New to Florida? Here's What Insurance You Actually Need

Welcome to Florida. Now Let's Talk Insurance

If you just moved to Florida from literally anywhere else, your insurance situation is about to get more complicated. That's not meant to scare you — it's just reality. Florida's combination of hurricanes, flooding, litigation environment, and a volatile carrier market makes it the most complex personal insurance state in the country. The coverage you had up north or out west probably doesn't translate directly to what you need here.

I work with transplants constantly: people moving to South Florida from New York, New Jersey, the Midwest, California, and the same questions come up every time. This guide covers all of them.

Auto Insurance: Florida's Minimum Is Not Enough

Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, which means your own insurance covers your injuries regardless of who caused the accident (up to your policy limits). The state minimum requirements are $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL). That's it — Florida doesn't legally require bodily injury liability coverage.

Let me be blunt: carrying only the state minimum is a terrible idea. If you cause an accident that injures someone seriously and you don't carry Bodily Injury Liability (BI), you are personally liable for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In a state with one of the highest litigation rates in the country, that's a financial catastrophe waiting to happen.

Florida doesn't require bodily injury liability coverage, but driving without it is one of the biggest financial risks you can take. We recommend at least 100/300/100 limits.

At a minimum, I recommend 100/300/100 liability limits (that's $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident bodily injury, and $100,000 property damage). You should also carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, because a lot of Florida drivers are carrying minimums or are uninsured entirely. If one of them hits you, your UM/UIM coverage protects you and your passengers.

One more thing: if you're used to comprehensive and collision being cheap, brace yourself. Florida's auto insurance rates are among the highest in the nation, driven by high accident rates, rampant fraud, and extreme weather. We'll shop multiple carriers to find the best rate, but don't be shocked at the price compared to your old state.

Homeowners Insurance: Completely Different Ballgame

If you're buying a home in South Florida, homeowners insurance is going to be one of the biggest surprises. Premiums are significantly higher than the national average, carriers are pickier about what they'll insure, and the coverage structure has nuances that don't exist in other states.

Hurricane Deductibles

Every Florida homeowners policy has a separate hurricane deductible, usually 2%, 5%, or 10% of your dwelling coverage. This is a percentage, not a flat dollar amount. On a $400,000 home, a 2% hurricane deductible is $8,000 out of pocket. A 5% deductible is $20,000. This is the first thing you need to understand about your policy.

Roof Age Matters. A Lot.

In most other states, the age of your roof is a minor factor. In Florida, it's the single biggest determinant of your insurability and premium. Many carriers won't write a new policy if the roof is older than 15 years. Some draw the line at 10 or 20, depending on the roofing material. Before you buy a home in Florida, know the age and condition of the roof. It directly affects your insurance options and cost.

Wind Mitigation

Florida requires insurers to offer discounts for homes with wind-resistant features. A wind mitigation inspection ($75–$150) documents things like your roof shape, roof-to-wall connections, impact-rated windows, and secondary water resistance. These credits can save you hundreds per year. Get this done immediately after closing.

Citizens Property Insurance

If you can't find coverage in the private market (which happens, especially in coastal areas or with older roofs), you may end up with Citizens Property Insurance, which is Florida's state-backed insurer of last resort. Citizens isn't bad coverage, but it comes with some caveats, including potential surcharge assessments after major hurricane events. We always try the private market first and use Citizens as a fallback.

Flood Insurance: Your Homeowners Policy Doesn't Cover It

This is the number-one thing that surprises people moving to Florida. Your homeowners insurance does not cover flooding — at all, in any way, under any circumstances. Flood damage requires a completely separate policy, either through the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) or a private flood carrier.

If your new home is in a FEMA high-risk flood zone (A or V zones), your mortgage lender will require flood insurance. But even if you're in Zone X (lower risk), I strongly recommend it. South Florida floods. It floods from hurricanes, it floods from afternoon thunderstorms, it floods from king tides and drainage failures. A private flood policy for a Zone X property can be surprisingly affordable, often $300–$600 per year.

For a deeper dive on this, read our article: Do I Actually Need Flood Insurance in Florida?

Condo Insurance: Don't Assume the HOA Covers You

If you're buying a condo, you need an HO-6 policy (walls-in coverage). Your HOA has a master policy that covers the building's structure, common areas, and shared systems, but it doesn't cover anything inside your unit. Your personal belongings, interior finishes (cabinets, flooring, fixtures), liability, and loss of use all need to be covered by your personal HO-6 policy.

The critical thing to check is your HOA's loss assessment exposure. If a hurricane damages the building and the HOA's master policy doesn't fully cover the repairs, the HOA can levy a special assessment against unit owners — potentially tens of thousands of dollars per unit. Standard HO-6 policies include only $1,000–$2,000 in loss assessment coverage. I recommend increasing that to at least $25,000–$50,000.

Umbrella Insurance: The Best Deal Nobody Buys

An umbrella policy provides an extra layer of liability coverage above your auto and home (or condo) policy limits. In a state with one of the most aggressive litigation environments in the country, this is one of the most valuable — and most affordable — policies you can buy.

A $1 million umbrella policy typically costs around $200–$300 per year. That's roughly $20/month for $1 million in additional protection against lawsuits, major auto accidents, injuries at your home, and more. If you have any real assets to protect, an umbrella policy is a no-brainer.

Renters Insurance: Yes, You Need It Too

If you're renting while you get settled in Florida (which a lot of transplants do), don't skip renters insurance. Your landlord's property insurance covers the building, not your stuff. A renters policy covers your personal belongings, provides liability protection, and costs about $15/month. Many landlords in South Florida require it as part of the lease.

The New-to-Florida Insurance Stack

Here's what I recommend for most people moving to South Florida, whether they're buying or renting. If you're buying a home, you need auto insurance with at least 100/300/100 limits plus UM/UIM coverage, homeowners insurance with appropriate dwelling limits and a manageable hurricane deductible, flood insurance (separate policy, even in Zone X), umbrella insurance ($1M minimum), and a wind mitigation inspection ASAP. If you're renting, you need auto insurance (same recommendations), renters insurance, and flood insurance if you're on the ground floor or in a flood-prone area.

Bundling your auto and home (or renters) policies typically provides the best overall pricing. We can quote everything together and build you a complete protection strategy from day one.