Florida auto insurance laws are designed to protect drivers in situations like these, but if you only carry the bare minimum protection necessary, how will you be able to pay in a situation like this where multiple cars are damaged and/or destroyed?

Are you carrying enough Florida auto insurance to cover more than the bare minimums if you have an accident in Florida?

Motorists are required by law to carry minimum levels of auto insurance coverage on their cars, but minimum amounts of coverage are just that —the minimum. They may not, in the event of a serious accident, be enough to completely cover them financially.

Performing a Florida auto insurance comparison for policies with above-minimum protection levels is highly advised for drivers in the sunshine state–after all, the minimum requirement remains one of the lowest in the nation; automobile owners in the Florida area must carry a total of only $ 20,000 in protection.

Unless a driver has traffic violations or has proven in the past to be unable to meet financial responsibility standards, only $ 10K is required in personal injury protection (PIP) and $ 10,000 in property damage liability (PDL).
PIP exists to cover a policyholder who has been in an accident, regardless of fault, for 80 percent of “reasonable medical expenses” and 60 percent of lost wages, up to the designated monetary limit, and it also pays up to a $ 5,000 death benefit.

PDL pays for damage to property accidentally caused by the policyholder.

The Florida State Department of Financial Services advises car owners to consider adding bodily injury liability protection. This type of policy goes to pay for damages related to “death or serious and permanent injury” caused by a legally liable policyholder.

The minimum amount of BIL is $ 10,000 per person and $ 20,000 per accident. But, according to the Insurance Information Institute, most authorities on the subject recommend having at least $ 100,000 per person and $ 300,000 per accident.

Remember, when you ‘re shopping for Florida car insurance, it’s important to list all your money-saving insurance features. Put them all on paper and don’t forget to tell your agent about your safe driving record, any anti-theft devices, additional safety features like rear-view cameras or running lights. All of these things and more could save you some extra cash on your auto insurance premiums.

If you aren’t properly insured in the State of Florida, and you get pulled over, there’s a strong chance you could lose your license. If you are in violation of Florida’s uninsured motorist laws your license can be suspended and you may be required to pay a penalty to get the license reinstated.

In Florida, the reinstatement fee STARTS at $150. The reinstatement fee can run as high as $500. If you have multiple violations, the reinstatement fee to get your Florida drivers license back goes higher per violation. How does a person with a suspended license in Florida get it back? Before you can get your Florida drivers license reinstated you must furnish proof of Florida auto insurance. The proof of insurance must show you are currently insured–in other words, the insurance form must be up to date, show the dates of coverage and show all minium required coverages as spelled out in Florida State law.

Did you know you can have your Florida drivers license suspended for up to THREE YEARS for violating the uninsured motorist laws? Don’t take the risk.

Have a look at the video and hear why lawyer Spencer Aronfeld believes Florida uninsured motorist coverage is such a critical issue. It has to be said, with crime on the rise and the number of accidents at an alarming rate–over 700 car crashes in Florida per day in 2007 alone–this coverage should not be overlooked.

One reason for this in the State of Florida? The expiration of the no-fault Personal Injury Protection law in 2007. No-fault personal injury protection may no longer be part of your options with Florida auto insurance, but UM coverage can fill the gap.

Uninsured Motorists Bodily Injury coverage pays for injuries caused by an uninsured driver or in the event of a hit-and-run accident.

If your accident results in medical costs, Uninsured Motorists Bodily Injury coverage pays up to the amount of the coverage you specify–which is why many Florida auto insurance agents recommend carrying as much as you can reasonably afford.

That said, it is very important to check your auto insurance policy and compare it to your personal health insurance. Make sure you are not duplicating coverage. Auto insurance laws and policy regulations are specifically designed to prevent “double dipping” and you should not expect to collect insurance money from two companies for the same hospital bills. Examine all policies carefully and make sure you are covered but not paying twice.

Check out this great introductory clip about Florida auto insurance basics. This started making the rounds on YouTube in the spring of 2009, so the information is current and very helpful. Do you know what umbrella insurance is? How does Florida umbrella insurance protect you in the event of a car accident? What’s the ideal amount of coverage? Ed Carpenter explains it all.

When you switch policies, don’t assume that your coverages will remain the same. Some exclusions that applied to your old policy may not apply to the new auto insurance policy, and some freedoms you had in your old Florida car insurance may not be allowed in the new contract.

Do you know what your responsibilities are under your new car insurance plan? Do you know how long you have to report a claim or amend it? All Florida car insurance policies are not created equal–you may have far less time to report or claim than your last policy offered.

Always read the fine print and ask plenty of questions of your new insurance agent. You could learn plenty if you ask up front. Don’t learn the hard way, after an accident or a denied claim.

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Florida car insurance normally covers the cash value of a vehicle as spelled out in your insurance policy. If you buy a new car, drive it off the lot and get into an accident, there could be a difference in the amount you owe on the loan and the amount of your car insurance settlement.

Why is this? Because cars lose value the moment you drive them away from the dealership. Your Florida car insurance doesn’t cover the amount of the loan you took out to buy the car, it covers the retail cash value of the vehicle. Some sources say a new car drops in value as much as 30% –just for driving it off the dealer lot.

That’s where GAP insurance comes in. With GAP insurance you are covered for the difference between the cash value of the car and the amount left outstanding on a new car loan or car lease.

Florida GAP insurance may be a wise choice if you want to protect yourself from paying the difference between what you owe and what the insurance company will pay. With GAP, be sure to ask the right questions of your insurance agent. Some GAP plans don’t cover cars below a certain value, and other restrictions may also apply.

All insurance companies are different, and every policy should be read from beginning to end before you decide what to pay for and what to pass up.