State officials estimate that 1 in 4 drivers in the Sunshine State does not have car insurance as required by law. Driving without insurance is illegal in Florida and is a serious problem that could result in the suspension or revocation of your driver's license. Both states allow drivers to be left without auto insurance coverage unless they recently caused an accident or committed a serious traffic violation. You cannot be left without car insurance for any period of time if you have a car parked or driven on public property.
Likewise, if you drive a borrowed car that's insured by someone else, your policy will normally cover you, but it's best to insure yourself before taking the risk. However, most states require that you hand over or destroy license plates before canceling your insurance coverage to avoid penalties for driving without insurance. If you intend to cancel your insurance for any reason, you'll have to hand in your license plates before the insurance expires. Car insurance is mandatory in every state except New Hampshire and Virginia, and even driving outside the parking lot of an uninsured dealer is illegal.
Car insurance is mandatory in Florida, and driving a car on Florida roads without the minimum amount required can result in heavy fines and the loss of driving privileges. If you already have an insurance policy, your car insurance company may have a grace period of 0 to 30 days after the payment is due, which will give you the opportunity to pay the premium and avoid an interruption in coverage. If you don't have car insurance and are involved in a car accident in Florida with an insured driver, you're still eligible for some, but not all, of the available car insurance coverages, if you were insured at the time of the loss. If you're planning to buy a new car and don't have insurance yet, buy a policy before driving the car for the first time.
On the other hand, if you're not going to drive your car for a while, you don't need insurance if it's parked on private property. While cars are never allowed on the road without insurance, there are some situations where you can be left without car insurance. It's also important to note that regardless of the reason, not having insurance means that your insurance premiums will be more expensive the next time you need to buy an insurance policy. You can also face severe penalties in Florida if you present falsified insurance documents or make false statements about taking out insurance.
