Personal Automobile Insurance

Personal automobile insurance is purchased for cars, trucks, and other personal use vehicles. Its primary use is to provide protection against losses incurred as a result of traffic accidents and against liability that could be incurred in an accident.

What Coverage Is Required In Florida

In Florida, to purchase a tag, you must carry:

• A minimum of $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
• A minimum of $10,000 of Property Damage Liability

However, Florida’s Financial Responsibility law requires drivers to be financially responsible for bodily injuries to limits of $10,000 per person with a maximum of $20,000 per accident. If a driver or owner of a vehicle does not have sufficient cash reserves to meet the financial responsibility requirement, it is recommended to purchase Bodily Injury Liability. We recommend minimum limits of $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident.

Bodily Injury Liability (BI)

Bodily Injury Liability pays, up to policy limits, for death or serious and permanent injury to others when you are legally responsible for an accident involving your automobile. This coverage also provides legal representation if you get sued.

Property Damage Liability (PD)

Property Damage Liability pays, up to policy limits, for certain damage that you cause to another person’s property through the use of an automobile. The term property is not limited to another vehicle and may include a fence, telephone pole, building or animal.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

PIP was designed to help reduce the need for Floridians to sue to cover injuries resulting from automobile accidents. PIP covers the named insured and other members of the household. PIP pays:

• 80 percent of medically necessary expenses;
• 60 percent of lost wages;
• 100 percent of replacement services such as child care, housekeeping, or yard work;
• Up to $5,000 for death benefits.

The basic PIP limit is $10,000. However, additional PIP may be purchased.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM)

Uninsured motorist coverage is used when the at-fault driver can’t pay due to lack of insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage is used when the driver’s liability limits are lower than the costs of the accident.

The coverage typically has two components, but it varies from state to state:

• Coverage for bodily injury provides insurance for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement and permanent or partial disability.
• Coverage for property damage provides insurance for auto repairs, total loss, rental car and damage to personal items carried in the vehicle.

Additional coverage considerations include:

• For UM/UIM to pay, it must be established that the other driver was at fault. Comparative negligence allows for more than one person to be at fault for an accident. As a result, your company can reduce the settlement of your uninsured/underinsured motorist claim by the percentage of fault attributable to you.
• UM coverage pays losses up to the coverage limits from an accident caused by a hit-and-run driver, but be sure to report the accident promptly.

What Other Coverages Are Available

• Medical Payments
• Comprehensive (a/k/a Other than Collision)
• Collision
• Towing
• Rental Reimbursement

Other Drivers in Household

Any driver that resides in the home with the insured or has regular usage of the insured's vehicle, must be listed on the policy. If this information was not disclosed to the insurance company, they can deny a claim and cancel the policy for material misrepresentation. If the driver is not living in the household and does not have regular usage of the vehicle and the insured provided permission to drive the vehicle, applicable coverage may apply. Be certain to read your policy as some policies only cover listed operators.

What Can We Do For You!

As an independent agent McGraw Insurance Services can comb the marketplace looking for just the right deal for you - even the unadvertised ones! Because of relationships with both big and small carriers, we are typically able to find deals that you would not be able to find on your own. Plus, the great thing is that we do all of the work for you. We're experts at matching your insurance needs with just the right carrier. Put us to the test. As an Independent Agent, we scour the marketplace to find the perfect policy for your needs. You can quote car insurance rates online by clicking on our “quote here” button found on this page. You will receive an immediate indication with a few of our carriers. We will also email you the quote details within 24 hours.

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