The Cheapest and Best Car Insurance Companies in Florida

The auto insurance Florida residents have available to them is among the most expensive in the US, according to our research. Several factors contribute to the high prices, such as a significant number of senior drivers, frequent car accidents, and Florida’s no-fault insurance system. Furthermore, from my experience as an assistant underwriter who handled Florida risks on a regular basis, I suspect hurricanes and subtropical weather increase all property and insurance rates in this state.

Nonetheless, it’s still not too hard to find the cheap car insurance Florida drivers want that won’t let them down if an accident happens. To save you time and money, we went ahead and ranked all the best auto insurance companies in Florida according to the quality of their customer service, financial strength, discounts, optional coverages, and prices.

Furthermore, we’ve provided a specialized guide for each of the most common driver categories and a separate list of the cheapest car insurance in the biggest cities in Florida. Whichever your preferences are, if you’re based in Florida and looking for the best car insurance, we’ve got you covered.

Overall Winner: Geico Insurance

Geico is one of the leading insurance companies in the US, and the fact that it scores near the top in almost every category makes it the best choice in Florida. In terms of customer service, it ranks fifth overall in the Florida region, according to J.D. Power’s 2019 study. The companies that scored better are Allstate, USAA, Esurance, and State Farm. However, Geico is significantly cheaper than these three insurers. Thanks to its prices, it really lives up to its advertisement slogan, “15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.” Geico is also in the upper echelon of Florida Auto Insurance companies when it comes to financial strength. Berkshire Hathaway, one of the most accomplished and financially stable corporations in the US, owns Geico. This suggests that Geico won’t be looking for excuses when the time comes to pay claims expenses. Even in other departments, such as the quality of the website and the variety of discounts and optional coverages, Geico is near the top. If you’re looking for high-quality car insurance in Florida, give Geico a chance. You won’t regret it.

Choose Geico for the great overall performance. The company is really a jack of all trades and a master of many. Look elsewhere if you want the personal experience of working with an agent.

The Runner-up: Safeco Insurance

Safeco belongs to the group of companies providing the cheap car insurance Florida residents may be looking for. Its rates are the third most affordable in the state, behind Geico and Progressive. However, its customer service score is poor; the company gets just 2 stars in J.D. Power’s insurance study. That said, its NAIC ratio of 0.54 is way below the industry average, which is always a good thing. The lower the number, the fewer complaints the company gets. Safeco is also an excellent choice for classic car insurance, especially if you use your vintage vehicle regularly. One department where Safeco doesn’t excel is financial strength. The company has an “A” or “excellent” A. M. Best rating. On the other hand, big insurers like Geico and State Farm have the best possible rating, which is “A++” or “Superior.” Furthermore, our review and analysis of auto insurance quotes within Florida show that the company can be quite expensive for young drivers. Choosing any insurance company means making a certain compromise, but we can bet many Florida drivers will be quite happy with Safeco.

Choose Safeco for reasonable prices, reliable customer service, and high-quality collector car insurance. Look elsewhere if you want top-of-the-line financial strength.

The Best for the Military: USAA Insurance

In every state guide, we end-up singing praises to USAA insurance. From the excellent customer service, affordable prices to the sleek website and terrific financial stability, whatever you could ask for, USAA delivers. It seems we are running out of superlatives for this company—USAA offers the best auto insurance Florida residents can buy. One huge caveat is that their insurance is only available to former and current US army members and their close families. But if you’re eligible, you are in for a treat.

Choose USAA for all parameters if you are eligible.

Look elsewhere if you are not a member of the US army or a family member.

The Cheapest Overall and the Best for High-Risk Drivers: Progressive

Progressive insurance takes two awards in our Florida state guide—it’s the cheapest insurer in the state and the best option for young or riskier drivers. We expect many university and high school students will flock to Progressive after they hear this. But they should check Geico out too. That company beats Progressive when it comes to offering cheap auto insurance in some Florida cities.

As for other important insurance metrics, Progressive gets decent scores across the board. We especially like the company’s fast, easy-to-navigate website. In fact, it’s so slick that we use Progressive, together with State Farm and Geico, for our reference quote.

Choose Progressive for super-cheap rates and awesome online tools.

Look elsewhere if you want absolute best financial strength or first-rate customer service.

The Best for Discounts: MetLife

MetLife can be a good option for certain drivers, even though it rates are high enough to make some buyers gulp nervously. 

For instance, when comparing car insurance in Florida, we found the prices offered by MetLife were the single most expensive options for all age groups in our test. Its coverage for a 21-year-old driver costs a whopping $11,148 annually. When you compare it to Geico’s $3,732 for the same category, the message is quite clear—MetLife has sky-high prices

Nevertheless, if you belong to a group or employer associated with MetLife, you can save as much as 50% on car insurance. Coupled with the fact that the insurer is in the pink of health financially — as confirmed by its “A” or “Superior” rating by A.M. Best — it comes across as an appealing option for this class of buyers.

However, for those who don’t qualify for the employer or group discount, there’s no denying it is an eye-wateringly expensive option. As far as customer service is concerned, MetLife’s record is just about average, coming seventh in 13 insurers. 

Choose MetLife if you qualify for its member or group discount.

Look elsewhere if you want affordable car insurance in Florida.

The Cheapest and the Best
Auto Insurance in Florida by City

We obtained auto insurance quotes in all of the state’s biggest cities to determine where you can buy the finest car insurance. Our reference quote was for a 40-year-old driver with a clean record driving a 2018 Honda Accord, with medium limits, comprehensive/collision coverages, and a $500 deductible.

Miami

Did you know that Miami is the sole US city that was founded by a woman? She was Julia Tuttle, a local businesswoman who pushed the local rail builders to expand the Florida East Coast Railroad to Miami.

The city of Miami is the sixth most densely populated town in the US, and the Miami metropolitan area hosts over 6.1 million people, making it the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the US. Furthermore, the 2009 UBS study ranked Miami as the wealthiest city in the US in terms of purchasing power.

That’s why it comes as quite a surprise that the auto insurance here is quite inexpensive. Progressive is again the most affordable car insurance option in Miami, Florida, while Allstate is the most expensive. Esurance, Geico, and Safeco all offer reasonably priced premiums, meaning any buyer will be spoiled for choice in this city.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville is the largest city by land mass in the continental US. It also has an impressive musical heritage. The annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival, which started in 1980, is the second-biggest event of its kind in the US. Jazz nobility such as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock have headlined the festival. The city is also the birthplace of the legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Even though Jacksonville is the largest and most populous city in the state, car insurance rates in this Florida town are only $7 per month above the average. Progressive is by far the most affordable option, while Esurance and Geico form the group of the second cheapest companies. While not many customers may be familiar with Esurance, we would urge you to give the company a chance. It’s backed by Liberty Mutual, has great online tools, and scores respectably across all of the relevant car insurance metrics in Florida, so when you’re getting quotes, check Esurance out too.

Tampa

Did you know that Babe Ruth hit his longest home run ever recorded, 587 feet, during an exhibition in Tampa? He probably stayed in Tampa to relax for a while, given that the city is famous for its excellent restaurants and vivacious cigar scene. It’s not called the Cigar City for no reason, after all.  Bartenders in Tampa likely know how to serve a fine drink too, given that the city was one of the top distributors of illegal liquor during Prohibition.

Car insurance companies in Florida charge quite a bit in Tampa—it is the most expensive city in Florida. Progressive and Geico form the group of affordable options in this town. Esurance, Safeco, and Allstate offer too little in terms of overall quality to justify their prices in Tampa. Nonetheless, try getting a quote from these companies as well—they may charge you less.

Orlando

Orlando is home to one of the largest US citrus farms, Showcase of Citrus. It also hosts Gatorland, a theme park where visitors can see numerous crocodiles, alligators, and wild cats and learn about Florida’s wildlife. And this list wouldn’t be complete without Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando, two gigantic theme parks that attract an enormous number of visitors; Orlando was, in fact, the fifth most visited destination in the US in 2016.

Prices for car insurance in Orlando, Florida, are at an overall estimate of $272. Progressive and Geico stick out as the most affordable companies. Similarly to Tampa, other companies are too expensive for our taste. But don’t let this stop you from getting a quote if you find a particular feature attractive.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale bears the name Venice of America due to its complex canal system known as the Intercoastal Waterway. The canal network is more than 300 miles long in total, but it’s quite easy to navigate according to the locals. Fort Lauderdale is quite a popular tourist destination, with a lot of sunny and warm days year-round.

Perhaps the high number of tourists is why automobile insurance companies in Florida charge quite a high premium in this town. Fort Lauderdale is the most expensive place in Florida for car insurance and the only city in the state without a single company that has a monthly premium lower than $200. Progressive, Geico, and Esurance are the cheapest options in this town. Geico would be our top pick, but we would give a chance to the other two companies as well.

Minimum Auto Insurance Limits Required in Florida

Those looking for cheap car insurance in Florida will be thrilled to know the state has the lowest car insurance limits in the US. The only two coverages required are property damage liability (which pays the expenses for any property damage you caused) and personal injury protection (which covers medical expenses if you or your passengers are injured in an accident), each with a $10,000 limit.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist, collision, and comprehensive coverage are all optional, although a lender may demand them. Furthermore, bodily injury liability is not mandatory because Florida became the second no-fault state in the US in 1971. This policy has been effective ever since, although there was an initiative in 2017 to repeal the no-fault system.

The best auto insurance coverage in Florida in our opinion would include collision together with comprehensive coverage, given that storms and natural disasters are quite frequent in this area. Buying uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is also smart—Florida had the highest percentage of uninsured drivers in 2015: 26.7%.

We would also urge anyone capable of getting higher limits to do so. Even a minor collision can cause property damage over $10,000, considering modern car prices. Plus, even if Florida is a no-fault state, the damaged party can still sue you for the pain and suffering the injuries caused.

This entire protection plan may be more expensive than the state minimum, but there’s no price tag for the peace of mind that it brings.

Discounts on Florida Auto Insurance

Those shocked by the high insurance prices in Florida can find comfort in the fact that many discounts can significantly reduce the premium. Here’s a brief overview of the most common discounts that Florida’s auto insurance companies offer.

Accident-Free Discount – If you haven’t had an accident or traffic violation for three to five years, depending on the company, you may get up to 30% off. Plus, usually the discount increases over time.

Safety Features – Common factory-installed features that improve the safety of the vehicle and the passengers, like anti-theft devices, airbags, and anti-lock brakes can get you a discount. Even driving a car that has a proven record of being safe and reliable can do so.

Good Student Discount – A young driver or a teen qualifies for this discount on auto insurance in Florida by being enrolled full-time in an approved academic institution and by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher.

Defensive Driving Discount – Senior drivers can get a 5% a discount if they complete a Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Bundle Discount – Most of Florida’s insurance companies offer this discount. If you insure multiple vehicles or you buy home and car insurance from the same company, you’re bound to get a discount.

Homeowners Discount – It turns out people who own a home are less likely to get involved in a car accident. That’s why most of Florida’s car insurance companies will give them a discount.

Tips for Finding the Cheapest Car Insurance in Florida

Compare multiple quotes

Insurance quotes are very specialized. Many different parameters influence the final premium. Sometimes, a small change in zip code can add hundreds of dollars annually. Furthermore, factors like your age, credit score, and driving record, as well as the make of the vehicle you drive, can all change the final price. That’s why we advise getting a quote from at least five different insurance companies.

Read reviews

There’s no need to undertake the time-consuming effort of exploring all of the auto insurance Florida offers when someone did that for you. Check our car insurance reviews to find detailed data on the quality of every major US insurance company. Even if two different companies have the same overall score, their optional coverages may be entirely different. You can find all the information you need on our website.

Check the discounts

It’s important to check which company offers the ones you’re eligible for and where that discount is the highest. Our reviews show the exact percentage whenever we could find that information. However, in some cases, the company won’t show the percentage on their website. In situations like these, only a good old phone call helps, so it’s always best to get in touch with an agent when requesting car insurance quotes in Florida.

Even if you’re happy, shop around

The good news is that Florida, like California, banned the practice of price optimization in 2015. The state published a 2-page memorandum that stated, “Insurers that have used price optimization in the determination of the rates filed and currently in effect should submit a filing to eliminate that use.”

Price optimization has no universal definition, but it basically represents a practice of adjusting the price for any given insured person based on data that isn’t related to the risk they present. It unfairly discriminates against some people, and it enables charging different groups different prices for the same product.

Even if this procedure is banned, it still makes sense to shop around to get low-cost car insurance in Florida. Insurance companies may change their pricing strategies annually and introduce new discounts. If the search ends with a conclusion that your current company is the best, you can rest easy knowing that you already have the finest option in the market.

Conclusion

In our research, we found that car insurance prices in Florida are quite high. However, you don’t need to pay a lot to get high-quality coverage. That’s because some of the best companies in this state, like Geico, Esurance, and Progressive, also offer the cheap car insurance Florida drivers want.

Additionally, we found that the minimum auto insurance coverage in Florida, although quite cheap, is inadequate to provide full protection. We’d advise a potential customer to get higher limits and consider buying additional protection plans.

In the end, even though Florida effectively banned price optimization, shopping around is the only way to find car insurance that suits your needs. We advise getting a quote from at least five different companies. It will take a little bit more than an hour’s time, but it could save you thousands.

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