Ballywho News

When it comes to auto insurance, it’s often tempting to shop around and choose the cheapest policy. But the cheapest coverage is usually not the best coverage if you’re actually in an accident—even if you’re not at fault. Florida drivers should choose a policy that offers comprehensive insurance coverage for injuries, property damage, and incidents with uninsured motorists.

Florida Auto Insurance Requirements

According to Florida law, motorists must carry two types of auto insurance coverage. The first, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), is sometimes called “no-fault insurance.” It covers 60% of the driver’s lost wages and 80% of any medical bills, even if no one is faulted for the accident.

Florida law also requires drivers to have at least $10,000 in property damage coverage. That covers any damage caused if you’re faulted for an accident. Most drivers opt for more coverage, rather than risk having to pay any amount over $10,000.

Meanwhile both Bodily Injury (BI) and Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage are optional. We highly recommend that drivers carry both; BI pays for damages, along with pain and suffering, if you’re injured by an at-fault driver, in case the at-fault driver has no coverage for these expenses. UM is the only coverage that exclusively protects you, the driver, in case you are injured by someone who has no auto insurance.

Choosing an Auto Insurance Company

Consumers have seemingly endless car insurance options. Narrow down the options by seeking reputable companies or agents:

• Ask family and friends for recommendations. Find out how satisfied they are with their company or agent, especially if they have had to file a claim recently.
• Talk to the owners of a reputable body shop in your neighborhood. These companies deal with the insurance claims process all the time, and can tell you how fast claims are processed, whether insurance companies pay on time, and other important customer service details.
• Investigate each company’s record with the Florida Department of Insurance. Pay attention to the number of customer complaints that have been filed.
• Consider ratings by consumer advocacy groups, such as JD Power, which aggregates customer satisfaction data directly from individual policy holders.
• Think about going through an independent agent, who can write policies for different insurance companies. If your company is eventually not the best fit, an independent agent can help match you with a new policy.
• Avoid any agents or companies that strongly push you to carry only minimum coverage, and be sure to evaluate whether all quotes offer comparable coverage.
• Keep up with your policy. Every so often, shop around for new rates or call and ask your insurance provider about new discounts or offerings.

Ultimately having the right car insurance grants you peace of mind. Carefully selecting a policy protects you and your family in the event of an accident.