If you register a car in Florida, the state requires exactly two types of auto insurance: Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL), each with a minimum of $10,000. Those two coverages are what keep you compliant with Florida’s no-fault law. Everything else, including bodily injury liability, collision and comprehensive, is optional for most drivers.
That short answer hides a lot of important detail. PIP does not pay every medical bill, the minimums are low compared with real accident costs, and Florida’s no-fault rules change how and when you can sue another driver. This guide explains both required coverages, how the no-fault system works in practice, what happens if you drive without them, and which optional coverages are worth adding.
Table of Contents
Florida’s Two Required Coverages at a Glance
| Coverage | Minimum required | Who it pays | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | $10,000 | You, relatives in your household, and certain passengers | 80% of reasonable medical costs and 60% of lost income, plus a $5,000 death benefit |
| Property Damage Liability (PDL) | $10,000 | Other people whose property you damage | Repairs to other vehicles, fences, buildings and other property you damage in an at-fault crash |
These requirements come from Florida Statute 627.736 and related sections. You must keep both coverages in force for as long as the vehicle is registered in Florida, even if you are not driving it.
Required Coverage 1: Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
PIP is the heart of Florida’s no-fault system. It pays for your own injuries after a crash no matter who caused it. Instead of waiting for the other driver’s insurer to accept fault, you file with your own insurer and get medical bills moving quickly.
What PIP Pays
- Medical expenses: 80% of reasonable and necessary medical costs, up to your $10,000 limit.
- Lost income: 60% of lost wages if injuries keep you from working, within the same limit.
- Replacement services: Help with household tasks you can no longer do while injured.
- Death benefit: $5,000 to survivors, paid in addition to the $10,000 limit.
The Rules That Catch People Off Guard
Florida PIP has two conditions every driver should know. First, you must get initial medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, or PIP can deny medical benefits entirely. Second, if a qualified provider does not determine that you had an emergency medical condition, medical benefits are capped at $2,500 instead of $10,000. Seeing a doctor promptly after any crash protects both your health and your claim.
Who PIP Covers
Your PIP covers you and relatives who live with you, whether you are driving your own car, riding in someone else’s car or hit as a pedestrian. It also covers passengers in your car who do not have their own PIP. It does not pay for injuries you cause to other drivers; that is what bodily injury liability is for.
Required Coverage 2: Property Damage Liability (PDL)
PDL pays for damage you cause to other people’s property. That usually means the other driver’s car, but it also covers mailboxes, fences, storefronts and anything else you hit. It does not pay for damage to your own vehicle.
The $10,000 minimum is one of the lowest in the country, and it disappears quickly. Many newer cars cost far more than $10,000 to repair after a moderate crash, and a total loss on an average vehicle can exceed it several times over. Anything above your limit becomes your personal responsibility, so many drivers carry $25,000, $50,000 or more.
How Florida’s No-Fault System Works
Under no-fault, each driver’s own PIP pays first for their own injuries, regardless of who caused the crash. This keeps small injury claims out of court and gets bills paid faster. Fault still matters, though. Property damage is handled through the at-fault driver’s PDL, and fault decides whose insurance pays for vehicle repairs.
You can step outside the no-fault system and sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering only if your injuries meet Florida’s serious injury threshold, such as significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function, permanent injury, significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement, or death. Our full Florida car insurance requirements guide covers the threshold and penalties in more detail.
Is Florida Getting Rid of PIP?
You may have seen claims that Florida repealed its no-fault law. As of 2026, that is not true. Lawmakers have filed repeal bills in several sessions, and the Legislature passed one in 2021, but the governor vetoed it. Repeal bills in the 2025 and 2026 sessions died in committee. PIP and PDL remain the two required coverages. If the law does change, proposals have generally called for replacing PIP with mandatory bodily injury liability, so watch for news before your renewal.
What Florida Does Not Require (But You Probably Need)
The biggest surprise for new Florida residents is that bodily injury liability (BI) is not required for most drivers. BI pays for injuries you cause to other people. Without it, an at-fault crash that seriously injures someone can expose your savings, home equity and future wages to a lawsuit. Florida does require BI after certain violations, such as a DUI conviction or an at-fault crash with injuries, and some drivers must then file proof of coverage.
| Optional coverage | Why Florida drivers add it |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Protects your assets if you injure someone. Strongly recommended for anyone with savings or a home. |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Florida has a high share of uninsured drivers. UM pays your injury costs beyond PIP when the at-fault driver has little or no coverage. |
| Collision | Pays to repair your own car after a crash, regardless of fault. Usually required by lenders. |
| Comprehensive | Covers theft, flooding, hail, fallen trees and other non-crash damage. Important in hurricane country. |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Can cover the 20% of medical bills PIP leaves behind and costs above the PIP limit. |
Learn more in our guides to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and comprehensive vs. collision. If you want to understand how PIP, MedPay and other injury coverages fit together, read which insurance pays for injuries to the driver and passengers.
Penalties for Driving Without PIP and PDL
Florida’s insurance requirement is tied to your registration. If your coverage lapses, your insurer notifies the state, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles can suspend your driver’s license and registration. To get them back you must show proof of insurance and pay a reinstatement fee, which rises for repeat lapses. You also lose the protection PIP gives you after a crash, leaving you to pay your own medical bills.
How to Stay Compliant
- Buy at least $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL from an insurer licensed in Florida before you register the car.
- Keep the policy active for as long as the car is registered, even if it sits unused. Surrender the plates before canceling coverage.
- Carry your insurance card in the car or on your phone.
- Within 10 days of becoming a Florida resident or starting work in the state, get Florida coverage and register your vehicle.
- Review your limits each year, especially PDL, which is easy to exceed.
Want to see how adding liability and other coverages changes your price? Try our car insurance calculator, and compare options in liability vs. full coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two types of required insurance coverage in Florida?
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL). Florida requires at least $10,000 of each to comply with its no-fault law.
Is bodily injury liability required in Florida?
Not for most drivers. Florida requires it only in certain situations, such as after a DUI conviction or an at-fault crash involving injuries. It is still strongly recommended because it protects your assets if you injure someone.
Does PIP cover 100% of my medical bills?
No. PIP pays 80% of reasonable medical expenses and 60% of lost income, up to $10,000. Medical payments coverage or health insurance can help with the rest.
How soon do I have to see a doctor for PIP to pay?
Within 14 days of the accident. If you wait longer, PIP can deny medical benefits.
Why might PIP only pay $2,500?
If a qualified medical provider does not determine that you had an emergency medical condition, Florida caps PIP medical benefits at $2,500.
Does PIP cover passengers in my car?
Yes, if they do not have their own PIP coverage. Passengers who own a car in Florida are generally covered by their own PIP first.
Has Florida repealed no-fault insurance?
No. As of 2026, repeal bills have not become law. PIP and PDL are still required.
What happens if I let my Florida insurance lapse?
The state can suspend your license and registration until you show proof of coverage and pay a reinstatement fee.
The Bottom Line
To comply with Florida’s no-fault law, you need two coverages: Personal Injury Protection and Property Damage Liability, each with at least $10,000. PIP pays your own injury costs no matter who caused the crash, while PDL pays for damage you do to other people’s property.
Those minimums keep you legal, but they do not keep you safe. PIP leaves gaps, the PDL limit is easy to exceed, and Florida does not require bodily injury liability for most drivers. Adding BI, uninsured motorist coverage and higher property damage limits is the most effective way to protect your savings. For help building a Florida policy that fits your situation, contact the Matrix Insurance team.
