Comprehensive Car Insurance In Florida

If you drive an automobile in the state of Florida, chances are you have come across the term comprehensive car insurance while looking to get auto insurance coverage. But what exactly is comprehensive car insurance and why should you consider purchasing a policy?

In a nutshell, comprehensive car insurance covers non-vehicle related accidents to your car. This type of auto insurance can be an excellent policy to protect your car from the many unforeseen things that can damage your car while your not even behind the wheel.

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What Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover In Florida?

Your auto liability insurance helps protect you and your vehicle in the event of personal injury or property damage resulting from a collision. However, how do you protect your vehicle when a tree branch falls on it, causing a dent? This is where comprehensive car insurance comes in handy.

Comprehensive car insurance covers your vehicle from the dangers awaiting your car outside of driving. This type of policy protects your car from a wide array of non-vehicle related accidents. Incidents covered by comprehensive car insurance include:

Falling objects
Vandalism
Auto theft
Windshield damage
Running into an animal
Lighting strikes
Hail
Earthquakes
Floods
Fires
Tornadoes

Car with comprehensive auto insurance coverage on Tampa road

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Did you know that independent agents handle more than 50 percent of all active car insurance policies in the country? Give us a call today at (813) 685-9393 and we can get started!

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Is There Anything Not Covered?

While comprehensive insurance does cover your car from quite a lot, you should take note of what is not covered by comprehensive car insurance. Most importantly, comprehensive insurance is not a substitute for liability insurance. Auto liability insurance is absolutely crucial for protecting you and your car in the event of a collision.

Additionally, comprehensive coverage will not cover your vehicle if you collide with an object, have property stolen from inside your car, need roadside assistance or towing, or drive a rental car. Fortunately, there are other insurance policies available to cover all of your needs.

Is Comprehensive Car Insurance Required In Florida?

The short answer is no, comprehensive car insurance is not required by Florida state law. Under Florida law, drivers must have two types of insurance, personal injury protection insurance and property damage liability insurance. The law requires that you have a minimum $10,000 limit for each of these insurance policies.

However, there are some instances where comprehensive car insurance is required, such as leasing or financing a vehicle. Typically lenders will require you to have full coverage in these scenarios. But this does not mean you should not get comprehensive car insurance simply because it is not required by law. Comprehensive coverage can be extremely valuable and save you from worrying about the safety of your vehicle when you’re not driving.

Man feels good driving after saving money on his car insurance in Florida

Cars covered with comprehensive car insurance in Florida

Should You Invest In Comprehensive Car Insurance?

Comprehensive car insurance should be a serious consideration for most drivers. For instance, animal collisions are a serious issue, with over 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions reported every year leading to more than $1 billion in vehicle repair costs, you can rest easy knowing your car is protected in an animal collision because you invested in comprehensive coverage.

People who live in areas with a high volume of natural disasters should also consider investing in comprehensive car insurance. For people living on the coasts of Florida, comprehensive car insurance can keep you car safe from the annual threats posed by hurricanes, such as flooding and damage from falling trees.

Additionally, drivers who live in areas with higher levels of reported car theft and vandalism should consider purchasing comprehensive coverage. There is no greater annoyance than walking out to your parked car to find it has been keyed. Without comprehensive coverage you’ll be paying for that damage out of pocket.

Minimum Coverage Requirements For Car Insurance In Florida

As mentioned above, Florida does have minimum requirements for car insurance that include a personal injury protection policy and a property damage liability policy. The requirements for each policy are:

Personal injury protection (PIP): $10,000 per accident
Property damage liability (PDL): $10,000 per accident

However, simply meeting the minimum requirements for coverage may not be enough for some drivers. Let’s say you get in to a particularly serious car accident and you are at fault. If the cost of property damage and personal injury are extremely high, you could end up paying quite a lot of money out of pocket. For this reason, many drivers opt to go for a policy with higher coverage limits.

Going above the minimum state requirements for coverage and getting full coverage can also be very beneficial for most drivers. Rounding out your auto insurance with comprehensive coverage and a roadside assistance policy can help you in the event your car breaks down on the highway or is broken into while parked.

Florida drivers with comprehensive auto insurance in Hillsborough

Remember Florida Is a No-Fault State

Another important note to make when purchasing auto insurance is Florida is a no-fault state. But what does a no-fault state mean? This means Florida insurers must provide coverage for an accident regardless of who was at fault. This ensures that Florida drivers are provided with at least some level of protection and medical care following an accident.

Being a no-fault state is the reason Florida drivers must carry a PIP and PDL policy. However, if serious bodily injury or death occurs as a result of an accident, the at fault driver can still be sued. To further protect yourself from such a scenario, you may want to consider purchasing bodily injury liability insurance.

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Deciding on what auto insurance policy is right for you can certainly be a tough decision. Every driver is different and requires different policies to satisfy their individual needs. When you get behind the wheel of your car or leave it parked on the street you want to feel confident that your car is protected from any eventuality.

We believe peace of mind regarding the safety of your vehicle is a priceless asset. Expanding your policy to encompass comprehensive coverage can be indispensable, especially in Florida. As Floridians, we face the threat of natural disasters on a yearly basis.

Don’t get caught wishing you had comprehensive coverage following a catastrophic hurricane. Contact the experts at Talley Insurance today and learn more about what comprehensive coverage can do for your vehicle. Give us a call at (813) 685-9393!

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