Florida’s roads are full of surprises—tourists who don’t know the area, unpredictable weather, heavy traffic, and, unfortunately, a high number of drivers without adequate insurance. The Insurance Research Council estimates that about 20.6% of Florida drivers were uninsured in 2023, far above the national average. Some studies suggest the real number could be closer to one in four.
Being involved in an accident with one of these drivers can quickly turn into a financial nightmare. That’s where Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage comes in. This optional coverage can be a critical safeguard, filling dangerous gaps left by Florida’s minimum insurance requirements.
Florida’s Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements
Florida is a no-fault state, which means that after an accident, your own insurance pays for certain expenses regardless of who was at fault. By law, drivers must carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which helps cover medical bills and some lost wages, and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL), which pays for damage you cause to someone else’s property.
Unlike many states, Florida does not require most drivers to carry Bodily Injury Liability (BI) coverage. This creates a serious gap: someone can legally be on the road without any insurance to pay for injuries they cause to others. If you’re injured by such a driver, you could be left relying solely on your own PIP coverage, which may not come close to covering the costs of a serious accident.
How UM Coverage Works
Uninsured Motorist coverage is designed to protect you when the at-fault driver can’t. It applies if the other driver has no insurance, doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damages, or leaves the scene in a hit-and-run. UM coverage can help pay for expenses that go beyond your PIP limits, such as medical bills, lost income, long-term rehabilitation, and, in some cases, pain and suffering.
A Real Life Example
Imagine you’re driving home when another driver runs a red light and crashes into your car. You suffer a broken arm and whiplash, and your car is badly damaged. Your PIP coverage pays the first $10,000 of your medical bills, but your total treatment costs come to $40,000. You also lose $6,000 in wages during your recovery. To make matters worse, the other driver is uninsured.
Without UM coverage, you would be responsible for paying those additional costs yourself or trying to sue the at-fault driver—a process that could take years and may never result in full repayment. With UM coverage, your own insurance company steps in to pay the remaining medical expenses and lost wages, protecting you from financial strain and sparing you the stress of chasing an uninsured driver through the courts.
Choosing Your UM Limits in Florida
Florida law requires insurance companies to offer Uninsured Motorist coverage, but policyholders can reject it in writing. Here’s an important detail: your UM limits cannot be higher than your Bodily Injury Liability limits. For example, if your BI coverage is $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, your UM coverage can be no higher than $50,000/$100,000. If you want more protection through higher UM limits, you’ll need to raise your BI coverage first.
This connection between BI and UM limits is important because BI coverage also protects your assets if you cause an accident. By increasing both, you’re not only protecting yourself from uninsured drivers but also reducing your personal financial exposure in any accident.
Why UM Coverage is Worth It
With Florida’s high uninsured driver rate, minimal required coverage, and the very real costs of medical care and lost income, UM coverage is one of the most valuable additions to your auto policy. It offers peace of mind, ensures faster claims resolution compared to pursuing compensation from an uninsured driver, and provides financial protection when you need it most.
In short, UM coverage is an affordable way to protect yourself from one of the most common risks on Florida roads. Reviewing your auto insurance policy with a licensed agent can confirm whether you already have this coverage and help you determine whether your limits are truly enough to protect you.