If we’re all honest, no one likes shopping for car insurance. It’s not just that there are so many options and discounts that makes finding an affordable policy difficult, but also that there are so many companies available. That’s certainly true in Florida, where dozens of companies are competing for your business. To help find the right policy for you, at the best possible price, we’ve narrowed the best car insurance in Florida down to seven companies that we believe stand out above the rest. They reflect the best combination of premium costs, customer satisfaction, financial strength, policy options and discounts.
Progressive is on this list, and I must disclose that it’s the company I’ve been using for years. But despite my own positive experience with that company, we didn’t even rank them in the top three. The only way to know which company is the right car insurance provider for you is to get quotes from several. To make it easy for you, you can use the quote tool below from our insurance partner to check rates from several companies:
The Most Important Factors When Deciding on Car Insurance in Florida
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Buying car insurance in Florida is complicated by the fact that it’s one of the most expensive states in the country. According to Bankrate, the statewide average annual premium is a whopping $3,138. But Florida also has several unique provisions you’ll need to be aware of when shopping for a policy.
We recommend the following strategies as you move forward:
Don’t focus on a policy with the lowest coverage limits. The legally required minimum coverage amounts in Florida are so low that you can comply with DMV requirements but be only one step above being uninsured. Make sure the coverage in your policy will be adequate to deal with foreseeable driving hazards.
Look for discounts. Not all discounts apply to all drivers, so you’ll have to be very selective here. Where possible, focus on the car insurance companies that have the most discounts that apply to your driver profile. You may find the policy you get will be less expensive than that of other companies with lower premium averages.
Bundle and save. Most companies will give you a substantial discount if you have other types of policies with them. Most common are types of home-related policies, like homeowner’s, renter’s, or condo insurance.
If you’re having difficulty finding affordable car insurance, raise your deductible. This may be an absolute necessity in a high-cost car insurance state like Florida. Increasing your deductible may be the single best strategy to lower your premium. If you choose that option, just make sure you have enough funds in your emergency fund to cover the extra out-of-pocket costs you’ll need to pay with an at-fault accident.
The 7 Best Car Insurance Companies in Florida
Because of the many nuances involved in purchasing car insurance – not only the many differences between the providers but also your own personal driver profile – it’s important to compare quotes and coverage to determine what the best options are for your particular situation.
Based on our analysis, the following companies are the best in Florida:
Author’s Pick: Based on “voting with my feet”, Progressive is my own personal first choice, as it’s the company I use. I’ve had them for several years in two different states. But Florida is not one of those states, so you may find a different experience. They still placed a very respectable #4 on our list, but they may not be the right company for everyone.
With my own personal preference aside, we’ve compiled this list of what we believe to be the seven best car insurance providers in the state of Florida. We tried to be as objective as possible, relying on third-party sources, and even providing a list of potential negatives for each company.
Special Mention: USAA – Best for Members of the Military
USAA would be included as one of the best car insurance providers in nearly every state in the country, based on objective factors. For example, its average premium of $1,022 is by far the lowest in Florida. In fact, the premium is only slightly more than half the rate of Progressive, which has the next lowest average premium in the state. The company gets an A++ rating on financial strength from A.M. Best, and they had the highest J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction rating of all carriers in Florida, at 874 out of 1,000.
But USAA makes car insurance available only to veterans and active-duty members of the US military and their families. Since their coverage isn’t available to the general public, we’ve excluded it from the list below. But if you’re a member of the US military or an eligible veteran and you’re looking for car insurance, USAA should be your first choice.
1. Esurance
The Basics
| Policy Options | Medical and funeral services payments Rental reimbursement Customized parts and equipment Gap insurance Towing and labor |
| Discounts | Multi-car Vehicle safety equipment Homeowner Multi-policy (bundle) Paid in Full Claim-Free (at least five years with no claim or DUI/DWI) Defensive driver Good student |
Premiums: $1,473
Customer satisfaction rating: 836
Financial strength rating: A+
Why It Made the List
Esurance has the third-lowest average car insurance premiums in Florida (if you don’t count USAA). But it’s also in a third-place tie with State Farm in the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey, indicating they have a good record on paying claims. It’s also an excellent choice for good drivers since they offer their Claim-Free policy option if you have had no accident claims or DUIs in the past five years.
What Holds It Back
Esurance doesn’t offer quite as many policy options or discounts as its competitors. For example, they don’t offer ridesharing coverage, which is becoming more common as so many people turn to gig work to supplement their incomes.
2. State Farm
The Basics
| Policy Options | Car rental Travel expenses for an accident more than 50 miles from home Medical payments Emergency roadside assistance Rideshare Sports cars Antique classic cars Small business vehicle |
| Discounts | Accident-free Anti-theft equipment Defensive driving course Drive Safe & Save – driving monitoring app Good driving Good student Homeownership Multi-car Multi-policy Vehicle safety equipment Student away at school Steer Clear Safe Driver (complete education requirements and no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the previous three years – both met before turning 25) |
Premiums: $1,481
Customer satisfaction rating: 877
Financial strength rating: A++
Why It Made the List
State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the US and one of the leading companies in Florida. State Farm earned the #2 spot on our list because of a combination of their strong (#3) rating in customer satisfaction, and their A++ rating from A.M. Best, which is the highest financial strength rating that the company issues to an insurance provider.
But apart from the major criteria we used to create this list, State Farm has a full range of coverage options. For example, State Farm offers coverage for ridesharing drivers, which is important because that type of driving activity isn’t covered under a typical personal car insurance policy. And they also have one of the most extensive lists of available discounts in Florida, giving you more opportunities to save.
State Farm also plays well in our “best for” categories, ranking as the best source for good drivers, drivers with a moving violation, and ridesharing coverage.
What Holds It Back
There’s no indication State Farm provides gap coverage. This is a critical missing part since many drivers owe more to their vehicles than those vehicles are worth. Gap coverage is designed specifically to pay off excess debt. If it’s not offered, you’ll be on the hook to pay the difference.
3. Travelers
The Basics
| Policy Options | Gap coverage Rental coverage Roadside assistance Medical payments Ridesharing New car replacement Accident forgiveness (one accident and one minor violation every 36 months) Decreasing deductible ($50 every six months up to $500 you’re accident- or violation-free), New car replacement (replace your new vehicle with a brand-new vehicle of the same make and model if yours is totaled within the first five years of ownership) |
| Discounts | Multi-policy (bundling) Multi-car Homeownership Safe driver (10% for no accidents in three years, 23% for five years) Continuous insurance (up to 15%) Hybrid/electric vehicle New car Pay in full Good payer discounts Early quote Good student Student away at school Driver training IntelliDrive Program (uses a smart app to capture and score driver behavior, and could result in a 20% premium reduction) |
Premiums: $1,595
Customer satisfaction rating: 867
Financial strength rating: A++
Why It Made the List
Travelers took the number three position on a combination of factors, including having the second lowest average premium of the companies on our list, and the highest financial strength rating by A.M. Best. But the company also has plenty of policy options, like ridesharing, accident forgiveness, and decreasing deductibles. And a very long list of discounts likely goes a long way toward explaining why they’re one of the lowest-cost providers in Florida.
What Holds It Back
Travelers rank only #7 in customer satisfaction, which is below the statewide average. It can be an indication some of its customers are less than fully pleased with its claims-paying performance.
4. Progressive
The Basics
| Policy Options | Gap coverage Medical payments Rental car reimbursement Roadside assistance Custom parts and equipment value Rideshare coverage |
| Discounts | Snapshot app ($145 average discount) Bundle auto and property Name Your Price Tool (enter your desired premium, and Progressive will design a policy), Multi-policy (5% average discount) Multi-car (12% average discount) Continuous coverage Good student Distant students (more than 100 miles from home) Homeowner (average discount nearly 10%) Online quote (4% average discount) Sign online (8.5% average discount) Paperless Pay in full Automatic payment Small accident forgiveness – premium won’t be increased for a claim of less than $500 Large accident forgiveness – no rate increase in an accident if you have been a customer for a least 5 years, and no accidents for the past 3 years |
Premiums: $1,642
Customer satisfaction rating: 853
Financial strength rating: A+
Why It Made the List
Progressive might very well have more available discounts than any other company in Florida. This probably contributes to the company having the lowest statewide average premium in Florida, at $1,642 (discounting USAA). That’s more than $400 below the statewide average and a welcome relief in a state that has one of the highest premium levels in the country.
What Holds It Back
Progressive only ranks #11 in customer satisfaction in Florida, with only 853 out of 1,000 points. That may indicate problems on the customer service side, but more importantly, with the payment of claims.
5. GEICO
The Basics
| Policy Options | Emergency roadside assistance Rental reimbursement Mechanical breakdown Motorcycles, ATVs and recreational vehicles Collector autos Ridesharing Umbrella coverage for higher policy limits Mexico Auto Insurance |
| Discounts | Safety equipment New vehicle Good driver (five years accident-free) Seatbelt use Defensive driving Driver’s education Good student Federal employees Membership & Employee (in up to 500 groups) Emergency deployment Military Multi-vehicle Multi-policy |
Premiums: $1,353
Customer satisfaction rating: 857
Financial strength rating: A++
Why It Made the List
GEICO doesn’t have the lowest premiums in the state – though they’re still about $100 below the statewide average. The company also ranks a respectable #5 in customer satisfaction. But GEICO tops our list as the provider of choice for teen drivers and drivers with poor credit. The company also offers good policy options, including ridesharing and Mexico auto insurance, as well as plenty of discounts to get you a lower premium.
What Holds It Back
GEICO is another provider that doesn’t offer gap insurance. They also offer certain types of coverage through partner service providers, rather than directly from the company itself.
6. Auto-Owners Insurance
The Basics
| Policy Options | Classic cars Gap coverage Converted for modified vehicles Road trouble service New car replacement Rental car coverage Additional expense – to cover the cost of your stranded away from home Diminished value – protects your vehicle value if it declines even after repair Loan/lease gap coverage Personal Automobile Plus – create a package of 10 optional coverages for one competitive rate; includes identity theft, rekeying locks, replacing your cell phone and more |
| Discounts | Multi-policy On-time payments (36 months or more) Paperless billing Multi-car Good student Student away at school Teen Driver Monitoring Paid-in-full premium Advance quote Vehicle safety features Favorable loss history |
Premiums: $1,049
Customer satisfaction rating: 862
Financial strength rating: A++
Why It Made the List
Auto-Owners Insurance has one of the lowest average premiums on our list, at $1,049 per year, which is nearly $100 below the Florida statewide average car insurance premium. Meanwhile, the company is at the top of the financial strength food chain, with a rating of A++.
The company also offers a solid number of policy options and discounts. The Personal Automobile Plus Package enables you to build a policy with as many as 10 coverages, all at a very competitive rate.
What Holds It Back
Auto-Owners Insurance came in at a below-average #9 on customer satisfaction. Also, the company makes car insurance available in about half the states in the US. If you have coverage with this company in Florida, there’s about a 50% chance you’ll need a new carrier if you move to a different state.
7. Allstate
The Basics
| Policy Options | New car Multi-policy Smart student Vehicle safety equipment Early signing Responsible payer New car Paperless Pay by automatic withdrawal and/or full payment Drivewise monitoring app Deductible Rewards ($100 reduction in your deductible for each year you’re accident-free) |
| Discounts | New car Multi-policy Smart student Vehicle safety equipment Early signing Responsible payer New car Paperless Pay by automatic withdrawal and/or full payment Drivewise monitoring app Deductible Rewards ($100 reduction in your deductible for each year you’re accident-free) |
Premiums: $1,850
Customer satisfaction rating: 822
Financial strength rating: A+
Why It Made the List
Allstate ranks high in Florida for customer satisfaction, trailing only USAA. That means it’s the best company in Florida for customer satisfaction (and paying claims) for non-military drivers. The strong customer satisfaction rating might mean the slightly higher premium is well worth paying.
It also has some unique policy options, like car insurance for travel to Mexico, and a solid list of discounts.
What Holds It Back
Allstate is the only insurance company on this list with an average premium that’s higher than the Florida statewide average.
How We Found the Best Car Insurance in Florida
To show that the evaluation of our list is objective, we used the following criteria to determine our ranking. In each case, the car insurance company was rated based on the combination of these factors.
Policy Options
Policy options are important in every state, but they may be more important in Florida because of the state’s very minimal legally required coverage levels. With a minimum requirement of “10/20/10”, it may be more necessary to have as many optional coverages as possible, to minimize the fallout of an at-fault accident.
However, the overall number of policy options offered by each company figured significantly in our rankings. The more they offer, the higher the company ranks.
Discounts
More discounts equal lower premiums. And that’s especially important given that Florida has the third most expensive car insurance premiums in the country.
We attempted to list all discounts for each company specifically available in Florida, but not all companies provide a state-by-state list of those discounts. For that reason, we strongly recommend you request a list of discounts for each company and see which ones you will qualify for.
The more discounts we were able to identify with a car insurance company, the higher the company ranked.
Premiums
It’s perfectly natural and understandable that drivers consider this to be the single most important criterion in evaluating a car insurance company. After all, no one wants to pay more for car insurance than they need to.
Unfortunately, determining premium levels is a complete matrix. Premiums are determined by a mix of factors, including your driving history, location within the state, annual mileage, credit history, the type of vehicle you have and the equipment in it, as well as your age, gender, and other factors. This means that no matter what published rates you see offered, they may not apply to you. When it comes to car insurance, every driver is unique and will get a custom-designed premium.
But understanding that premium is very important to our readers, we’ve included a statewide average premium for each company on our list. We obtained those averages from The Zebra, which is determined to be a reliable source of pricing information.
Use these premiums only as a starting point. It doesn’t necessarily hold that a company with the lowest average premium will have the lowest priced policy for you. That’s why we strongly recommend that you use our quote tool at the beginning of this guide to get quotes from multiple companies.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Customer satisfaction is about a whole lot more than customer service when it comes to car insurance. The primary component is how well a car insurance company handles claims, as well as their willingness to pay those claims. We gave a higher rank to the companies that scored well in this category.
We’re using the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study, released in June 2023. More specifically, we’ve relied on the Overall Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking – Florida Region.
Insurance Company Financial Strength
Financial strength indicates an insurance company’s ability to meet its financial obligations, which includes its ability to pay claims. Cheap car insurance will do little more than satisfy the minimum legal requirements in Florida but could leave you with unpaid claims.
For that reason, we’ve included only companies rated either “Superior” or “Excellent” for financial strength by the insurance industry rating service, A.M. Best.
Their ratings for companies with financial strength of “Good” or better are as follows:
Superior: A+, A++
Excellent, A, A-
Good, B, B+
We have not included any companies rated lower than “A”.
What You Need to Know About Car Insurance Laws in Florida
Car insurance laws and requirements vary from one state to another. Regulations in Florida are as follows:
State Minimum Insurance Requirements
The minimum Florida car insurance requirement is “10/20/10”, broken down as follows:
- Bodily Injury: $10,000 for injury or death to one person as a result of an auto accident.
- Bodily Injury: $20,000 for injury or death to more than one person as a result of an auto accident.
- Property Damage: Covering all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 for a covered injury, regardless of who is at fault.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Covering all necessary and reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000 for a covered injury, regardless of who is at fault.
PIP is a common requirement in states with no-fault car insurance, as is the case in Florida. But there’s something else that’s peculiar about Florida’s car insurance requirements. While most states absolutely require minimum levels of liability for bodily injury, Florida allows drivers to have the coverage waived just by writing to their insurance company. However, if you do, you could be held personally liable for bodily injury claims.
Bodily injury, more commonly known as liability coverage, pays for both injury and loss of wages to another driver or their passengers, as a result of an accident caused by you. The same is true of property damage. It will cover damage to another driver’s vehicle in an accident where you are determined to be at fault. It’s important to understand that property damage does not extend to repairing your own vehicle in an at-fault accident. (Collision coverage pays for damage to your own vehicle when you are at fault in an accident.)
Optional car insurance coverage under Florida law includes:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Uninsured/under-insured motorist (highly recommended since nearly one in four Florida drivers are uninsured – see FAQs below)
- Gap coverage
If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, the lender will require you to have both collision and comprehensive coverage, and possibly Gap coverage.
Florida Self-Insurance Provision
Under Florida law, you can obtain a certificate of self-insurance from the Department of Motor Vehicles. To do this, you must possess a net unencumbered net worth of at least $40,000 for the first motor vehicle and $20,000 for each additional vehicle.
The status isn’t automatic, and the DMV may require you to file annual reports to confirm you’ve maintained the minimum net worth requirements. Florida no longer permits drivers to obtain a certificate of self-insurance by posting a surety bond. You must prove personal financial strength.
Florida State Car Insurance FAQs
Is Florida a “no-fault” state?
Yes, Florida is one of the 12 states nationally that are “no-fault” states. It means that if you are involved in an accident, you must recover damages from your own insurance company regardless of who is at fault. It also limits your right to sue another party after an accident.
But like most states that have no-fault car insurance laws, Florida does enable you to sue under certain circumstances. You can file a lawsuit for an accident that results in permanent injuries or disfigurement, or death.
That’s why waiving bodily injury liability coverage is not a good idea. It can cover the other party in an accident that was determined to be your fault, at least up to the limits of your liability coverage.
Why is car insurance so expensive in Florida?
Florida is one of the most expensive states in the country on car insurance, having the third-highest average statewide premiums in the US. There are several reasons why this is true. First is the fact that Florida is a no-fault state, which was discussed above.
But perhaps an even bigger factor is that Florida has a very high rate of uninsured drivers. In fact, it has nearly double the rate of uninsured drivers as the nation at large. Twenty-three percent of Florida drivers are uninsured, which is nearly a quarter of the driving public.
Florida also has a highly concentrated urban population, with millions of people and cars crammed into cities and metropolitan areas, particularly along the coasts. This concentration inevitably leads to a higher rate of accidents, and therefore insurance claims.
If you live in one of the state’s many urban areas, your car insurance premiums will be higher than for someone with an identical driving profile who lives in a small town or rural area.
Should I maintain collision and comprehensive coverage if I don’t have a loan on my vehicle?
Given the very high level of uninsured drivers in the state of Florida, you should continue to carry at least a collision (and probably comprehensive) under most circumstances. Exceptions may be if your vehicle has only minimal value, and or you have the financial resources to pay for any necessary repairs.
If you are involved in an accident with an at-fault party who doesn’t have car insurance, a collision will pay for the damage to your vehicle. But if the other driver is uninsured, and you have no collision, you’ll need to pay for all necessary repairs out of your own resources.
With the cost of car insurance in Florida as high as it is, is it a good strategy to maintain minimum coverage levels to save on premiums?
Florida’s bodily injury liability levels are among the lowest in the country, at $10,000 and $20,000. While you certainly could maintain those minimum levels of coverage – or even have them waived – it would be very close to being uninsured. That will be true even though the coverage would “make you legal” to own a vehicle and drive in Florida.
The basic problem with low bodily injury liability levels is that they don’t limit your financial obligations in an at-fault accident. You certainly can maintain minimum levels of coverage. But if your bodily injury liability for one individual is $10,000, and that person has $30,000 in medical bills as a result of the accident, you’ll be required to pay the remaining $20,000 out-of-pocket.
On a dollar-for-dollar basis, the cost of increasing your liability coverage is fairly inexpensive. It will be well worth adding a few hundred dollars per year to your insurance premium to avoid facing a financial catastrophe as a result of an at-fault accident on your part.
Summary: Best Car Insurance in Florida
