Any individual who owns a vehicle that is self propelled and has four or more wheels must maintain proper coverage at all times if they wish to register and maintain registration for as long they have a valid Florida license plate. This also applies to part time and seasonal residents who reside in the state for only a certain period of time of the year. For example, if an individual utilizes Florida’s roadways for more than 90 days in a calendar year they must purchase a policy complying with the state’s laws and the 90 days do not have to be consecutive. All polices issued must be purchased from a Florida auto insurance company that is licensed in the state; if a motorist wishes to purchase coverage from a company’s representative such as an agent than this person must be licensed by the state as well. Before taking out a policy from an insurer or paying an agent for coverage it may be a good idea to contact the state department of insurance to ensure that this agent’s licensing status is in order and that the carrier they are representing is authorized to issue policies in FL. Mandatory FL Car Insurance The minimum coverage that can be purchased in Florida is $10,000 in property damage liability and $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP), higher limits can be purchased and some motorists are required to carry more which will be explained. Property damage liability will pay for damage that the policyholder causes to another person’s property with their automobile up to the limit stated on the policy. This will cover items such as another vehicle, a fence, telephone pole or building. Personal injury protection will pay for injuries sustained by the insured, passengers and family members resulting from a traffic accident regardless of fault up to the auto insurance policy limit; this will also pay for injuries suffered as a pedestrian or bicyclist if struck by an automobile. State law may require that certain drivers carry limits that exceed the minimums stated above. Motorists who are convicted of certain traffic violations or have been in an accident while uninsured may need to carry $10,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $20,000 per accident in addition to the $10,000 limit of property damage liability. According to the Florida Consumer Guide to Automobile Insurance those who have been convicted or plead no contest to driving under the influence have to can much more coverage; these individuals must carry liability with limits of $100,000 for bodily injury to one person, $300,000 for bodily injury per accident and $50,000  for property damage. Having to carry more coverage means higher rates in addition to surcharges that are applied by insurers for the violation; it may simply be easier to stay insured and refrain from driving under the influence to avoid these additional expenses.

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Be Informed About Florida Auto Insurance

There are not many expenses that individuals can avoid and for many auto insurance is one of those bills that must be paid if they choose to own and operate a vehicle. Although nobody really looks forward to paying their premiums when they are due, there are many things that motorists can do and control to ensure that their policies can be afforded. Many people pay high amounts for automobile coverage, but in many cases this could have been avoided in a number of different ways. One of the biggest factors that an insurer uses to calculate a premium is a person’s driving history; a person with multiple violations and accidents on their record are less likely to find affordable car insurance than drivers who have maintained clean driving histories and subsequently pay higher rates for coverage. Obeying traffic laws is in the hands of the person behind the wheel and by doing so it can keep rates down. Individuals who tend to run red lights, speed or drive under the influence have not only a higher chance of getting a ticket, but can also cause a traffic accident; this is simply bad judgment which will be reflected in their premiums. Driving safe and responsibly is probably the easiest way that consumers can make coverage as cheap as possible. Additional Ways to Keep Auto Insurance Affordable As mentioned, a person’s driving history is weighed heavily to determine premiums and unfortunately for newly licensed motorists they will not have a record showing whether or not they are a “good” driver and will likely find themselves paying higher rates for car insurance. These individuals and everyone one else for that matter, will need to put in a little legwork and shop around and compare for the most affordable rates. There are many companies to choose from, but the cheapest one is not going to find you; take the time to get as many quotes as possible in order to make sure that the best rate has been found. In addition, motorists should be aware of any discounts that are available and applicable and take advantage of them; some discounts can provide a savings of up to 20%. A discount may be available if you are a good driver and/or student, have a vehicle equipped with certain safety features and anti-theft devices, have a good credit score or complete a recognized drivers education course; more may be available and be sure to address any when shopping around. The Oklahoma Insurance Department suggests raising a deductible in order to lower the cost of coverage; the reason for this is because generally the higher the deductible the lower the premium, but one should be aware that the deductibles chosen will need to be paid in the event of a loss and should not choose an amount that cannot be paid. Although insurers calculate rates, there are many things that consumers can do to make sure that their coverage is as affordable as possible.

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Keeping Car Insurance Affordable