Non-Owner Car Insurance in Florida
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The term non-owner car insurance might be confusing at first. After all, what’s there to insure if there’s no vehicle? But non-owner car insurance actually follows you instead of the vehicle. Usually, car insurance is tied to the vehicle, and all authorized drivers are covered under it. But since you don’t own a vehicle, non-owner insurance instead covers you in any car you drive.
If this sounds like something you might need, we’ll do a deep dive into the coverage, cost, and how to get Florida non-owner car insurance.
Let’s start with the basics: non-owner car insurance is exactly what it sounds like it is. It’s car insurance for those that don’t own a vehicle, but that drive regularly enough to want car insurance.
It typically provides liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage, both of which cover other drivers on the road should you cause an accident. It doesn’t cover your own injuries, or damage to the car you’re driving.
Usually, the vehicle you’re driving will have some form of insurance on it, so non-owner car insurance is designed to help cover additional damages, or in case you’re not covered under the owner’s car insurance.
There are a few situations where non-owner car insurance could benefit you:
However, if you’re only getting behind the wheel a few times a year, having your own policy might not make sense. Similarly, if you’re borrowing a vehicle from a member of your household, you should be added to their car insurance policy instead of getting your own policy.
All states allow non-owner car insurance, including Florida, but not all insurers over this type of coverage. In Florida, you must have car insurance if you own a vehicle (specifically personal injury protection and property damage liability). You can find more information on Florida-specific requirements.
But if you don’t own a vehicle, you’re not required to have car insurance. It can be purchased for added peace of mind, but there are no legal requirements.
The steps to getting non-owner car insurance are fairly straightforward. Most importantly, not all insurance providers offer this kind of policy, so you may have to do a little more research than for traditional car insurance.
You will also need to decide how much coverage you want; non-owner car insurance typically covers property damage and bodily injury (these cover the other drivers and vehicles, not yourself or the vehicle you’re driving), but you can add additional coverage like personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist.
Getting multiple quotes is key, because you want to find the best possible rate. You can start by getting multiple insurance quotes to compare. Once you have compared quotes and coverage, then it’s simply a matter of getting set up. You’ll need to provide your name, address, SIN, and more to get set up under your policy.
It’s worthwhile to note that this type of policy often doesn’t cover business driving; most insurers exclude commercial use, and may require you to have additional coverage for business driving. It also doesn’t usually cover you if you’re driving for services like Uber or Lyft.
Here’s the information you’ve been waiting for: how much does non-owner car insurance actually cost?
If you’re expecting the cost of non-owner car insurance to be less than traditional car insurance, you would be right (in most cases! Of course, the cost of car insurance is never a one-size-fits-all, because it depends on a wide range of factors, like your driving history, your credit score, your zip code, and more.
But it typically does cost less than standard auto insurance, ranging from $1,821-$3,662 annually in Florida, depending on your coverage. If that seems higher than you were expecting, there are still ways to save on car insurance, even if you’re a vehicle owner.
Non-owner car insurance can come into play for SR-22 insurance. SR-22 insurance is not technically insurance, but a certificate of financial responsibility; if you have a serious driving infraction, like driving under the influence, a court might require you to have an SR-22 form to get back on the road. Your insurance provider would file this form with the state, certifying that you have the minimum amount of car insurance required.
If you have an SR-22 filing but don’t own a car, this is where non-owner car insurance could come into play. This would allow you to maintain coverage to reinstate your license, even without a car to insure.
Non owners insurance in Florida has many benefits. It can give you extra peace of mind when you’re on the road, but it can also help lower your rates in the long run. Maintaining continuous coverage is always seen as a green flag in the eyes of insurers, so if you do end up purchasing a vehicle, your standard auto insurance rate could drop because of your uninterrupted coverage. If you’re interested in Florida non-owner car insurance, your first step is to always compare multiple quotes.
Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
