Florida is like many states in that it requires drivers to carry a certain amount of insurance. However, because Florida is a no-fault state, the requirements are vastly different from states that are at-fault states. For example, because drivers are required to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, they are not required to carry bodily injury liability coverage. Drivers who choose to drive without insurance face steep fees and penalties. A first-time infraction has a reinstatement fee of $150 in addition to driver’s license and registration suspension for up to three years. If a driver is in an accident without insurance, those penalties can become much more severe.
The Naples News reports that Florida car insurance rates are skyrocketing.
According to a new report by the Zebra, an insurance comparison website, car insurance rates are up nearly 30% since 2011.
There are many factors that are driving the rise in insurance rates. An increase in natural disasters, more crowded roads, and increases in insurance fraud are just a few.
In the Fort Myers and Naples area, rates rose 12% from 2018 to 2019. They have increased by 65% since 2011. On average, insurance costs for local drivers last year were $2,000. The statewide average rate was $2,309. The national average was $1,548.
Drivers in Immokalee paid the most for car insurance, at an average of $2,235. The lowest rates were paid by residents of Marco Island and Goodland, who paid between $1,091 and $1,902.
