What Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover in Florida?

Comprehensive coverage in Florida covers theft and non-collision damage to your car from fire, vandalism, or severe weather. You can buy comprehensive insurance as stand-alone coverage or as part of a full-coverage policy. Full coverage also usually includes collision and state-minimum coverage.^[1]

Florida doesn’t require drivers to have comprehensive car insurance. But your lender might require it if you finance or lease your car. In Florida, your comprehensive deductible won’t apply if you file a claim for windshield glass damage.

Learn how comprehensive insurance works in Florida, how it compares to collision coverage, and when it’s worth buying.

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What comprehensive car insurance covers in Florida

Comprehensive car insurance helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle after theft or non-collision damage, including:

• Fire

• Windstorm

• Flood

• Falling objects

• Vandalism

• Hitting an animal

Florida law requires car insurance companies to waive the comprehensive deductible for windshield glass claims. That means if a non-collision event damages your windshield and you have comprehensive coverage, you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket.

What comprehensive insurance doesn’t cover

Comprehensive auto insurance in Florida excludes coverage for:

• Collisions: You need collision insurance to cover damage to your vehicle from an accident.

• Property damage: You need property damage liability insurance to cover damage you cause to another person’s property.^[2]

• Medical expenses: Comprehensive insurance doesn’t cover medical bills for you or your passengers. You need personal injury protection (PIP) to cover them.

• Others’ injuries: Bodily injury liability insurance covers injuries you cause to other drivers and their passengers.

• Funeral expenses: You can add medical payments (MedPay) coverage to help pay for funeral costs for you or your passengers.

• Work-related damage: If you damage your car while using it for business, you’d need a separate policy endorsement to cover any damages.

• Rental cars: Comprehensive insurance doesn’t cover renting a car if you can use yours after a covered claim. For that, you need to add rental reimbursement.

How comprehensive car insurance works in Florida

Comprehensive car insurance is optional in Florida. To add it to your policy, you’ll pay a monthly premium and choose a deductible. You can typically choose a deductible of $250, $500, or $1,000. A higher deductible means a lower premium but higher out-of-pocket costs if you file a claim.

During the claims process, your insurer will inspect any damage and negotiate a fair reimbursement. If you total your car or someone steals it, your insurance company will either reimburse you for the cost of a comparable car or pay the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle after depreciation.

If you financed your car, its ACV may be less than your remaining loan balance. You can buy supplemental gap insurance to cover the difference.

Comprehensive vs. collision insurance

Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car from severe weather, natural disasters, theft, and vandalism. Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle after an accident. Whether you hit another vehicle, a stationary object, or flip your car, collision coverage reimburses you for the repairs.

In Florida, insurers typically require you to buy comprehensive coverage to add collision coverage, but not the other way around.

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Is comprehensive coverage worth it in Florida?

Most Florida drivers can benefit from comprehensive coverage. While the coverage is optional, it provides peace of mind and protects your finances from unexpected events. Severe weather is common during hurricane season in the state, bringing flooding and wind damage.^[3]

It’s especially important to buy comprehensive coverage if:

• You finance your vehicle.

• You live near the coast.

• You live in a high-crime area.

• You park outside or in a non-secure location.

• You have a new or expensive car.

• You can’t afford to replace your car out of pocket.

In some cases, it may not be necessary to buy comprehensive coverage. If you have an older car or one that isn’t worth much, you might want to skip it. It could be cheaper to replace your vehicle out of pocket rather than file a claim with your insurer.

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