If you own a registered vehicle in Florida, you must carry property damage liability insurance with at least $10,000 in coverage per crash. The requirement comes from Florida Statute 324.022 and applies to virtually every car, truck, and trailer licensed for road use in the state.1Florida Senate. Florida Code 324.022 – Financial Responsibility for Property Damage Florida also bars insurers from selling an auto policy in the state that leaves this coverage out, so any standard policy you buy will include it.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 627.7275 – Motor Vehicle Liability
What PDL Actually Pays For
Property damage liability responds when you’re at fault in a crash and you’ve damaged someone else’s property. The obvious case is hitting another car. It also covers running into a fence, knocking down a utility pole, driving through a storefront, or taking out a guardrail. Your insurer pays repair or replacement costs up to your policy limit.
PDL does not pay for damage to your own vehicle. That’s collision coverage, which Florida does not require. It also has nothing to do with medical bills or injuries, which fall under personal injury protection and bodily injury liability. PDL is only about the other person’s property.
Why the $10,000 Minimum Often Isn’t Enough
The statutory floor was set decades ago, and repair costs have moved considerably since. A moderate collision with a newer SUV can run $8,000 to $15,000. Rear-ending a luxury car, damaging a commercial building, or knocking out a traffic signal can push a single claim well past $10,000.
If the damage you cause exceeds your policy limit, you owe the difference personally. The other party can sue, and a judgment against you can lead to wage garnishment or liens on your assets. Higher PDL limits — $25,000, $50,000, or $100,000 — usually cost modestly more per month and prevent one bad afternoon from becoming a long financial problem.
Deductibles
Florida lets you carry a deductible on your PDL policy of up to $500.3The Florida Bar. Consumer Pamphlet: Automobile Insurance A deductible lowers your premium in exchange for paying the first portion of any claim yourself. If you rarely file claims, the trade-off can make sense, provided you keep that cash accessible.
Carrying Proof of Coverage
Florida Statute 316.646 requires you to keep proof of insurance in your immediate possession whenever you drive, either on paper or displayed electronically, and to show it to any law enforcement officer who asks.4Online Sunshine. Florida Code 316.646 – Security Required, Proof of Security and Display Thereof If you can’t produce it during a stop and later can’t prove coverage was in force at the time, the court will order your license and registration suspended.
What Happens If Your Coverage Lapses
If state records show your coverage has lapsed, or your insurer notifies the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that your policy was cancelled, the department will suspend your driver’s license and vehicle registration after giving you notice and a chance to respond. This process runs under Florida Statute 324.0221.5Online Sunshine. Florida Code 324.0221
Reinstatement fees climb with each lapse:
- First reinstatement: $150
- Second reinstatement: $250
- Third and any later reinstatement: $500 each
Beyond the fee, you have to secure the required coverage and file proof with the department, then maintain that coverage for two years.5Online Sunshine. Florida Code 324.0221 For three years after reinstatement, the department will not renew your license or registration unless you keep the coverage continuously in force.6Legal Information Institute. Florida Administrative Code 15A-3.015 – Reinstatement Fees
Higher PDL Limits After a DUI
If your license is suspended for a DUI, reinstatement requires an FR-44 filing from your insurer certifying much higher liability limits. On the property damage side, the FR-44 requires $50,000 per crash — five times the standard minimum. It also requires $100,000 per person and $300,000 per crash in bodily injury coverage. You have to maintain these limits for three years from the date of reinstatement.7Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. FR-44 Insurance Filing Requirements Bulletin Premiums during that period run significantly higher than a standard policy.
How PDL Fits With Other Required Coverage
As of early 2026, Florida also requires $10,000 in personal injury protection, so the current minimum package for most drivers is $10,000 PIP plus $10,000 PDL.8Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida Insurance Requirements Legislation already enacted (HB 1181) will repeal the PIP requirement and replace it with mandatory bodily injury liability coverage on July 1, 2026. The PDL requirement itself is not changing. If you’re reading this after that date, confirm the current package on the Florida DHSMV website.
Other Ways to Meet the Requirement
Nearly everyone satisfies the PDL requirement with a standard auto policy, but Florida Statute 324.031 recognizes a few alternatives: a cash deposit backed by a certificate of self-insurance, or a self-insurance certificate issued by the department, which is generally used by large fleet operators.9Online Sunshine. Florida Code 324.031 – Methods of Proof You can also satisfy the property damage and bodily injury requirements together with a combined single-limit policy of at least $30,000.1Florida Senate. Florida Code 324.022 – Financial Responsibility for Property Damage For a typical individual driver, a standard policy carrying at least the $10,000 PDL minimum is the simplest way to stay compliant.