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.