Tuesday 27 December 2016

Florida Car Insurance

There are a lot of great attractions in the state of Florida and that is why so many people choose to explore this fine US state however before you do so you need to be properly educated in the laws concerning Florida car insurance.  Florida’s average car insurance premium is $1, 714.88 which is higher than the national average car insurance premium which is $1, 436.40. If you are looking to get cheap auto insurance in Florida be sure to enter your Zip Code at the top.

Vehicle Insurance Requirements in FL

In Florida, motorists are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage and Property Damage Liability coverage. This type of coverage is often referred to as PIP/PD. Motorists in Florida are required to have a minimum of $10,000 in property liability coverage and a minimum coverage limit of $10,000 for personal injury protection. Personal injury protection (PIP) helps pay for “necessary and reasonable” medical expenses of both you and your passengers.

The state of Florida doesn’t mandate its drivers to have bodily injury liability coverage unlike other US states. Just like Delaware, the no-fault system is observed and practiced in Florida which means your insurance company will have to pay up if you make claims for your injury regardless of whether you caused the accident or the other party caused it.

Florida has very minimum car insurance coverage requirements but you should consider going beyond the mandated coverage of the state in order to truly be sure that your auto insurance policy will be able to give you protection. As you know car repair expenses and medical expenses can greatly increase in a very quick manner that if you have only the minimum coverage it may not be able to shoulder all the expenses.

Considering the US economy’s current state, car insurance can be quite burdensome for most motorists. It is understandable that you would like to save money from your car insurance. How do you get it? Shop around for car insurance quotes from various auto insurance providers before settling for one. You should also look at the car you are driving. Hot car models tend to increase your car insurance premium rate so if you want to have lower car insurance premium rates, get a modest looking car. What do we mean by modest? We mean a car that won’t get so much attention from people – especially the ones with bad intentions like car thieves.10 Most Stolen Car Models in the State of Florida

Here are the top ten most stolen cars in Florida which you should consider avoiding:

2000 Honda Civic
1994 Honda Accord
2007 Toyota Camry
2004 Ford F150 Pickup
2000 Dodge Caravan
2004 Dodge Ram
2005 Nissan Altima
1995 Nissan Maxima
2009 Toyota Corolla
2002 Ford Explorer
Florida’s Driving Under the Influence Penalties

If you’re pulled over by an officer of the law in Florida for being suspected of driving under the influence (DUI), there are various penalties you would be facing depending on your offense.

If you are caught and convicted of driving under the influence in Florida for the first time, you would be facing jail time – a maximum sentence of 6 months. And if there was a minor in your vehicle when you were pulled over, you would be facing jail time – a maximum of 9 months. First time DUI offenders are also required to pay a fine – an amount anywhere from $250 to $500. If a minor however is with you when you were caught, your fine would be an amount anywhere from $500 to $1,000. If you can’t afford to pay the DUI fines, the court can grant you community service in lieu of it. Your driver’s license will also be suspended for a minimum of 180 days to a year.

First time DUI offenders are also required to complete 12 hours of DUI school. Failure to complete DUI school within 90 days after getting your driver’s license reinstated could result in license cancellation. Your vehicle will also be impounded for 10 days unless your family declares that they have no other means of transportation aside from your car. First time DUI offenders in Florida are also required to render community service – a mandatory of 50 hours. Don’t want to do community service? You can pay a fine of $10 for each hour of community service you are required to render instead. First time DUI offenders will be subjected to a six month ignition interlock device program which will prevent you from starting your car if your BAC levels register above the legal limit.

Second time DUI offenders in Florida will be required to go to jail for a maximum of 9 months but if your second DUI conviction comes within 5 years after your first, your jail time will be increased to a maximum of 12 months.

Second time DUI offenders in the state of Florida will also be required to pay a fine, an amount anywhere from $500 to $1,000. If a minor was with you in the vehicle, you will be required to pay a fine, an amount anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. Your driver’s license can also be suspended for a minimum of 180 days to a year. If your second DUI conviction comes within 5 years of your first, there is a 5 year mandatory revocation of one’s driver’s license.  You can request for hardship reinstatement of your driver’s license after a year.

Aside from these, your vehicle will also be impounded for 30 days if your second offense comes within 5 years of your first conviction. It can be waived however if your family can prove that they have no other means of transportation. The state of Florida will also require second time DUI offenders to complete 21 hours of DUI school following a conviction and undergo a probationary period of 1 year. If you have no means of paying your DUI fines, the court may require you to do community service in lieu of it.

Second time DUI offenders will also be subjected to a mandatory ignition interlock device program for a year.

The state of Florida observes the zero tolerance law when it comes to drivers under the age of 21. What does this mean? It means that if you’re caught with a blood alcohol level of .02 or higher in your system when you were behind the wheel, your driver’s license will be suspended for six months. In other words, if you’re under the age of 21, you are not allowed to drink and drive. If you’re over the age of 21, the legal alcohol limit in the state of Florida is .08.

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