Minimum coverage for an ordinary passenger vehicle
FLHSMV's Florida insurance requirements, checked October 16, 2026, require at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability for the ordinary vehicle registration described on that page. These are coverage limits, not premiums or DMV fees.
PIP addresses covered injuries regardless of fault. PDL addresses damage to another person's property caused by the insured vehicle's driver. The proof must come from an insurer licensed to sell Florida coverage, unless the owner qualifies for an FLHSMV self-insurance certificate.
These registration minimums do not describe every financial responsibility case. A crash, conviction, or specialized vehicle use can bring additional requirements. Use the exact category in an FLHSMV notice, rather than assuming a policy sufficient for routine registration resolves every sanction.
Keep coverage while the registration is active
The state requires continuous Florida coverage during the registration period, even if the vehicle is not driven or cannot be driven. Its insurance page instructs owners to surrender the plate before canceling insurance. Storing the car does not itself cancel the registration or remove that obligation.
If you are stopping road use, see Florida vehicle nonuse and storage. For the plate return transaction, use the Florida license plate guide.
When moving away, FLHSMV says to keep Florida coverage until the vehicle is registered in the new state or all valid Florida plates and registrations have been surrendered. Arrange the registration and insurance changes together.
Why FLHSMV sent an insurance letter
The agency's Received a Letter instructions explain that insurers electronically report policy starts and cancellations. A cancellation or vehicle removal can trigger a notice when a valid Florida registration remains and the department has no reported replacement policy. A crash or citation can also prompt verification.
Retrieve a missing notice through your account at MyDMV Portal. Find the FR Sanction number and the suspension date. FLHSMV uses the first digit of that number to direct you to the appropriate instructions.
Different cases ask about different dates. The department's FR700 coverage inquiry asks whether coverage existed before the stated suspension date. Its FR200 citation inquiry asks about insurance on the citation date. A policy bought today does not by itself establish coverage on an earlier date.
Respond even if your insurer reported coverage
FLHSMV's insurance verification guidance says that once a suspension notice is generated, the customer must respond. An insurer's subsequent initiation, reinstatement or vehicle addition does not automatically close that suspension.
Use the notice's instructions to supply the requested evidence and address the specific vehicle or driver case. Keep the insurer's policy and effective-date information available. If the department's database does not reflect your coverage, ask the insurer to check its electronic reporting, then confirm the case's status with FLHSMV.
The agency's Driver License Check provides a license status check. A renewal receipt or an insurance payment receipt is not a substitute for checking whether the driving privilege is valid. The Florida driving record guide explains the difference between a status check and a purchased history.
If the car was sold, parked or moved
The Received a Letter page gives separate instructions for these circumstances. If you no longer own the vehicle and will not transfer its Florida plate to another vehicle, surrender the plate. If the vehicle is inoperable or no longer used on public roads, address the plate and registration when ending coverage. If you moved but retained Florida registration, register the vehicle in the new state.
A completed sale also requires its own paperwork. Follow Florida's vehicle selling process for the Notice of Sale and title assignment. Do not assume removing the car from an insurance policy reports the sale to the motor vehicle records system.
Suspension and reinstatement charges
The department's insurance overview says an insurance lapse can result in suspension of driving privileges and the plate for up to three years. It does not provide a temporary or hardship license for an insurance-related suspension.
FLHSMV's no-fault compliance explanation lists reinstatement charges ranging from $150 to $500, checked October 16, 2026. That range is not a universal fee for every financial responsibility case. Follow the notice and the requirements applicable to its sanction. The cited page does not identify a new effective date for the amounts.
Crashes can require liability coverage and an SR-22
The FLHSMV crash insurance instructions address a driver charged with a moving violation in a crash involving injuries or possible injuries. They describe bodily injury limits of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per crash, along with $10,000 property damage coverage and PIP.
When the required coverage was absent, the instructions can require a certified SR-22 filing maintained for three years from the designated suspension date, releases from other parties or a security deposit, and the applicable reinstatement payment. This is why obtaining ordinary registration coverage alone may not resolve a crash sanction.
Use the case-specific instructions before submitting a release or repayment agreement. FLHSMV cautions that a release can affect an insurer's recovery rights when that insurer already paid for damage or injuries.
FR-44 requirements after a DUI conviction
FLHSMV's DUI questions and answers describe FR-44 requirements for convictions after October 1, 2007. The department's verification reference identifies the liability limits as $100,000 per person, $300,000 per crash and $50,000 property damage. The DUI FAQ also lists a $350,000 combined single limit option.
The FAQ requires maintaining the FR-44 for three years from reinstatement of driving privileges. License reinstatement can involve other requirements as well; see the Florida DUI suspension guide. The ordinary PIP and PDL registration minimums are not the FR-44 limits.
Military, business and self-insured vehicles
FLHSMV identifies an out-of-state coverage exception for eligible active-duty military members, spouses and dependents stationed elsewhere. Follow the military registration instructions for the applicable evidence and renewal process.
Business owners have a separate business insurance clearance process. It uses the Financial Responsibility case number and distinguishes missing coverage reports, missing clearance documents and cases already cleared. Paying a fee is only one part of resolving a case when other requirements remain.
An owner seeking self-insurance must qualify for a certificate. FLHSMV's self-insurance page provides different applications for natural persons, businesses and for-hire passenger vehicles. It says to allow up to 30 days for processing and explains that self-insurance is a financial responsibility arrangement, not an insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel insurance because my registered car is broken down?
An active registration still requires continuous coverage. FLHSMV instructs owners to surrender the plate before canceling insurance.
Is $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL enough for every Florida insurance case?
No. Those are the ordinary registration minimums discussed above. Crash and DUI sanctions can require liability coverage and specific filings.
Why did I receive a notice after changing insurers?
FLHSMV can send a notice when it receives a cancellation and has no reported replacement coverage. Check the notice and your insurer's electronic report.
Does a new insurance report automatically clear my suspension?
The department's verification guidance says it does not automatically close a suspension once a notice has been generated. Respond to the notice.
Where can I get a copy of my missing insurance notice?
FLHSMV directs customers to their MyDMV Portal account. Use the FR Sanction number to find the matching instructions.
Can I get a hardship license for an insurance lapse suspension?
The FLHSMV insurance requirements page says temporary and hardship licenses are not available for insurance-related suspensions.