The Best Car Insurance Companies for Florida Drivers

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Written by J.J. Starr Edited by Quiana Darden Reviewed by Amanda Clear

Updated January 26, 2023

Finding the best car insurance in Florida isn’t as simple as choosing the company that offers the lowest rates. Instead, the best company will provide good value, quality customer service, the coverage types that you need, and discounts. Plus, you need to feel good about the insurance company. That’s why we’ve highlighted some of the best car insurance companies that have built quality reputations, making them excellent options to consider as you look for insurance. 

Key Takeaways:

• Car insurance in Florida costs an average of $2,393 per year, nearly $1,000 more than the national average. 
• To find the best car insurance in Florida, consider the cost, customer service, coverage options, discounts, and the claims experience. 
• In Florida, drivers must carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability.

Best Car Insurance Companies in FL

If you’re looking for the best car insurance company in Florida, that company may not offer the cheapest policies. While it’s great to save money, you also need to weigh other factors like the quality of the coverage, the claims process, the company’s customer service, and the insurer’s overall reputation.

We’ve included some companies known for providing quality products and services below to help you with your search. 

The Hartford

JD Power Score: 860/1,000

AM Best Score: A+

Overview: Founded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1910, The Hartford is now a Fortune 500 company. The Hartford is the auto and home insurance writer for AARP and offers other products, including business insurance, mutual funds, and employee benefits. In addition to standard auto insurance coverage options, the company provides optional coverages, including accident forgiveness and disappearing deductible policies for drivers with clean driving records. Coverage is also available for other vehicles, including classic cars, RVs, ATVs, boats, golf carts, and snowmobiles. 

Pros: 

• Known for excellent customer service
• Great selection of optional insurance products, like rental car and roadside assistance
• Offers specialized products like commercial auto and classic car insurance
• New Car Replacement program through AARP covers the replacement of a new vehicle totaled within the first 15 months of ownership

Cons: 

• Rates are more expensive for non-AARP members

Coverage Options: 

• Bodily injury liability
• Property damage liability
• Collision insurance
• Comprehensive coverage
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Medical payments coverage
• Personal injury protection
• Full auto glass coverage
• Car towing coverage
• Personal umbrella insurance
• Gap insurance
• Rental car reimbursement coverage
• Rental car insurance

Discounts: 

• AARP member discounts
• Multi-policy
• Paid-in-full 
• Safety features
• Vehicle fuel type (discounts for hybrid and electric vehicles)
• TrueLane Program (discounts for safe drivers based on driving habits)
• Safe driver training discounts
• Disappearing deductible
• Accident forgiveness

GEICO

JD Power Score: 847/1,000

AM Best Score: A++

Overview: GEICO was founded in 1936 and has since become a national insurance company offering coverage in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The company is known for providing affordable car insurance coverage, including some unique options like mechanical breakdown coverage. In addition to car insurance, GEICO offers mobile home, homeowner’s, flood, and condo insurance so drivers can take advantage of bundled policy discounts. GEICO does not offer gap insurance, so it may not be the right choice if you’re buying or leasing a new vehicle.

Pros: 

• Offers many different car insurance options, including mechanical breakdown insurance
• Known for highly affordable insurance rates
• Many discounts available
• Robust mobile app includes the ability to file claims, make payments, access ID cards, and more
• DriveEasy telematics program is available in many states

Cons:

• No gap insurance offered
• Rates can be significantly higher for drivers with a history of  accidents

Coverage Options: 

• Liability coverage
• Uninsured motorist coverage
• Underinsured motorist coverage
• Medical coverage
• Personal injury protection coverage
• Collision coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Emergency road service
• Rental reimbursement
• Mechanical breakdown insurance

Discounts: 

• Airbag
• Anti-lock brakes
• Anti-theft system
• Daytime running lights
• New vehicle
• Five-year accident-free good driver
• Seat belt use
• Defensive driving
• Driver’s education
• Good student
• Emergency deployment
• Federal employee
• Membership and employee
• Military
• Multi-vehicle
• Multi-policy

State Farm

JD Power Score: 843/1,000

AM Best Score: A++

Overview: State Farm was founded in 1922 and is known for its “Like a Good Neighbor” slogan. The company’s network of more than 19,000 agents allows for a personalized experience, so even though State Farm is a large company, you can still get the feeling of working with a smaller insurer. State Farm’s mobile app has received positive reviews – use it to pay bills, file claims, and even request roadside assistance. The company offers a wide selection of car insurance coverage and small business, home, and property, life, health, disability, liability, and pet medical insurance policies. State Farm also provides banking and investment services. 

Pros: 

• Offers many car and insurance products like liability and pet medical insurance
• 19,000 agents provide a personalized experience if you’re looking for customized help
• Wide selection of discounts includes discounts for teen drivers
• Known for high customer satisfaction and customer loyalty

Cons: 

• Gap insurance isn’t available
• Some customer reviews describe varying issues they had with individual agents

Coverage Options: 

• Collision coverage
• Liability coverage
• Uninsured motor vehicle coverage
• Emergency road service coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Car rental and travel expenses coverage
• Medical payments coverage

Discounts: 

• Safe driver – Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear programs
• Accident-free and good driving savings
• Defensive driving course discount
• Good driver discount
• Vehicle safety savings
• Passive restraint discount
• Anti-theft discount
• Multiple vehicle savings
• Bundled insurance products discounts

Progressive

JD Power Score: 820/1,000

AM Best Score: A+

Overview: Progressive was founded in 1937 and has grown into a national insurance company serving over 13 million policies. Progressive provides car insurance in all 50 states and became the first insurance company to offer premium and claim installment payments. It offers a large assortment of car insurance coverage, including insurance for commercial vehicles, RVs, and motorcycles. The company’s Snapshot program is a usage-based program that can help drivers save money based on their driving habits. Progressive is also known for its Name Your Price tool, which simplifies shopping for car insurance based on your budget. 

Pros: 

• Large assortment of insurance coverages, including home and life insurance
• Name Your Price tool can make the process of shopping for insurance less overwhelming
• Robust app allows you to pay bills, report claims, request roadside assistance, and more. 

Cons: 

• Rates are about average

Coverage Options: 

• Liability coverage
• Comprehensive coverage
• Collision coverage
• Underinsured/uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage
• Underinsured/uninsured motorist property damage coverage
• Medical payments coverage
• Loan/lease payoff coverage
• Rental car reimbursement
• Custom parts and equipment value coverage
• Rideshare coverage
• Roadside assistance
• Deductible savings bank (every claim-free policy period reduces your deductible)

Discounts: 

• Multi-policy
• Multi-car
• Continuous insurance
• Snapshot safe driver discount (Telematics-based program)
• Teen driver 
• Good student 
• Distance student 
• Homeowner 
• Online quote
• Sign online 
• Paperless
• Pay in full
• Automatic payment

Average Car Insurance Cost in FL

According to the U.S. News & World Report, Florida drivers pay an average of $2,393 per year for car insurance. That is nearly $1,000 more than the average annual cost of car insurance in the United States, which is $1,442. That higher car insurance cost is affected by factors like the cost of living in Florida, medical care, population density, and road traffic. 

Car insurance rates in Florida also vary significantly depending on the city of residence. Cities with a higher population density have an increase in car accidents. Additionally, higher crime rates increase the chance of vehicle vandalism or theft, so car insurance companies charge more for drivers who live or work in cities with high crime rates. 

Some of the most popular vacation destinations have annual car insurance rates that are close to or even exceed the state’s annual average rates: 

• Orlando: $2,426 
• St. Petersburg: $2,680
• Fort Lauderdale: $2,929
• Tampa: $3,089
• Miami: $3,321

How to Find the Best Car Insurance Companies in FL

To find the best car insurance in Florida, you must consider what qualities are most important to you. Often, the best insurance company might not offer the lowest rates but provides:

• Quality customer service
• The coverage you need
• A positive customer service experience
• A reputation for a fast claims experience
• Overall value

Comparing quotes can help determine which companies give you the best deal as you shop around for car insurance. Compare.com makes that process easier. With Compare.com, fill out a single quote request form, which takes about five minutes. Then, the platform gathers quotes from up to 65 insurance companies and sends you the best options. Compare.com users save an average of $720 per year on their car insurance. 

What You Need to Know About FL Auto Insurance Coverage 

State law in Florida requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability along with personal injury protection and property damage liability. This minimum coverage must be in place before registering a vehicle in the state. 

Florida is a no-fault liability state, meaning that no matter who causes an accident, everyone involved is responsible for paying their expenses. Even though individuals are responsible for their fees, like medical bills and vehicle repair costs, insurance is essential to protect you. If you cause an accident resulting in damages exceeding another driver’s policy limits, that driver could sue you for the remaining costs. Florida laws may require you to carry a minimum amount of insurance, but investing in more than just the minimum coverage is a good idea. 

In Florida, registered vehicles require insurance coverage. Otherwise, the State can suspend your registration for up to three years. If you decide to take your vehicle off the road, cancel registration before canceling the car insurance. 

Car Insurance Discounts in FL

While Florida doesn’t offer state-specific auto insurance discount programs, many insurance companies offer a wide selection of discounts that can help you save money on your policy. Typical discounts include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, good driver, paid-in-full, electronic statement, and loyalty discounts. Some companies offer less common discounts like military and federal employee discounts. 

In addition to these available discounts, you may save money on your car insurance by choosing an insurance provider that offers telematics-based programs. Insurance companies often use telematics in two ways: 

• Safe driving programs use telematics to monitor your driving habits. These programs often use an app on your phone to track risky behaviors like hard braking, swerving, speeding, and driving late at night. The insurance company uses this data to evaluate your risk as a driver and then offers low-risk drivers discounts on their policies. 
• Pay-per-mile programs use telematics to track how far you drive each month. The programs may use a device or an app on your phone to calculate your total monthly mileage. You will pay a flat monthly base fee, then an additional per-mile fee depending on how far you drive. These programs are often ideal if you are retired, work from home, or don’t drive far. 

FAQs About Car Insurance in FL

Is Florida expensive for car insurance? 

Car insurance in Florida costs about $1,000 more per year than the national average. Many factors affect car insurance rates in the state, including Florida’s high cost of medical bills, high cost of living (which affects vehicle and repair costs), and high population density, which increases the traffic on the roads and drives up the likelihood of being in an accident. 

Who is the cheapest auto insurance company in Florida? 

At an average of $91 per month, Dairyland offers the cheapest car insurance for single Floridians. Married drivers in Florida often see the most affordable rates from Assurance America, with average monthly premiums of $81. If you’ve been in an accident, Assurance America offers the lowest rates, with premiums averaging $125 per month. 

What is good car insurance coverage in Florida? 

While Florida only requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability, it’s best to maintain as much car insurance as you can afford. A bodily injury liability policy with a minimum of $100,000 per person and $3000,000 per accident is an excellent place to start. Depending on the value of your vehicle and your financial situation, you may want to add additional coverages, like comprehensive or roadside assistance coverage, to fully protect yourself. 

J.J. Starr Insurance Writer

J.J. Starr is an insurance writer for Compare.com who specializes in auto insurance and personal finance. She has a passion for helping people save money by explaining complex topics like car insurance in a way that is simple and easy to understand. Prior to writing for Compare.com, J.J was a registered banker and life insurance consultant. She holds a master's degree in writing from New York University and a bachelor's degree from Stephens College.