What Is Full Coverage in Florida?

March 31, 2026 | Sagi Shaked | Car Accidents

If you’ve ever shopped for car insurance in Florida, you’ve probably come across the term “full coverage.” While it sounds like it should cover everything, the reality is that “full coverage” isn’t actually a legal term or a specific type of policy. It’s an informal phrase used to describe a combination of coverages that goes beyond what the state requires.

Learning about what Florida law requires and what “full coverage” typically includes can help you make informed decisions about your policy. Continue reading to learn more about how auto insurance works in Florida and why it matters if you’re ever involved in a car accident.

Florida’s Minimum Insurance Requirements

Florida is unique compared to most states when it comes to auto insurance, as it operates under a “no-fault” system. This means that after a car accident, your own insurance covers certain losses regardless of who caused the crash.

Florida requires all registered vehicles to carry at least two types of coverage:

• Personal injury protection (PIP): $10,000
• Property damage liability (PDL): $10,000

PIP covers 80% of your medical expenses and 60% of lost wages after an accident, up to the policy limit. PDL covers damage you cause to someone else’s property in a crash. Notably, Florida does not require drivers to carry bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage, though many drivers choose to add it.

What “Full Coverage” Typically Includes

When people refer to “full coverage,” they usually mean a policy that combines the state minimums with several additional types of protection. While there’s no standard definition, a full coverage policy in Florida generally includes the following on top of PIP and PDL:

• Bodily injury liability
• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Each of these coverages fills a gap that the state minimums leave open. Without them, you could end up paying high costs out of pocket after a serious accident.

Why Florida’s Minimum Coverage May Not Be Enough

Carrying only PIP and PDL might keep you legally compliant, but it can leave you exposed in several ways. PIP only covers a portion of your medical bills and lost wages, and $10,000 often falls short after a serious crash. Without bodily injury liability coverage, you could also face a lawsuit if you injure someone else and can’t pay for their losses.

Further, note that more than 800,000 people in Florida currently drive without insurance. If you’re hit by someone without insurance and you don’t carry uninsured motorist coverage, you may have limited options for recovering compensation. This is one reason why many personal injury attorneys and insurance professionals recommend going well beyond the state minimums.

How Insurance Could Impact Your Personal Injury Claim

The type and amount of coverage you carry can directly affect your personal injury case. For one, Florida’s no-fault system limits when you can step outside of your PIP coverage and file a claim against the other driver. Under Florida Statute § 627.737, you generally need to have suffered a severe injury before you can take this step, though there are other exceptions that allow you to do so as well. 

If you’re eligible to step outside of the no-fault system, the at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage becomes relevant and can compensate you for both your economic and non-economic damages. If they don’t carry enough or have no BIL coverage at all, however, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist policy may be your best path to fair compensation.

Contact Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Florida Car Accident Lawyer

“Full coverage” may not be a legal term, but it describes a level of protection that can make a real difference after an accident. Contact Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers today if you’ve been injured in a crash in Florida. We offer a free consultation with a Miami personal injury attorney.

Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 715 Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191
Open 24 hours