In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, are you required to have SR-22 insurance if your drivers license has been suspended for 30 days due to 12 points in 12 months?

George

Fort Lauderdale, FL

You may have to have an SR-22 insurance to reinstate your FL driver’s license after a suspension due to getting too many points on your driving history; it will still depend upon your case at the time of your suspension.

Exceeding the allowable points total in FL by even one can have your license suspended. The Florida Department of Highway and Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) lists a thirty day suspension for twelve points earned within twelve months, a three month suspension for eighteen points earned in eighteen months and a 1 year suspension for twenty four points within a thirty five month period.

Your driver license and/or license plate will be suspended for up to three years if you do not have car insurance to comply with the Financial Responsibility Law at the time exceeding the points total. You will have to show the department certified proof of liability insurance on Form SR-22 for 3 years and pay a $15 reinstatement fee to have your driving privilege back.

To find out for sure regarding your specific situation and if a SR-22 insurance will be needed to reinstate your drivers license in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the end of the thirty day suspension, check with the Florida HSMV.

How do I get cheap car insurance in Florida for my car?

Mikey,

Miami, FL

While it’s not possible (or legal) to put up the names of recommended insurance companies here, there are some ways to get cheap car insurance in Florida, or anywhere else for that matter, by following these three simple steps:

Step 1: Collect Quotes
You need a baseline for you to compare what the average rates go for you and your car, so collect as many insurance quotes as you can.

Step 2: Check the Coverage
This is probably the most important step that you need to do when it comes to insurance of any kind. You may get a dirt-cheap insurance policy for your car, but the coverage may be so meager that you may not even get a dollar reimbursed when you do get into an accident.

Step 3: Negotiate
You may raise the deductibles, decline to be covered for certain areas, or simply prove that you’re a safe driver: don’t forget that you have the ability to negotiate the initial quotes presented to you by insurance companies. They’re not set in stone, and you can do something to bring them down.

These three steps are just guidelines for you to follow in order to reduce your insurance rates. Once you start following these steps, you’ll be able to obtain more information you can use to lower the rates for insuring your car.

I’m planning to move to Tampa next year, and I’m just wondering: what is the required minimum vehicle car insurance in Florida? Is it higher or lower than the 25/50/25 rate here in Texas?  I will need SR22 insurance since I was convicted of a DUI a few years ago.

Merriam

Austin, TX

Before anything else, Florida follows a no-fault system. This means that a vehicle car insurance in Florida will pay for your claims, no matter who is at fault in the accident. This is why the minimum coverage mandated by the state is $10,000 for property damage and $10,000 for personal-injury protection. However, you may be required by the state to get a minimum bodily-injury liability if you do get into an accident.

In Texas, the state follows a tort (or at-fault) system and mandates 25/50/25 minimum liability coverage for drivers. That means you’d have to be responsible for $25,000 worth of damage to one person up to $50,000 per occurrence of bodily injury, with another $25,000 for property damage if you’re found to be at fault.

So to answer your second question: yes, the required vehicle car insurance in Florida are much less compared to the rates in Texas.

However, it is highly recommended that you still get what insurance you can afford, especially in Florida. If you get rammed by another driver in Florida, you’ll be waiving some of your rights to take legal action against him or her because of the no-fault system that the state adopts.

You definitely don’t want to shoulder more than hundred thousand dollars in repairs and medical bills because you stuck with the rather pitiful coverage that the state mandated.

I just recently moved here in Florida. There are a lot of things I still don’t know about car insurance law here. One thing that I’m quite confused about is the SR22 insurance. I know someone close to me who was involved in a car accident and he does not have car insurance. From what I heard he needs SR22 insurance. What is SR22 auto insurance in Florida?

Benny

Fort Lauderdale, FL

I am sorry to hear that. I hope that someone is doing much better now.

As to your question on what is SR22 auto insurance in Florida, it is a car insurance document that needs to be submitted by your auto insurance company to the Bureau of Financial Responsibility to have your license reinstated or to avoid any suspension of your driving privileges.

The best thing to do if you get involved in an accident and you don’t have car insurance coverage is to purchase auto insurance policy that includes full liability insurance coverage the soonest possible time. Then it’s very important to inform your car insurance company that you were involved in a car accident and you maybe in need of SR22 auto insurance.

It’s also important to negotiate with the aggrieved party for their losses that you’ve caused. If it’s impossible on your part to pay for the damages in full, you can also consider paying on an installment basis.

For additional information about what is SR22 auto insurance in Florida is, you can also ask your car insurance agent. Also, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offers useful information about SR22 insurance.

I was caught recently for driving under the influence. The authorities said I need to get a SR22 insurance so that I can continue driving here in Florida. What is SR22 insurance and how do I get one that is cheap?

Pat

Miami, FL

SR22 insurance is a type of certification from an insurance company issued to your state’s department of motor vehicles. A SR22 insurance Florida attests that you have the minimum insurance coverage as required by law. This is normally required from drivers who have been caught violating various traffic rules like over speeding, driving without the necessary insurance coverage, and like your case, DUI.

Since a SR22 insurance Florida is issued to drivers who have been caught for traffic violations, insurance companies normally shy away from giving this type of certification. If they do, then they charge high premiums to drivers. You will have to shell out a substantial amount monthly for your SR22 insurance premiums.

In order to get affordable SR22 insurance, you have to shop around for insurers offering cheap SR22 insurance. A lot of websites in the Internet offer a SR22 insurance Florida that is lower than industry rates. You may want to check out these websites online.

I need additional information about SR22 insurance in Florida. Can you help?

Rhoda

Tallahassee, FL

Surely Rhoda!

Let me just remind you first that not everyone is required to get SR22 insurance Florida. In general, a driver whose license was suspended is the one who needs this kind of insurance to have his or her license reinstated.

In most cases, these are the traffic violations that need to get SR22 insurance Florida:

• Getting involved in a vehicular accident without car insurance
• Drunk driving activity
• Several traffic violations in a year that exceeded what is set by the law
• Failure to obey the Florida Department of Safety Highway and Motor Vehicles rules

It’s also important to remember that you cannot get SR22 insurance without purchasing car insurance policy first. The reason is that SR22 insurance is simply a document that will be filed by your car insurance company to the FL Department of Safety Highway and Motor Vehicles. This document proves that you have met the required car insurance policy in the state of Florida.

For you to get SR22 insurance, you need to get first auto insurance policy to cover all the vehicles that you have. If you do not own any vehicles, you can still get non-owners car insurance policy.

To avoid getting involved in a serious traffic offense or to avoid maintaining SR22 insurance for a minimum period of three years (that’s depending by the way on the severity of your violation) it’s best to avoid driving without car insurance, or even drive when you are drunk.

For more information about SR22 insurance and car insurance policy, you may ask your car insurance agent. You can also check with the Florida Department of Safety Highway and Motor Vehicles.

I’m on a tight budget so spending more on anything is definitely not an option. What can I do to save on my Florida car insurance? Help please!

Rena

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Hello Rena. I know how important it is to save right now so let’s go straight to your question. Here are important ways that could help you get low cost Florida car insurance rates:

• If you are using a vehicle that is expensive and newer you may want to change to a vehicle that is low profile since this could help you save on your car insurance premiums.
• If you always drive your vehicle, then you may want to consider driving less to decrease your driving miles.
• Your age also determines your insurance rates. If you are younger than 25 years old, you may be charged with higher car insurance rates since this age group is often involved in accidents. But if you’ve reached the age of 25, you may see a decrease on your insurance rates.
• Your gender also affects your car insurance rates but since you are a female driver, this is favorable on your part since in most cases, male drivers get higher car insurance rates than female drivers.
• Your credit score also dictates your insurance rates. If you think your credit history is a mess, clean it up so you can get lower car insurance rates.
• Your location also affects your insurance rates. If your place of residence is not that safe then you may get higher car insurance rates.

If you have other questions on how you can save on your Florida car insurance you can also check with your insurance agent.

I’m planning to buy a car insurance in Florida but I often don’t have the time to roam around the city or make a call to check insurance companies out. How can I do quick and hassle-free car insurance comparisons?

Leonard

Orlando Florida

Doing your car insurance comparisons in Florida doesn’t have to be difficult and time-consuming task. Thanks to the technological developments that have evolved in the Internet, insurance web sites are now equipped with the necessary software to make your car insurance comparisons easily and instantly. Most importantly, it allows you to gain a lot of car insurance quotes from many reputable insurance companies so that you will be able to find the best coverage deal at the lowest possible price.

Aside from being quick and easy, doing your comparisons is without charge and you are not obliged to buy the insurance polices. Most of these web sites are third-party sites that are affiliated with various insurance companies. For some web sites, you will be directed to the insurance companies’ sites to check each of their insurance quotes while some will give you a tabled data containing an overview of at least four insurance companies with their proposed insurance rate, their industry rating and their service.

For most of us, the insurance rate is the major factor in our consideration for our car insurance purchase. Thus, the need to acquire more than one car insurance quote is beneficial to make your comparisons and to find the policy with the lowest reasonable price.

There’s also a need to consider the reliability of your prospect insurer. Do they offer quality service? Are they reliable in processing claims? Are they financially stable? One way to know is through independent rating and analysis companies such as Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings. Another way is by asking current customers for feedback regarding their insurance providers. You can also ask your friends about their car insurance providers, too.

Remember, making your car insurance comparisons in Florida should not take a considerable amount of your time and energy. All you have to do is an access to the Internet and you’re in for a good start.

Is there a minimum coverage that you are required for PIP in Florida?

Ariel

Orlando FL

The state of Florida has a minimum set limit amount of personal injury protection (PIP) car insurance a driver needs to carry. The minimum amount is $10,000 of PIP. The state also requires $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL) if you own a car in the state of Florida.

This PIP auto insurance coverage pays damage to you while driving your own or other people’s car. If you get involved in a crash in Florida, personal injury protection will cover you and members of your household who do not own a car, certain passengers who lack PIP, and certain licensed motorist who drive your vehicle with your permission.

If you get involve in an accident out of state, the PIP portion of your policy will cover only you and household members.

My sister received a traffic conviction for a DWI arrest and she’s only a teenager, just 17 years old. Can she take a traffic school course online for the state of Florida?

Jess

Orlando, FL

Great question Jess. The state of Florida requires that all new drivers attend a first time driver traffic law and substance abuse course. In addition, every teenage drivers under 18 years old must possess a Learner’s License for one year. There are no exceptions in this law.If a person under 18 years old receives a citation, he/she may attend a state certified traffic school or online course to avoid a conviction or points. Each court independently decides whether a juvenile can or cannot take a traffic school course. If your sister wasn’t specifically permitted by the court, she may have to ask the court’s permission before beginning the course.

Also, if a minor is convicted with a traffic offense such as a DWI while possessing a Learner’s License, the one year period required to hold their Learner’s License will be extended for one year from the date of the conviction or until he/she turns 18 years old, or whichever happens first. If a minor receive 6 points on his/her driving record in a 12 month period, their driving privileges will automatically be restricted to work purposes only for 12 months or until they’re 18. Please keep in mind that additional restrictions may also be applied. If a minor receives additional points during this restricted period, the restriction is extended 90 days for each additional point. If they have a blood alcohol level of .02% or more (applies to those under age 21), an administrative suspension of six months will follow. If the minor neglect to attend the traffic school, the driving privilege is suspended until a proof is provided of attend ding school for 30 consecutive days.