Liability
Pays for injury or property damage you cause to someone else or their property, up to your policy limits.
Auto Insurance
Auto Insurance in Florida and Georgia
Liability, comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist, and the optional coverage that actually matters in Florida and Georgia. We shop multiple carriers, review your current policy, and explain the limits you're choosing, before you bind.
Why this matters
Auto insurance that actually fits your household.
Auto insurance is the most common policy we write, and the one most customers are paying too much for, under-covered on, or both. The cheapest policy with low liability limits is not the right policy for a household with two cars, two teenage drivers, and a home. We review what you have, compare carriers, and explain why one option costs more than another.
Whether you're shopping a single vehicle, adding a youthful driver, moving to Florida or Georgia from another state, or just tired of the renewal increases on your current policy, we'll write the coverage that matches your actual risk, not the coverage that's easiest to quote.
What's covered
What auto coverage includes.
Comprehensive and collision
Covers physical damage to your vehicle from accidents, theft, weather, vandalism, and animal strikes.
Uninsured / underinsured motorist
Protects you if you're hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough coverage to pay your damages.
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Florida requires this. Covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers, regardless of fault.
Medical payments (MedPay)
Optional additional medical coverage that works alongside PIP or health insurance.
Roadside assistance and rental reimbursement
Optional add-ons that cover towing, lockouts, and a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim.
Gaps
What auto coverage doesn't cover.
Rideshare and delivery driving
Standard personal auto excludes ridesharing (Uber, Lyft) and delivery work (DoorDash, Instacart). A rideshare endorsement or commercial policy is required.
Business use of a personal vehicle
Sales calls, hauling tools to job sites, or transporting clients are excluded under most personal policies beyond a routine commute.
Custom equipment and aftermarket parts
Lift kits, custom audio, aftermarket wheels, and similar additions are typically covered only up to a small built-in limit. Higher-value modifications need a custom equipment rider.
Personal items inside the vehicle
Laptops, tools, golf clubs, and luggage are generally covered under homeowners or renters, not auto.
Mechanical breakdown and wear
Auto insurance covers sudden accidental damage, not engine failure, transmission wear, or routine deterioration. Mechanical breakdown coverage is a separate product.
Driving outside the US and Canada
Most US auto policies do not extend into Mexico. Travel to Mexico requires a Mexico-specific policy.
State knowledge
What to know about auto insurance in Florida and Georgia.
Florida
No-fault state
PIP required
Min: $10K PIP + $10K PDL
Florida requires Personal Injury Protection on every auto policy. PIP usually pays your own medical bills first regardless of fault, but it has limits and serious injuries can quickly exceed it. Liability still matters, no-fault doesn't mean you can't be held responsible for a serious accident.
Georgia
Fault-based state
PIP not required
Min liability: 25/50/25
Georgia handles auto claims on a traditional fault basis: the at-fault driver's insurance pays for the other driver's damages. Minimum requirements, rating factors, and bundling options differ from Florida. If you split time between states or are moving across the line, the same vehicle may need a different coverage configuration. We write in both states from our offices in Saint Augustine and Saint Johns.
Limits
Coverage limits to consider.
State minimums are the floor, not the recommendation. Florida's PIP-based system and Georgia's traditional bodily injury minimums both leave most households under-protected if a serious accident happens. Liability limits at state minimums can be exhausted quickly by a single emergency room visit, much less an extended hospital stay or wage loss. The practical question is not "what is the legal minimum" but "what would my household actually need if I caused a serious accident."
The right limit is a function of what you stand to lose in a worst-case lawsuit, not what you can technically get away with under state law. We review your assets, drivers, and exposure during the coverage review and recommend a starting point.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is one of the most under-bought and most-needed lines. Florida ranks consistently among the highest states for uninsured drivers, and Georgia is not far behind. UM/UIM coverage protects you if the at-fault driver has no insurance, or has limits too low to cover your damages. We typically recommend matching your UM limits to your liability limits, and many carriers offer this as a single bundled selection.
Deductibles on comprehensive and collision are a personal-finance question more than an insurance question. A higher deductible lowers your premium but means more out of pocket if you have a claim. Most customers should pick a deductible they could comfortably absorb tomorrow without strain. We will walk through the deductible math during the coverage review and show you what each option costs.
Common starting point
100/300/100
$100K per person bodily injury, $300K per accident, $100K property damage. Covers most realistic accident scenarios while keeping premiums manageable.
Households with assets
250/500/250
$250K per person, $500K per accident, $250K property damage. Typical for households with significant net worth, multiple drivers, or higher exposure. Often paired with a personal umbrella policy.
Common scenarios
Life events that change your auto coverage.
Moving to Florida or Georgia
State minimums and rating factors differ. We'll re-quote from carriers in your new state and walk you through what changes.
Adding a teen driver
The biggest single premium-increase factor for most households. We compare carriers specifically for households with youthful drivers.
Renewal increase you didn't expect
Send us your current declarations page. We'll review what changed and shop alternatives across our appointed carriers.
Classic, collector, or specialty vehicle
These typically need an agreed-value policy through a specialty carrier. We write classic and collector vehicles through Hagerty.
Multi-vehicle household
Multiple vehicles often qualify for multi-vehicle and bundling discounts. We compare across carriers to find the best treatment for your full household.
New vehicle purchase
A new VIN can shift your rating and coverage requirements. We can quote before you buy so you know the insurance impact upfront.
Premium and discounts
What goes into your auto premium.
What affects your premium
Auto premiums come down to a small number of high-impact factors and a long list of smaller ones. The factors that move your quote the most are the vehicle itself (type, value, theft rate, repair cost), your driving history (recent tickets, at-fault accidents, claims in the last three to five years), and the drivers on the policy (age, years of experience, anyone under 25 in the household). Adding a teenage driver or a high-value vehicle will move your premium more than almost any other single change you make.
A few rating factors regularly catch customers off guard. Most carriers in Florida and Georgia use a credit-based insurance score, which is built from your credit history but is not the same as a credit score from a lender. ZIP code matters because carriers price based on local accident, theft, and weather frequency, so moving across town can change your rate. Annual mileage is asked because more miles means more exposure: if your commute changed, your premium should be revisited. The coverage limits and deductibles you choose are also part of the math, since lower deductibles and higher liability limits cost more but mean less out of pocket if you actually have a claim.
No two carriers weight these factors the same way. One company may rate a household with a teenage driver heavily; another may not flinch. That is why shopping across multiple carriers matters: your specific situation will be priced very differently across our appointed carriers, and we will show you what each one does with the same set of facts.
Discounts that may apply
Discounts will not transform a quote on their own, but the right combination can meaningfully reduce a premium. They matter most when you stack several together, and when you bundle. Bundling auto with home or renters insurance is the single biggest discount most households can capture, and it is the first thing we look at on any auto quote where the customer also owns or rents.
Driver behavior
Good driver (no recent claims or violations), good student (typically a minimum GPA, threshold varies by carrier), and defensive driving course completion.
Vehicle features
Safety features like anti-lock brakes, airbags, and lane assist; anti-theft devices; sometimes specific makes and models.
Payment and billing
Paid-in-full, autopay, and paperless billing. Each is small individually, but they stack across a renewal cycle.
Telematics and usage-based
Programs that price based on actual driving habits. Tend to work best for low-mileage and careful drivers; can either reduce or increase your premium.
Available discounts vary widely between carriers and states. We check what you actually qualify for as part of the coverage review, and we will tell you when one carrier's discount lineup makes more sense for your household than another's. We do not apply discounts that do not apply: overstating eligibility is a fast way to have a claim denied or a renewal repriced.
Decisions
When you actually need each coverage.
When should you carry comprehensive and collision?
If you have a loan or lease, your lender requires it. If your car is newer or holds significant value, comprehensive and collision protect an asset that's expensive to replace. Once a vehicle's book value drops to roughly 10x the annual collision premium, dropping collision often makes financial sense.
When does bundling actually save money?
Bundling auto and home usually produces a meaningful discount, but the savings depend on the carrier and the specific policies. The cheapest home carrier and the cheapest auto carrier are rarely the same company, and sometimes splitting policies beats the bundle. For clients in Saint Augustine, Ponte Vedra, or anywhere else in our service area, we compare both before recommending.
Higher deductible or lower premium?
A higher deductible reduces the premium but increases what is deducted from the payout of your claim.
When should you add an umbrella policy?
If your assets (home equity, retirement, savings, future earnings) exceed your auto liability limits, an umbrella policy protects everything above the underlying limit. Households with teen drivers, swimming pools, dogs, or significant net worth are the clearest candidates.
Carriers
Carriers we work with for auto coverage.
We write auto coverage through multiple carriers. The right fit depends on your driving history, vehicle type, state, and what other policies you'd like to bundle.
Each carrier has a different sweet spot. Some specialize in newer vehicles, some in households with multiple drivers, some in classic and collector vehicles. We compare carriers based on the specifics of your situation and walk you through what's actually different between the options.
Allstate
Foremost
Hagerty
National General
Progressive
Carrier appointments vary by line and state. Available carriers depend on your specific situation and underwriting eligibility.
Questions
Auto insurance questions we hear a lot.
How fast can I get an auto quote?
Many auto quotes can be started and issued the same day. Timing depends on the vehicles, drivers, state, and the information needed for carrier underwriting.
What information do I need for an auto quote?
Common items include your current declarations page, driver information for each driver on the policy, vehicle information (year, make, model, VIN if available), and prior insurance history.
Does Florida being a no-fault state mean I can't be blamed for an accident?
No. No-fault simply means you're required to carry PIP insurance, which usually pays first for the policyholder regardless of fault. Liability and fault still matter, especially in serious injury claims.
What's included in a typical auto policy beyond liability?
A typical auto policy layers comprehensive and collision on top of liability and uninsured motorist coverage. Comprehensive covers theft, vandalism, weather, and animal strikes. Collision covers damage from accidents regardless of fault. The actual protection depends on the limits, deductibles, and endorsements selected, and we'll explain what's actually on your policy in plain language.
Can you bundle auto with home or renters insurance?
Yes, when available. Bundling auto with home, renters, or other personal lines may simplify your insurance and may qualify you for discounts depending on the carrier, state, and policy types.
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage may help protect you if you're injured by a driver who has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your damages, depending on your policy and state rules.
Do I need PIP if I already have health insurance?
Florida law still requires PIP regardless of health insurance status. PIP also covers lost wages and pays out regardless of fault, which health insurance does not. Stacking the two is common.
What happens if I have an accident in Georgia on a Florida policy?
Auto policies provide coverage across state lines. Your Florida policy follows you into Georgia, though the claim is handled under the rules of where the accident occurred.
Does my auto insurance follow the car or the driver?
Generally, the car. If you let a licensed friend or family member borrow your vehicle and they have an accident, your policy typically responds first, with their insurance acting as secondary. Permissive use rules vary by policy.
Will my rates go up after a single accident?
An at-fault accident typically raises rates at the next renewal, usually for three years. Accident forgiveness is available on some policies and can soften or eliminate the increase. A first-time minor not-at-fault claim usually does not raise rates.
How does my credit score affect my auto rate?
Most carriers use a credit-based insurance score as one of many rating factors in Florida and Georgia. Higher scores generally produce lower premiums. Improving credit over time is one of the most effective ways to reduce a renewal rate.
What's an SR-22 and when do I need one?
An SR-22 is a state filing (not a policy) proving you carry the required minimum liability. It's typically required after a DUI, driving without insurance, or certain serious violations. We can file an SR-22 on your behalf when needed.
Should I file a claim for a small repair or pay out of pocket?
If the repair is close to your deductible, paying out of pocket often makes more sense, since filing a small claim can raise your rate by more than the claim itself paid. We're happy to walk through the math before you decide.
How often should I shop my auto insurance?
Every two to three years is a reasonable cadence. Rates shift, carriers re-rate their books, and life events (a new home, a teen driver, a paid-off car) change what coverage you actually need.
Related
Coverage that pairs with auto.
Ready to compare your auto coverage?
Send us your current declarations page, give us a call, or request a free quote. We'll review what you have and walk you through the options.