Key takeaways
- Florida does not require you to carry motorcycle insurance to register or ride your bike, but you must be able to prove financial responsibility if you cause a crash.
- Motorcycles are excluded from Florida’s no-fault PIP system, so your medical bills are not covered the way a car driver’s would be, which makes carrying your own coverage important, even if it’s not technically required.
- Jerry recommends that Florida riders consider liability limits of 100/300/100 and medical payments coverage, since Florida’s PIP exclusion means your own injuries won’t be covered without it.
Florida treats motorcycles differently than cars. While you aren’t required to buy motorcycle insurance to register your bike or ride on public roads, if you cause a crash, the state still expects you to prove financial responsibility because you’ll still be held liable for any injuries or damage you cause.
See motorcycle quotes side-by-side with Jerry.
What Florida requires for motorcyclists
Florida does not require motorcycle owners to carry insurance to register or ride. Instead, the state uses a financial responsibility law. You must be able to cover the cost of a crash you cause, and most riders meet that obligation by buying a minimum amount of liability insurance. Those minimum liability limits are 10/20/10, according to Florida’s financial responsibility statute. That means:
- $10,000 bodily injury per person. This covers one person’s injuries you cause in a crash.
- $20,000 bodily injury per accident. This is the total available for everyone hurt in a single crash you cause.
- $10,000 property damage per accident. This covers damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property.
Jerry recommends: Treat the 10/20/10 minimum as a starting point, but not enough to be financially protected. A single hospital stay can pass $10,000 fast, and once your limits run out, the rest comes from your pocket.
How Jerry helps Florida riders get covered
Jerry is the only company that lets you compare motorcycle insurance quotes and buy your policy right in the app. With Jerry, you can:
- Compare insurers in one place. See prices and coverage from top carriers in one place. Instead of spending hours gathering quotes, Jerry pulls them together in minutes.
- Buy entirely online. Get covered without the unwanted phone calls or spam. Jerry never sells your data, and we’re backed by bank-level security.
- Get help when you need it. Not sure how much uninsured motorist coverage to carry, or whether MedPay fits your situation? Jerry’s licensed agents are a chat or call away, 7 days a week.
- Stay protected over time. Jerry monitors your rate, tells you when it is time to reshop, and reminds you about renewals. We’re your insurance assistant, not just a one-time tool.
Jerry recommends: Consider getting liability limits of at least 100/300/100 so that you’ve got greater financial protection if you cause an accident while riding.
Alternatives to buying a motorcycle insurance policy
Unlike most states, Florida lets you prove financial responsibility without a standard policy. You do not have to buy motorcycle insurance if you do one of the following.
- Cash or security deposit. You can post a deposit with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to cover potential liability.
- Self-insurance certificate. The state issues this to owners who can prove a net worth of at least $40,000.
Key takeaway: These options may sound like loopholes, but tying up tens of thousands of dollars to skip a policy is often not the best financial decision, since a motorcycle insurance policy typically costs much less.
Florida’s helmet rule
Florida does not have a universal helmet law. Riders under 21 must wear a DOT-compliant helmet at all times. Riders 21 and older can ride without a helmet, but only if they carry at least $10,000 in medical benefits coverage for motorcycle injuries. That coverage can come from a motorcycle medical payments add-on or a health insurance policy. Eye protection is required for all riders regardless of age.
Even where the law allows it, it is highly recommended for all riders to wear a helmet. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows helmets sharply reduce the risk of fatal and serious head injuries, and the medical bills from a crash without one can run high.
Key takeaway: If you are 21 or older and plan to ride without a helmet, you’ll need to carry the required $10,000 in medical benefits. But riding without a helmet is unsafe, so no matter the age, it’s best to ride with a helmet on.
What happens if you ride uninsured
You can legally ride without insurance in Florida, but if you cause a crash and cannot prove financial responsibility, the consequences can be significant.
- License and registration suspension. The state can suspend your driving privileges, motorcycle endorsement, registration, and tag until you comply.
- Fines and reinstatement fees. You can face civil fines plus court costs, and you must pay reinstatement fees to get your license and registration back.
- Mandatory coverage for three years. After an at-fault crash with no coverage, you can be required to carry liability insurance for up to three years.
- You are personally liable. If you cause a crash, the injured person can sue for your savings, wages and assets.
Key takeaway: Skipping coverage in Florida is allowed, but risky. Without it, you are responsible for all injuries or damage you cause, and you face fines plus a possible registration and license suspension.
Insurance Florida riders should consider
Florida’s minimums are generally too low to fully protect you financially. Here is what Jerry recommends Florida riders to consider when buying a motorcycle policy.
- Liability limits of 100/300/100. That means $100,000 in bodily injury per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 in property damage.
- Medical payments coverage. MedPay helps cover your medical bills after a crash, no matter who is at fault. Consider at least $10,000 in MedPay coverage.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Roughly one in five Florida drivers is uninsured, according to the Insurance Research Council. UM/UIM protects you if you are hit by someone with no coverage or in a hit-and-run. We recommend matching your UM/UIM coverage limits to your liability limit.
- Comprehensive and collision. Add comprehensive and collision if you couldn’t easily replace your bike out of pocket. Comprehensive covers theft, weather, and vandalism, while collision covers crash damage to your own motorcycle. Lenders usually require both if you are financing.
Jerry recommends: Consider carrying 100/300/100 in liability, keeping UM/UIM at the same limits and adding MedPay. If you can not easily afford to replace your bike, add comprehensive and collision too.
Get covered and ride confident with Jerry.
FAQ
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Is motorcycle insurance required in Florida?
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What does 10/20/10 mean?
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Do I have to wear a helmet in Florida?
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Does my Florida liability policy cover my own injuries?
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Why are motorcycles excluded from Florida PIP?
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What happens if I cause a crash without insurance in Florida?
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Is motorcycle insurance expensive in Florida?
Ben Moore is a writer and editor at Jerry and an auto insurance expert. He previously worked as a writer, editor and content strategist on NerdWallet’s auto insurance team for five years. His work has been published in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, MarketWatch, Nasdaq and Yahoo News. He also served as a NerdWallet spokesperson, with appearances on local broadcast television and quotes in Martha Stewart and Real Simple magazine.
Ben has an extensive background in digital marketing, working on affiliate and programmatic advertising campaigns for brands like Cabela’s, H&R Block and Sears. He holds a bachelors degree in marketing from Olivet Nazarene University.
