Florida
State Minimum Auto Insurance

PIP is the cornerstone of Florida's auto insurance system. Every policy must include it, and it covers you regardless of fault. Your PIP coverage follows you as well: it applies whether you're driving your own car, riding as a passenger in someone else's vehicle, or even struck as a pedestrian by a car.

Your PIP policy pays 80% of all necessary and reasonable medical expenses, 60% of lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working, and a $5,000 death benefit. These percentages apply up to your $10,000 policy limit, not in addition to it. Once you've exhausted that $10,000, PIP stops paying.

Medical Benefits and Disability Allowances

The medical benefits under PIP cover a range of treatments: emergency room visits, surgery, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and follow-up care. Your PIP will also cover treatment from licensed physicians, osteopaths, dentists, and chiropractors, though chiropractic and acupuncture care is subject to specific limitations based on the severity of your diagnosis.

The 60% wage replacement benefit is particularly important for hourly workers and self-employed individuals. If a car accident leaves you unable to work for several weeks, PIP will cover 60% of your documented income, up to the remaining balance of your $10,000 limit. For someone earning $4,000 per month, that's $2,400 in monthly wage replacement, but only until the total PIP benefit is exhausted.

On the flip side, if your medical bills consume most of your $10,000 limit, there may be little left for wage replacement. This is why many insurance professionals recommend purchasing additional PIP coverage or supplementing with medical payments coverage, commonly called MedPay, which provides additional medical expense protection without a fault determination.

The 14-Day Rule for Seeking Treatment

Florida enforces a strict 14-day rule that trips up many drivers who delay seeking medical attention. If you don't receive initial medical treatment within 14 days of your accident, your PIP benefits may be reduced or eliminated entirely. This isn't a suggestion or a guideline. It's written into Florida Statute 627.736.

The 14-day window begins on the date of the accident, not the date you notice symptoms. Soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and concussions often don't present obvious symptoms for days or even weeks after a collision. By the time you realize something is wrong, you may have already forfeited your PIP benefits.

Your initial visit must be with a qualified medical provider. An emergency room physician, a licensed MD, or an osteopath can provide the initial diagnosis. If that provider determines you have an emergency medical condition, your PIP covers up to the full $10,000. Without that emergency designation, your PIP medical benefits are capped at $2,500, a limit that barely covers a single ER visit.

The difference between carrying Florida's state minimum auto insurance and a comprehensive policy is substantial, both in cost and in protection. A full coverage policy typically includes bodily injury liability, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision, and comprehensive coverage on top of the required PIP and PDL.

Monthly premiums for minimum coverage in Florida average between $50 and $90, while full coverage policies typically run $180 to $350 per month depending on your driving record, location, and vehicle. That price gap is significant, but the protection gap is far larger. A single serious accident with minimum coverage can result in personal liability exceeding $100,000.

Coverage Comparison Table

Florida's minimum auto insurance requirements keep the barrier to legal driving low, but they leave you exposed to financial consequences that can follow you for years. A $10,000 PIP limit and $10,000 in property damage liability simply don't reflect the real costs of accidents in 2026.

If you're currently carrying only the state minimum, consider your actual risk. Do you commute on I-95 or I-4, two of the most dangerous highways in the country? Do you own a home or have savings that a lawsuit could target? If so, the additional $100 to $200 per month for comprehensive coverage is a fraction of what a single uninsured accident could cost you.

Your path forward starts with an honest assessment of what you can afford to lose. Get quotes from at least four to six different carriers using identical coverage levels so you're comparing accurately. Talk to a local independent agent who can shop multiple companies on your behalf. The right policy isn't always the cheapest one: it's the one that protects what you've worked to build.