Florida Commercial Auto Insurance Requirements and Regulations

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To operate a commercial vehicle in Florida, you must have a minimum of $100,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $300,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $50,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Florida law requires commercial auto insurance to cover damages caused by an at-fault driver. This includes damages to people and property.

In Florida, you're required to have a certain level of insurance coverage to protect yourself and others on the road. This is especially important for businesses that rely on vehicles to operate.

Florida commercial auto insurance policies must also cover uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you in case you're involved in an accident with someone who doesn't have insurance.

Florida Commercial Auto Insurance Requirements

Florida requires commercial auto insurance with a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage to cover medical expenses.

You'll also need to have a minimum of $10,000 in PDL coverage to cover expenses incurred to another person's property caused by an auto accident.

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To meet these requirements, your insurance policy must be issued by a company licensed in Florida or you can qualify for a self-insurance certificate from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

Here are the specific requirements:

  • A minimum of $10,000 in PIP
  • A minimum of $10,000 in PDL

Remember, these are just the minimum state requirements, and you may want to consider additional coverage and higher limits depending on your business and vehicles.

Who Needs?

If you're wondering who needs commercial auto insurance in Florida, the answer is pretty straightforward. Businesses that use vehicles for their operations usually need commercial auto insurance.

Companies that own or lease cars, trucks, vans, or other vehicles for the purpose of transporting goods, equipment, or people typically need commercial vehicle insurance. This includes contractors, delivery companies, transportation services, food services, and non-profit organizations.

You may be wondering if your personal auto insurance policy covers you while driving for work. Unfortunately, it doesn't. Personal auto policies typically don't cover vehicles used for business purposes, so a business auto policy is necessary to cover all vehicles your business uses.

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Some common professions that purchase commercial auto insurance include contractors, delivery companies, transportation services, food services, and non-profit organizations. These businesses often use vehicles for deliveries, pickups, and other work-specific uses.

Here are some examples of Florida businesses that may require commercial auto insurance:

  • Construction
  • Contractors/building development
  • Home improvement services
  • HVAC repair services
  • Lawncare services
  • Couriers / wholesale delivery services
  • Cleaning services
  • Carpenter services
  • Food trucks

It's essential to note that Florida law requires all autos to carry insurance, and commercial auto insurance provides higher coverage limits for larger vehicles or trucks.

Types of Coverage

In Florida, commercial auto insurance requirements include liability coverage, which protects against injuries to other people or damage to their property if you're at fault for an accident. This coverage is mandatory, but it only covers liability, not physical damage to your vehicle.

To ensure you're fully protected, consider additional coverage options, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, and comprehensive coverage. These options can help pay for medical expenses, repair or replace your vehicle, and cover non-collision damages like vandalism, theft, or fire.

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Some common types of commercial auto insurance coverage include:

  • Liability: Protects against injuries to other people or damage to their property if you're at fault for an accident.
  • Collision: Pays to repair or replace your vehicle if it strikes another object, overturns, or rolls.
  • Comprehensive: Helps pay for repairs or replacement of your vehicle if it is damaged by something other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, fire, or severe weather.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): Helps with costs if you're in an accident with someone who doesn't have enough liability coverage to pay for the bodily injury and property damage they caused.
  • Medical payments: Also known as MedPay, protects you and your passengers if you're injured in an accident, regardless of who's at fault.
  • Towing and labor coverage: Covers the cost of roadside assistance for company-owned vehicles.
  • Loading and unloading coverage: Insures against the damage of equipment and materials during transport, loading, or unloading.
  • Bobtail coverage: Recommended when you're using tractors without a trailer, it usually covers the insured vehicle at all times, even during non-work-related uses.

Types of Vehicles Insured

Commercial auto insurance can cover a wide range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, vans, and even heavy trucks like semis and dump trucks.

Cars, light trucks, and SUVs are all common types of commercial vehicles that can be insured under a commercial auto policy.

Cargo vans, utility trucks, and food trucks are also examples of vehicles that can be covered under a commercial auto policy.

You can even get commercial auto insurance for limos and taxis, which are often used for business purposes.

Here are some examples of commercial vehicles that can be insured:

  • Cars
  • Cargo vans
  • Utility trucks
  • Food trucks
  • Limos
  • Taxis
  • 18-wheelers

Commercial vehicles can also include vehicles that are rented, leased, or hired, so don't worry if you're not the owner of the vehicle.

Special Coverage for Delivering Goods for Hire

If you deliver goods for hire, you'll likely need special insurance to protect yourself and your business. A personal auto insurance policy won't cover losses while delivering for a fee, including pizza delivery and most other delivery services.

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Most personal auto insurance policies won't cover losses while delivering for a fee, including pizza delivery and most other delivery services. Your claim might be denied if you don't have commercial auto insurance and get into a work-related accident.

You could also be held personally responsible for the damages, which can be a huge financial burden. A commercial auto policy can prevent this from happening.

Here are some key things to know about commercial auto insurance for delivering goods for hire:

  • Most personal auto insurance policies won't cover losses while delivering for a fee.
  • Commercial auto insurance can prevent you from being held personally responsible for damages.
  • A commercial auto policy can protect you against accidents, theft, vandalism, fire, or severe weather.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage insures you against personal injuries and damage involving a company vehicle.
  • Medical payments coverage pays for medical expenses if employees and passengers are injured in a company-owned vehicle.
  • Collision coverage helps pay for the cost of repairing or replacing your company vehicle if it’s damaged in an accident.

Policy Details

In Florida, commercial auto insurance requires a minimum amount of coverage. This includes $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability.

To ensure you're adequately protected, you'll want to consider additional coverage options. Bodily Injury Liability, for example, covers physical injury to another person as well as legal expenses if the injured party sues your business.

Here are some key coverage options to consider:

  • Bodily Injury Liability
  • Property Damage Liability
  • Uninsured Motorist Coverage
  • Hired and Non-Owned Liability
  • Hired and Non-Owned Physical Damage
  • Medical Payments
  • Collision
  • Comprehensive

How Much Cost?

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The cost of commercial auto insurance is a crucial aspect to consider when running a business. The national median monthly cost for commercial auto insurance through Progressive is $207 for contractors and $211 for business auto customers.

Your profession plays a significant role in determining your premium, with contractors paying an average of $257 per month and business auto customers paying an average of $270 per month. Most customers find their monthly premium to be closer to the median price.

Several risk factors contribute to your premium, including your profession, coverage needs, vehicles, drivers, driving history, and location. If your business requires more protection or has a history of claims, you can expect to pay more than the average rate.

Here's a breakdown of the average monthly costs for different types of commercial customers:

In Florida, the average monthly cost of commercial auto insurance is $266, but 37% of Insureon small business customers pay less than $100 per month for their policies.

How Much Coverage?

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Florida requires a minimum of $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability for commercial auto insurance.

You'll also want to consider Bodily Injury Liability, which covers physical injury to another person and legal expenses if the injured party sues your business. This coverage is crucial to protect your business from potential lawsuits.

Property Damage Liability is another essential coverage that pays for property damage to another person's property in the event of an accident. For example, if you hit someone's mailbox, this coverage will help pay for the damages.

In Florida, you're also required to have Uninsured Motorist Coverage, which covers damage if you're in an accident with an uninsured, at-fault driver.

Here are some key coverage options to consider:

Remember, this is just a starting point, and you should discuss your specific needs with your insurance agent to determine the best coverage levels for your business.

How a Policy Works

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In Florida, all vehicles are required to have a minimum amount of auto liability insurance coverage.

You'll need to have $10,000 in property damage liability and $10,000 in personal injury liability protection, also known as PIP.

PIP helps provide medical payments coverage after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault.

Your insurance agency might recommend higher liability coverage limits based on the types of vehicles you own and how they're used.

Semi-trucks and other vehicles with a U.S. Department of Transportation of Florida serial number may have additional liability coverage requirements.

You can check if your business needs additional coverage by checking your USDOT number or docket number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What two types of automobile insurance are mandatory in Florida?

In Florida, you must have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance to register a vehicle. These two types of insurance are mandatory requirements for vehicle registration in the state.

Sean Dooley

Lead Writer

Sean Dooley is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting engaging content. With a strong background in research and analysis, Sean has developed a keen eye for detail and a talent for distilling complex information into clear, concise language. Sean's portfolio includes a wide range of articles on topics such as accounting services, where he has demonstrated a deep understanding of financial concepts and a ability to communicate them effectively to diverse audiences.

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