Moving to Florida? Compare Insurance Before You Close or Register
No-fault PIP rules, percentage-based hurricane deductibles, and a 10-day registration clock most new residents don't know is running. We compare carriers for your auto, home and flood, and check the wind mitigation credits and bundles that can lower your first Florida premiums.
Florida
Quick answer
New Florida residents must carry Florida auto insurance and register their vehicle within 10 days of establishing residency, and get a Florida driver's license within 30 days. Florida is a no-fault state, so your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your medical bills after an accident. Homeowners policies often carry a percentage hurricane deductible, and a wind mitigation inspection can lower premiums. Magnuson Insurance compares carriers for auto, home and flood together.
Ways to save on your first Florida policies
- Start quotes before you close, not after. Your lender needs proof of homeowners insurance before closing, and starting early leaves time to compare carriers instead of taking the first offer.
- Ask the seller for a wind mitigation report (form OIR-B1-1802), or order one before you bind. Florida law requires insurers' residential rates to include discounts for wind-resistant features, and a report is good for up to five years if nothing material changes. Wind mitigation guide →
- On an older home, get the 4-point inspection early. Documented roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC updates widen the list of carriers willing to quote. 4-point inspection guide →
- Buy Florida auto limits on purpose instead of copying your old policy. Florida requires $10,000 of PIP and $10,000 of property damage liability; bodily injury and uninsured motorist coverage aren't required to register, but they protect you after a serious crash. Florida auto requirements →
- Quote auto and home together and ask about a multi-policy discount, then compare the bundle against two separate companies.
Savings depend on your situation and each insurer's filed rates, so a real quote is the only sure number. We won't suggest a lower price that leaves a gap you'd pay for after a loss.
Your Florida move-in insurance timeline
Line Up Your Quotes
Get Florida auto and homeowners quotes started before the moving truck arrives, so there's time to compare carriers and coverage is ready the moment you need it, instead of taking the first offer in a scramble.
Florida Auto Insurance & Vehicle Registration
Florida requires new residents to carry Florida auto insurance and register their vehicle within 10 days of establishing residency - and you need the insurance in place before you can complete registration.
Florida Driver's License
Florida requires a valid Florida driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency, which for most movers overlaps directly with getting auto insurance sorted first.
Homeowners & Flood Insurance
Your mortgage lender will require proof of homeowners insurance before closing, and it's worth checking your flood zone at the same time - Florida flood risk isn't limited to properties near the coast.
Florida insurance terms you'll hear that you might not recognize
PIP (Personal Injury Protection)
Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state, meaning your own PIP coverage pays your medical bills after an accident regardless of who caused it. No-fault applies only to PIP: fault is still assigned to one or more drivers after every accident, and it decides whose property damage and bodily injury liability coverage pays for other people's cars and injuries. Most states don't work this way, and it's one of the first differences transplants notice on their policy.
Hurricane Deductible
Unlike a flat-dollar deductible, many Florida homeowners policies apply a hurricane deductible calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage - usually 2%, 5% or 10%, the options Florida law requires insurers to offer (lower-valued homes can also choose $500). On a $350,000 home, that's a very different number than it sounds like at first glance.
Wind Mitigation Inspection
An inspection, recorded on the state's form OIR-B1-1802, documenting your roof shape, roof-to-wall connections, and opening protection (shutters, impact windows). Florida law requires insurers' residential rates to include discounts for those features, so a current report can meaningfully lower your premium.
Citizens Property Insurance
Florida's state-created insurer for property owners who can't find comparable coverage in the private market. A primary home generally isn't eligible when a private insurer offers comparable coverage within 20% of the Citizens premium, so it isn't automatically the cheaper choice. It's a common part of the Florida market, not a red flag if your policy ends up there.
Flood Insurance
Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage, so flood usually takes a separate policy (some insurers offer a flood endorsement on an HO-3). It matters more in Florida - flood risk here isn't limited to homes near the coast, and it's worth checking your specific flood zone rather than assuming your inland location makes it unnecessary.
What to have in place
- Quotes compared across several carriers before you bind, not the first offer you get
- Florida auto insurance active before you register your vehicle
- Homeowners or renters insurance in place before closing or move-in day
- Flood zone checked for your specific address, not assumed based on distance from the coast
- A wind mitigation report from the seller, or a new inspection, sent to your agent before you bind
- Umbrella liability coverage considered if you're moving from a state with different liability norms
New Florida Resident Insurance FAQ
How long do I have to get Florida auto insurance after moving here?
Florida requires new residents to obtain Florida auto insurance and register their vehicle within 10 days of establishing residency, and the insurance needs to be in place before registration can be completed. "Establishing residency" is triggered by things like accepting a job, enrolling a child in a Florida school, registering to vote, or filing a homestead exemption - not just physically arriving.
What is PIP and why does my Florida policy require it?
PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, is required because Florida is a no-fault auto insurance state - your own PIP coverage pays your medical bills after an accident regardless of fault, rather than relying on the other driver's insurance. That applies only to PIP: fault is still assigned to one or more drivers after every accident, and it decides whose property damage and bodily injury liability coverage pays for other people's cars and injuries. It's one of the most common surprises for movers coming from an at-fault state.
Why is my Florida home insurance deductible a percentage instead of a flat dollar amount?
Many Florida homeowners policies apply a hurricane deductible calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage, usually 2%, 5% or 10%, rather than a flat dollar amount used for other types of claims. Florida law requires insurers to offer those three options, plus a $500 option on lower-valued homes. It's worth knowing that number in actual dollars, not just as a percentage, before a storm is on the radar.
Do I actually need flood insurance if I'm not moving near the coast?
Possibly, yes - flood risk in Florida isn't limited to coastal properties. Low-lying inland areas, homes near lakes or retention ponds, and neighborhoods with a history of standing water after heavy rain can all carry real flood exposure. We check your specific address's flood zone rather than assuming inland means safe.
How can I keep my first Florida insurance bill down?
Start quotes before you close so there's time to compare carriers. Ask the seller for a wind mitigation report, or order one: Florida law requires insurers' residential rates to include discounts for wind-resistant features. On an older home, get the 4-point inspection early, since updated systems widen your carrier options. Choose your hurricane deductible on purpose, buy Florida auto limits deliberately instead of copying your old policy, and compare a home-and-auto bundle against separate companies. Savings depend on the home, the drivers and each insurer's filed rates.
Related coverage and guides
Florida guides
- Moving to Florida? Your Insurance Checklist and Deadlines for New Residents
- Florida Car Insurance Requirements in 2026: What the Law Requires and What It Leaves Out
- How to Get Homeowners Insurance in Florida: A 2026 Guide
- Wind Mitigation Inspections in Florida: The OIR-B1-1802 Form Explained
- Florida Hurricane Deductibles Explained, With the Dollar Math
- Insurance for Florida Snowbirds: Your Car, Your Seasonal Home and the Months You're Away
Get set up right before the 10-day clock starts
Tell us where you're moving from and what you're bringing. We'll compare carriers and build coverage that fits Florida.
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