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The drivers most likely to skip BI to save money are the least likely to have $10,000 sitting in a bank account when the state comes calling. Tens of thousands of Florida drivers are in this gap right now and don't know it.
Does Your Florida Auto Policy Actually Have Bodily Injury Coverage?
If you bought auto insurance online in Florida — through GEICO, Progressive, a comparison site, or any platform where you picked the cheapest option — there's a real chance your policy only includes PIP and property damage.
No bodily injury coverage. At all.
You probably don't know that. Most people don't. They assume "auto insurance" means they're covered if they hurt someone in an accident. In Florida, that's not necessarily true.
If you cause an at-fault accident without bodily injury coverage, Florida will suspend your license, require an SR-22 filing for three years, and demand reinstatement costs that can exceed $10,000 out of pocket. That's before the injured party's medical bills even enter the picture.
Why Do So Many Florida Drivers Have No Bodily Injury Coverage?
When you shop online, most platforms show you a "minimum coverage" option. In Florida, that means PIP and property damage. It's the cheapest number on the screen.
No one asks if you own a home. No one asks about your savings. No one explains that the cheapest quote doesn't include coverage for injuries you cause to another person.
You see a price. You click a button. You drive away thinking you're insured.
We see this in our office constantly. A new client brings in a policy they've been paying on for years. We pull the declarations page. PIP and property damage only. No bodily injury. No uninsured motorist. Nothing that would protect them or anyone they hit.
They had no idea.
What Happens When a PIP-Only Policy Meets a Real Accident?
We had a client — the husband — with 100/300 bodily injury through our agency. Solid coverage.
He got married. His wife had her own auto policy through another carrier. Bought it online. Cheaper premium.
We recommended moving her car onto his policy at the same 100/300 limits. One household, one well-built policy.
They declined. Her policy was "cheaper." They didn't want to change it.
We added her as a driver on his car so she'd be covered when driving his vehicle. But her car stayed on her separate policy elsewhere.
What they didn't realize — and what we couldn't see on a policy we didn't write — was that her policy was PIP and property damage only. No bodily injury liability.
She got into an at-fault accident driving her own car.
The consequences came fast.
No bodily injury coverage meant she triggered Florida's Financial Responsibility Law. Her license was suspended.
She had to pay approximately $10,000 out of pocket just to get her license reinstated.
Then — after all of that — she still had to go buy proper bodily injury coverage anyway. The state required her to file an SR-22 and maintain it for three consecutive years, proving she now carried at least 10/20/10.
That meant higher premiums on every policy for three full years.
The cost to put her car on his 100/300 policy from day one? A fraction of what they ended up paying.
How Do You Check If Your Policy Has Bodily Injury?
Pull your declarations page. Your carrier sends one at every renewal, and most make it available online or in their app. Look for these three lines:
- Bodily Injury Liability (BI).
Should show a limit like 100/300 or 250/500. If it says "Not Included," "Rejected," or isn't listed at all — you have no BI coverage. - Property Damage Liability (PD).
If this says $10,000, that barely covers a bumper on a late-model SUV. - Uninsured Motorist (UM/UIM).
If this isn't listed, you have no protection when one of Florida's 1-in-5 uninsured drivers hits you.
Not sure what your policy actually covers?
Send us your declarations page. We'll tell you exactly what you have, what you're missing, and what it costs to fix — across 11 auto insurance companies.
No obligation. No pressure. Just answers.Frequently Asked Questions
Is bodily injury liability required in Florida?
Not to register or drive your car. Florida only requires PIP and property damage. You can legally be on the road with no bodily injury coverage at all. However, the Financial Responsibility Law (§324.021–.023) enforces a 10/20/10 BI requirement after you cause an at-fault bodily injury accident. Consequences include license suspension, an SR-22 filing for three consecutive years, and reinstatement costs that can exceed $10,000. The law doesn't prevent the problem. It punishes you after the fact. Either way, 10/20 is dangerously low. We recommend at least 100/300/100.
What is an SR-22 in Florida?
An SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the state proving you now carry at least 10/20/10 in liability coverage. You're required to file one after causing a bodily injury accident without BI coverage. It must be maintained for three consecutive years. Any lapse restarts the clock.
Why do online carriers sell policies without bodily injury?
Because Florida's registration requirements only mandate PIP and property damage to register the car. Carriers are legally allowed to sell policies that meet registration minimums. The cheapest quote on screen is always a PIP/PD-only policy — and most consumers pick the lowest price without understanding what's missing.
How much does it cost to add bodily injury coverage?
The difference between a PIP/PD-only policy and one with 100/300 bodily injury is typically $300 to $600 per year — less than $50 per month for many drivers. For guidance on which limits fit your household, see How Much Auto Insurance Do I Need in Florida?
Should I put all household vehicles on one policy?
Yes. Consolidating all vehicles onto a single policy ensures consistent coverage, qualifies you for multi-car discounts, and eliminates the exact gap described in this article. If you're ready to compare rates, visit our auto insurance page or request a free quote.
Reviewed by Susan Augustyniak, CIC — Licensed Insurance Agent, Augustyniak Insurance Group. Independent agency serving Jacksonville and Northeast Florida since 2005.
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