is knowing liability and fault. So their car insurance claims department and/or claim adjuster may want to talk with you and get your description of the incident so they can determine fault.

The insurance carrier may need information on your insurance company in Miami Florida so that they can talk to them. Probably their policyholder did not provide them enough information to contact your insurance carrier so they are contacting you. The best way to know why the other driver’s insurance company needs to speak to you is to ask them.

 

Tags: auto insurance, Car Insurance Company

Teen Car Insurance Davie Florida FL

Reader’s Question:

I gave my 17 year old daughter a car but it is under my name and she said she can carry the insurance on it in her name. Would I still be held liable in case of an accident? We live in Davie Florida.

Angela

Davie, FL

As the vehicle owner you could have vicarious liability meaning you may be liable for the negligent actions of the person (your daughter) using a car you own, even though you were not directly responsible for the accident.

There are other factors that can affect if you would be held liable if your daughter was in an accident in the car. Factors such as if she lives in your household with you, if your daughter is a minor, and if you claim her on your taxes as a dependant could likely make you liable as a parent to the actions of your teenage.

As for your daughter getting insurance, it would be best to make certain the limits are high enough so that if she was in an accident they would be covered properly. If they do not then as the owner of the vehicle you could be held liable for amounts in excess of the insurance policy limits.

 

Tags: auto insurance, automobile, teen insurance

Rental Car Insurance Miami Florida FL

Reader’s Question:

I was arrested for drunk driving recently in Miami Florida. The vehicle was a rental car in Miami and I had bought Optional Damage Waiver, Optional Supplemental Liability protection and Optional Personal Accident Insurance while renting the vehicle. I had no other auto insurance coverage. Will this waiver that I purchased protect me from paying?

Jason

Miami, FL

It was best to get insurance through the rental car company since you did not have personal car insurance.

Your question makes it unclear about what you need the rental car insurance in Miami, FL to pay on. If you had an accident while driving with the rental car before being arrested you need to check with the rental car company to verify the specifics of what you purchased and if they will pay on your behalf. It is also possible in the forms you signed that there was a restrictions against negligence or DWI/DUI. If you are asking about the insurance assisting to pay for DUI related fines, etc you will find those to be your personal responsibility.

 

 

Tags: automobile, car insurance, drunk driving insurance, rental car insurance

 

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