7 Best Car Insurance Companies in Florida of 2023
The best car insurance in Florida protects you from unforeseen automobile events, such as an accident or a tree falling on your car's roof during a storm and severely damaging it.
You are also more likely to get into a car accident in Florida, that’s either your fault or the fault of another driver, given there are so many drivers on the road.
The Sunshine State is the third most populous state in the country and has one of the highest rates of car accidents.
That’s why you need car insurance. You may practice safe driving or follow state law, but other drivers may not. So, purchasing auto insurance should be a priority when you buy a new car. In fact, your state won’t allow you to drive without car insurance. Plus, it’s mandatory in Florida.
Auto insurance also covers more than just your car. For example, if you cause an accident that injures the other driver, your auto policy will cover the medical payments that the driver sustains.
There are many auto insurance companies out there, and it can be hard to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Compare the coverage, cost, discounts, and policy add-ons of the best auto insurance companies in Florida picked by PropertyNest expert editors.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in FL
Best Car Insurance Companies in Florida
- GEICO: For Offering Some of the Lowest Rates
- Progressive: Best for Accident Forgiveness
- Amica: Best for Many Coverages
- State Farm: Best for Buying Multiple Policies
- Liberty Mutual: Best for New Car Replacement
- Farmers: Best for the Most Discounts
- Travelers: Best for Gap Insurance
GEICO: For Offering Some of the Lowest Rates
GEICO is known for its easy-to-use website and robust mobile app that makes it super easy for you to get a quote or make a claim.
GEICO is also generally known to offer some of the lowest rates in the auto insurance industry, which makes it one of the best car insurance companies in Florida.
In the United States, car insurance costs $150 per month or $1,800 per year for full coverage.
Meanwhile, GEICO is significantly cheaper than the national average.
With an average annual rate of $1,414, GEICO is the lowest priced car insurance company in Florida.
Read a full GEICO auto insurance editorial review.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 824 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A++ |
| BBB | A+ |
Progressive: Best Auto Insurance for Accident Forgiveness
Progressive is known for its excellent auto coverage, and that’s why it’s popular with many car drivers.
It’s also known for its accident forgiveness programs.
That’s right, Progressive has more than one accident forgiveness plan that you can choose.
- Small Accident Forgiveness. During your first policy term with Progressive, the insurer won't raise your rate if your claim is less than $500.
- Large Accident Forgiveness. If you are a loyal customer and have remained with Progressive for at least five years and haven’t had an accident or a violation for up to five years, your premium won’t increase if you have one.
- Progressive Accident Forgiveness. For additional protection at a cost, the insurer’s Accident Forgiveness plan will allow you to have one accident forgiven each year.
Read a full Progressive car insurance review.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 803 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 2.24 |
Amica: Best Car Insurance for Many Coverages
Amica Mutual is one of the oldest car insurance in the U.S. and one of the best car insurance companies in Florida.
The insurer has many coverage options that you can add to your policy at a cost. Some of them you won’t want to live without.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 891 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A+ |
| BBB | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 1.32 |
State Farm: Best for Buying Multiple Policies
Buying multiple policies and then bundling them is a smart move. It simplifies all insurance products with the same company by getting only one bill.
State Farm does just that with its multi-policy discounts.
If you have multiple insurance policies and want to consolidate, State Farm is best for you.
You can bundle car with home or renters insurance and life and condo insurance.
No matter what product you bundle with auto, you’ll see a savings discount on your premium.
And, if you have more than one car and insure all of them with State Farm, you’ll also see a savings discount. This is the multi-car discount.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 814 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A++ |
| BBB | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 4.29 |
Liberty Mutual: Best Auto Insurance for New Car Replacement
Liberty Mutual has a killer mobile app that saves you time and is easy to use. You can use it to file claims, upload claim photos, get repair quotes, request a rental car after a covered accident, and contact emergency roadside assistance, to name a few.
Its New Car Replacement coverage is also exceptional. If you total your new car during the first year after you bought the car, you’ll be reimbursed for a brand-new car.
That means you don’t get the depreciated value of your car (actual cash value). Instead, you get the replacement cost value of the car.
And, at an extra cost, if your car is involved in an accident and requires auto body work that takes a few days or more, the insurer will pay for the cost of a rental.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 818 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A |
| BBB | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 1.80 |
Farmers: Best for the Most Discounts
While Farmers has rates that are slightly higher than insurers of the same size, it offers many discounts—the most in the auto insurance market—that can significantly reduce your premium.
Farmers offers many of the same other discounts that other car insurance companies plus some of their other signature discounts such as their Affinity discount and unique family-based discounts.
As always, anyone shopping for car insurance discounts should be wary that not every single discount may be available in their state.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 839 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A |
| BBB | A- |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 1.19 |
Travelers: Best Car Insurance for Gap Insurance
Travelers offers competitive rates for its auto policies and earns top marks from policyholders for claims handling.
The insurer offers gap insurance, which can come in handy to those who have a loan on their car.
If you total your car before it’s paid off or if you have a loan or lease on the car, gap insurance will pay the difference between your loan’s balance and the car’s value.
So, gap insurance will protect you if you still have a loan or lease on your car and you owe more than your car’s current worth.
In addition, the insurer will also make sure your rates won’t go up after you’ve totaled your car if you have one accident and one minor violation on your record.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 824 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A++ |
| BBB | A |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 3.88 |
Allstate: Best Auto Insurance for Antique or Classic Cars
You may have a classic or antique car you don’t use it. Or, you may use it only on special occasions because you know it would be costly to repair, and because many auto repair or body shops don’t have the parts.
And besides, the basic auto policy may not be enough to cover any damages to your classic car.
That’s why you should get Classic Car Insurance from Allstate.
The insurer offers additional coverage to reduce your personal liability.
That’s not the only unique coverage you can get with Allstate.
Another one is trip-specific. If you plan to go to Mexico, you can buy extra coverage for your car in case you get into an accident or have an incident during your trip.
Just keep in mind that each coverage comes at a cost.
| J.D. Power (out of 1,000) | 826 |
|---|---|
| A.M. Best - Financial Strength Rating | A+ |
| NAIC Complaint Index | 4.04 |
| BBB | A- |
What is Auto Insurance?
Auto insurance covers the costs if you hurt someone or damage that person’s property with your car.
It also covers damage to your car, such as if you back into someone’s garage.
And depending on your policy’s coverage, car insurance can also pay for medical expenses if you are injured in an accident.
Is Auto Insurance Mandatory in Florida?
Drivers in Florida must carry no-fault insurance before registering and legally operating their vehicle in the state.
In Florida, you must have minimum coverage for the two necessary coverages.
- $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP)
- $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL) coverage
Bodily injury liability insurance in Florida is not technically required, which is the insurance that covers other drivers’ injuries if you are at fault in a car collision or accident.
Why is Auto Insurance Necessary in Florida?
Florida is besieged by many highways and drivers who drive above the speed limit, drivers who drive without a license, or drivers who do not have the proper coverage (or any coverage).
Even if you are careful or practice safe driving, other drivers may not.
Without auto insurance, you may just be another casualty.
Is Florida a No-Fault State?
Yes. In a no-fault state, your insurer will pay for your medical bills and lost wages after a covered accident, regardless of which driver caused the crash.
No-fault also refers to whose insurance kicks in first in relation to injuries. Because Florida is a no-fault state, each driver’s PIP will kick in after an accident to cover the medical expenses and the lost wages up to the policy limits.
The terms “no-fault insurance” and “PIP insurance” are used interchangeably.
PDL insurance pays to repair damage to other people’s property.
Besides no-fault states, there are also fault states. Most fault states require drivers to carry bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance.
If you have bodily injuries after crashing your car, or your car is totaled, and you need medical attention, additional liability coverage will help you out.In no-fault states like Florida, drivers must carry PIP and PDL coverage, as stated above.
Property damage liability (PDL) insurance pays to repair damage to other people’s property.
What Does a Basic Auto Insurance Plan Cover?
The standard car insurance coverage is made up of the following.
Liability
Liability insurance covers property damage or injuries you may have caused to others in an accident. Liability also includes medical payments if you or your passengers were injured in a car accident.
Bodily Injury
Bodily injury liability pays for injuries you cause to another driver if you are at fault in an accident. It covers a driver’s medical expenses and lost wages if the driver can’t work due to injuries.
Property Damage
Property damage liability kicks in when you damage another person’s property while driving, such as colliding with a fence or ruining a garage, or other structure. Property damage will cover any expenses related to repairs or replacements.
Should You Increase Your Limits?
The above minimum limits for PDL and PIP aren’t enough to cover expensive medical treatments or extensive damages to another car.
That’s because Florida’s minimum coverage limits for PIP and PDL are relatively low.
Even a non-serious accident could cost more than $10,000 in property damage or $10,000 in medical expenses.
If you have bodily injuries after crashing your car, or your car is totaled, and you need medical attention, more liability will help you out.
If your policy limits are exhausted or you have reached your accident limits, you will be held responsible for the remaining out-of-pocket costs.
So, it is wise to purchase higher coverage limits to protect yourself from a financial setback.
And if your car is financed, it may be mandatory for you to carry higher limits than the minimum amounts required by the state.
Are There Other Coverages I May Need?
Having PIP and PDL in Florida means buying additional auto insurance, such as personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and comprehensive and collision coverage is optional.
These could raise your rates, but some may be necessary for you to have.
Here are some of the essential additional auto insurance coverages available in Florida.
Collision Coverage
If you are involved in an accident, your collision coverage handles the cost of any damages made to your vehicle.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage handles damages relating to natural occurrences that are unforeseen or couldn’t have been predicted.
These are also called named perils. A named or covered peril is what your auto insurer agrees to reimburse you after you file a claim.
The perils that are covered include theft, fire, water, earthquake, explosion, riot, damage to vehicles during transport, and severe weather damage like hail, lightning, and wind.
Comprehensive covers damage to your car that isn’t a collision.
For example, if a tree falls on your car during a storm and destroys your car, comprehensive coverage will pay for any damages.
Both collision and comprehensive coverage are referred to as “full coverage.”
Both are common optional coverages designed to additionally protect you and which a basic policy never covers unless you add each coverage to your policy.
If you lease or finance your car, collision and comprehensive coverage may be required.
While optional, if you forgo collision and comprehensive coverage, this means you won’t be covered for damage to your automobile caused by an at fault accident. You also won’t be covered for damage caused by falling objects, vandalism, fire, theft, lightning, windstorms, or earthquakes.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist is optional coverage.
If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured, at-fault driver or a driver that does not have enough insurance to cover the claim, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can help cover any damages you incur.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
If you are injured in a car accident, regardless of who caused it, PIP will cover any medical treatments you need.
In no-fault states like Florida, PIP coverage is mandatory.
Unlike comprehensive and collision coverage, which you may be required to have, there are also several coverages that aren’t required for you to buy, but may be necessary for you based on how much you drive.
Roadside Assistance
Roadside assistance covers basic vehicle repairs if your car breaks down on the side of the road. It also helps cover costs associated with towing, gas delivery, battery services, tire changes, and more.
Rental Reimbursement
Rental reimbursement will pay you for the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired due to a covered claim.
Remember that you must have comprehensive or collision (or both) insurance to qualify for rental reimbursement.
Gap Insurance
For those who lease or finance a new car, gap insurance pays for the difference between the car’s value and the remaining balance on the loan after an accident.
New Car Replacement
If you have collision and comprehensive coverage and experience a collision that totals your car, your auto insurer will replace the totaled vehicle with a brand-new one.
To qualify, your car must be new or relatively new.
What Does Auto Insurance Not Cover?
There are many things that an auto insurer will not cover. These include:
Personal Property Left Inside Car
These will not be covered if a thief breaks into your car and steals your expensive stereo speakers.
Regular Repairs and Maintenance
Repairs that result from regular wear and tear are not covered. An example is that inspections are not covered. Also, a routine oil change or a leaky radiator is not covered.
Ridesharing
Some policies may exclude claims for damage caused while driving for rideshares such as Uber and Lyft.
Classic Cars, Exotic Automobiles, Vintage Cars
Exotic and vintage cars that are high in cost and expensive to replace or repair are usually not covered by a standard auto policy.
In most cases, you may have to turn to specialty insurers to buy an entirely separate policy on top of your basic policy.
What Factors Determine Your Premium?
Insurance premiums vary greatly because each considers certain factors while offering policies to potential policyholders. This means no two comparable insurers will have identical prices for the same policy.
To determine your rate, the following are the most important factors impacting your car premium.
Age
Car insurance rates can vary based on your age. Young drivers pay more for car insurance since they are considered less experienced and more likely to get into an accident.
After the age of 25, driver’s insurance rates start to decrease.
In addition, if you are age 65 or older, you will have a higher premium because you are more likely to get into a car accident than younger adults.
Car Make and Model
Insurers prefer to insure safe and new vehicles, as they’re less likely to lead to expensive claims. So, your rate will go down if your automobile has a high safety rating, like a Volvo.
High-Risk Violations
Car accidents and traffic violations on your record can increase your rate because, in the eyes of an insurer, you are statistically more inclined to get into an accident or get a speeding ticket in the future.
Multiple infractions also make you a high-risk customer.
Yearly Mileage
Your yearly mileage is also a factor because the more you are on the road, the more likely it is that you’ll be involved in an accident. For example, if you have a long daily commute rather than just driving your car around for leisure, the more you’ll pay.
Credit History
Drivers with poor credit scores pay more than drivers with good credit. Insurers believe you are more likely to skip payments or not pay at all and you are also more likely to file claims if your credit score is under 650.
Driving Record/Claims
If you have a clean record, you’ll pay less. But if you make a claim or make multiple claims, your rates will rise whether or not the accidents are your fault.
Marital Status
Married drivers are statistically the least risky drivers to insure, and usually don’t have accidents.
Can You Lower Your Premium?
Yes, you can, and in many ways.
Shop Around for a Lower Rate
The best way to get a rate that fits your budget is to shop around and get quotes from several insurers. Remember that all quotes should cover the same amount of coverage and deductibles you want.
In addition, you should give each auto insurer the same information for drivers and cars that you want to be covered. Only then can you shop around properly by comparing quotes to find the best car insurance companies in Florida.
Search for Discounts
Every major insurer gives discounts based on your driving history, vehicle features, and policy choices. For example, many insurers offer discounts that allow drivers to save a percentage off their rates. If you bundle, insure more than one car with the same company, opt for paperless communications, pay online, set up automatic payments, or pay your policy entirely upfront, you’ll save.
Increase Your Deductible
The higher your deductible is, the less you’ll pay for your premium. For example, if you go from $250 to $500 you can reduce the cost of your collision and comprehensive coverage.
Reduce Your Coverage
You can lower your policy limits. Or you can forgo adding unnecessary types of coverage that you may not use.
For example, you should avoid purchasing collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is old and is not worth much.
Keep in mind that you must make sure that your coverages are still in compliance with your state’s insurance laws.
Be a Careful Driver
If you can avoid an accident or drive carefully so you won’t get into one, your rate will drop. It will also drop if you don’t get any tickets or if you have a commute to work that is not long.
The more you are out on the road, the greater the chance you’ll have an accident or a traffic violation. So, your insurer will consider you to be a low-risk driver if you stay safe on the road and stay off the road as much as you can (for example, look into carpooling).
Buy an Insurance-Friendly Car
Expensive cars, sports cars, and cars with high theft rates are more expensive to insure than moderately priced and less-risky vehicles.
Before you buy a new car, you should get an insurance quote and decide whether or not the cost of coverage fits within your budget.
Improve Your Credit
Since your credit history is correlated to your likelihood of filing an insurance claim, the higher your credit score, the lower your rate. You can improve your credit by paying off high-balance credit cards, keep paying on time, and avoiding things that require a hard credit pull, such as applying for a loan or a new credit card.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Florida?
The cost of your car policy varies depending on different factors.
Here are some of the factors.
- Your insurance history.
- Your driving experience.
- How many miles you drive.
- Where you live, work, or park your car.
- Your past violations and accident history.
- Your age, gender, and marital status.
- Your vehicle's make, model, and year.
That said, the average cost of car insurance in the United States is $150 per month or $1,800 per year for full coverage.
Meanwhile, auto insurance in Florida is expensive. Florida is the third most expensive state in the country for car insurance.
The average cost of car insurance in Florida is $160 per month or $1,920 per year for full coverage.
Several factors contribute to why car insurance in Florida is so expensive. These include busy roadways, additional insurance requirements, high healthcare costs, rates of uninsured drivers, and the risk of severe weather.
How We Picked the Best Auto Insurance Companies in Florida
We researched auto insurance companies to find the best ones using such factors as discounts, coverage, technology, customer reviews, and price.
Discounts
We looked at companies with the most discounts so you can save on your policy. The multi-policy and multi-car discounts were the most important to us. Each gives you the highest discount available.
Coverage
We looked at an insurer with extra or unique coverages so you could choose which ones to add to customize your policy, such as better car replacement, new car replacement, and gap insurance. Usually, these features cost additional, but the plus side is that your policy becomes more comprehensive.
Technology
We considered whether an insurer had an intuitive and easy-to-use website and mobile app that could provide you with great convenience.
If you could easily get a quote, buy a policy, file a claim, track a claim, check up on your policy, pay a bill, and more on an insurer’s website and mobile app, then that was a company we considered.
Customer Reviews
We looked at verified customer reviews from various websites that catered to reviewing auto insurance companies.
Price
There are many auto insurers out there, so the cost of a policy helped us narrow down our list, as we chose only the most affordable.
