The Importance of a Good Driving Record in Florida

The importance of a good driving record in Florida

If you're new to the state of Florida, you may have things to learn regarding your Florida car insurance. Florida is one of several "no fault" states regarding car accidents. This means that, in general, each party carries insurance to pay for their own damage in the event of an accident, regardless of who is at fault. This does not mean that no driver is charged with being at fault on their driving record, but simply refers to how the insurance damages are paid.

This type of insurance law is advantageous to good drivers, because you have the flexibility of carrying just the amount of insurance you need to insure your own property and medical expenses, (as long as it is at least the minimum required) without worrying about the costs of possibly paying another's expenses. In addition, because of the no fault laws, the ability of one party to sue another after an accident is fairly limited.

However, if you have a poor driving record due to accidents or other traffic violations, you may be subject to additional insurance requirements in the state of Florida. This law is known as the Financial Responsibility Law. It requires that drivers with a poor driving record carry insurance to protect the other party in an accident in addition to carrying insurance to protect themselves.

Once you've reached the number of points on your driver's license that requires that you carry Financial Responsibility insurance, you'll receive a notice from the state. If you fail to obtain the insurance after the state has notified you of the requirement, you face stiff penalties, and can even lose your driver's license for as much as three years.

If you have a good driving record and don't fall under the Financial Responsibility law, you're required to carry a minimum of $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 Property Damage Liability protection. However, if you are required to carry insurance under the Financial Liability law, you must carry insurance that covers $10,000 Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) for one person, $20,000 BIL to two or more people and $10,000 Property Damage Liability Coverage. This coverage is in addition to the coverage for you, since the Financial Responsibility coverage insures the other party in the event that you cause an accident.
So, as you can see, your Florida car insurance must carry roughly twice the coverage if you have a poor driving record, causing your premiums to be significantly higher than those of good drivers.
It's always important to have a good driving record. But, as you can see, it's extremely important in the state of Florida. But, keep in mind that regardless of your driving record, there are ways to save money on your Florida car insurance. Be careful to compare coverage and shop around to get the best rates for the coverage you need.