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Florida, Georgia, Washington & Puerto Rico Injury Lawyers / Blog / Uninsured Motorists / One in Five Florida Drivers Has No Insurance: Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Isn’t Optional

One in Five Florida Drivers Has No Insurance: Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Isn’t Optional

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Imagine getting rear ended on I-95, dealing with a totaled car and a stack of medical bills, only to discover the driver who hit you has no insurance at all. In Florida, that scenario is far more common than most drivers realize. Are you protected if it happens to you?

Florida’s Minimum Insurance Requirements Leave Gaps

Florida requires drivers to carry only Personal Injury Protection and property damage liability coverage. Bodily injury liability coverage, the kind that pays for another driver’s medical bills and pain and suffering after a crash you cause, is not required under Florida law. That gap means many Florida drivers carry only the bare minimum, and some carry no insurance whatsoever. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the uninsured motorist rate tracks the number of registered vehicles that lack even the state’s minimum required coverage, and Florida consistently ranks among the states with the highest share of uninsured drivers in the country.

What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Actually Does

Uninsured motorist, or UM, coverage steps in when the at fault driver has no insurance to pay for your injuries. Underinsured motorist coverage works similarly when the at fault driver has some insurance, but not enough to cover the full extent of your damages. Florida Statute Section 627.727 governs this type of coverage and requires insurers to offer it as part of every auto policy, though drivers may reject it in writing. Without UM coverage, a person injured by an uninsured driver may be left responsible for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses out of pocket.

Why This Coverage Matters More Than Ever

Several factors make UM coverage particularly important for Florida drivers:

  • Florida does not mandate bodily injury liability coverage, unlike many other states
  • A significant share of Florida drivers carry no insurance at all
  • Even insured at fault drivers often carry policy limits too low to cover serious injuries
  • UM coverage can also apply in hit and run accidents where the at fault driver is never identified

The cost of adding UM coverage to a policy is typically modest compared to the protection it provides. For drivers who rely on Florida’s roads every day, from Miami’s expressways to Jacksonville’s interstates, that protection can make the difference between a manageable recovery and a financial crisis. Have you checked whether your own policy includes it?

Let an Uninsured Motorist Attorney Review Your Policy

If you have been injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver, don’t assume you are out of options. Our Fort Lauderdale uninsured motorist attorneys can review your policy, explain your coverage, and help you pursue the compensation you are entitled to. At The Pendas Law Firm, we have helped accident victims throughout Florida understand and enforce their insurance rights. With offices in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Ocala, Tampa, Bradenton, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and Daytona Beach, we are ready to fight for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Source:

flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/0627.727

By The Pendas Law Firm | Posted on September 21, 2026