Florida requires every registered car to carry at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL). PIP pays 80% of reasonable medical costs no matter who caused the crash, but you have to get initial care within 14 days. The 2026 bills to repeal PIP died.

What does Florida's minimum insurance include?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) says you must show proof of PIP and PDL before you register a vehicle with at least four wheels. The minimums are:

• $10,000 PIP: covers you and certain others for injuries in a crash, regardless of fault.
• $10,000 PDL: pays for damage you or someone driving your car does to another person's property.

FLHSMV also says coverage has to stay continuous for the whole registration period, even if the car isn't being driven. If you're going to cancel insurance, the agency says to surrender the plate first.

Notice what isn't on that list. Bodily injury liability, which pays for injuries you cause to other people, isn't part of the basic registration requirement for most private cars. It can be required after certain crashes or violations, and many drivers buy it anyway because it protects their savings.

Did Florida get rid of PIP?

No. Senate Bill 522 and House Bill 769, the 2026 bills that would have repealed the no-fault law, both died in committee on March 13, 2026, according to the Florida Senate's bill histories. PIP is still required under section 627.736, Florida Statutes.

If you've seen a headline saying PIP is gone, check the bill's final action before you change your policy. A filed bill isn't law.

How does the 14-day rule work?

This is the part that catches people. Under section 627.736(1)(a), PIP medical benefits apply only if the injured person receives initial services and care within 14 days after the accident. The Florida Department of Financial Services' auto toolkit says the same thing in plain terms: initial treatment must be received within 14 days of the accident to be covered.

Even if you feel fine after a fender bender, sore necks and backs can show up days later. If you wait three weeks to see someone, PIP may not pay for that visit or what comes after it.

Why does PIP sometimes pay only $2,500?

The statute sets two levels:

• Up to $10,000 if a physician, osteopath, dentist, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse determines you had an emergency medical condition.
• Up to $2,500 if a provider determines you didn't have an emergency medical condition.

The toolkit defines an emergency medical condition as acute symptoms severe enough that going without immediate care could reasonably be expected to cause serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment of bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of a body part.

What else does PIP pay?

The Department of Financial Services lists the standard PIP benefits:

• 80% of necessary and reasonable medical expenses from a covered injury.
• 60% of lost wages in some cases.
• 100% of replacement services, like cleaning, cooking and yard work you can't do while you recover.
• A $5,000 death benefit.

The toolkit also says some insurers offer options to raise medical coverage to 100%, lost wages to 80%, or the maximum to $20,000, though not every company offers those. All insurers must offer deductibles and the option to exclude work loss.

Who has to carry Florida coverage?

According to the toolkit, people who have their vehicle in Florida for more than 90 days in the last 365 days must carry these minimums, and the 90 days don't have to be consecutive. That matters for seasonal residents and people who just moved. FLHSMV says new residents can ask their agent to transfer their current insurance to a Florida policy.

What should you do right after a crash?

A short checklist keeps your PIP claim on track:

• Get medical care within 14 days, even for pain that seems minor. Keep the visit summary.
• Report the claim to your own insurer. In Florida, PIP comes from your policy, not the other driver's.
• Keep receipts for prescriptions, mileage to appointments and help you hired around the house.
• Ask your provider to note whether you had an emergency medical condition, since that decides whether the $10,000 or $2,500 limit applies.

What should you add beyond the minimum?

PIP and PDL leave real gaps. Think about:

• Bodily injury liability: protects you if you injure someone badly enough that they can sue.
• Uninsured motorist coverage: helps pay for your injuries when the other driver can't.
• Collision and comprehensive: your own car, plus flood and storm damage. Lenders usually require both.

FAQ

Is PIP still required in Florida? Yes. The 2026 repeal bills died in committee on March 13, 2026. You still need $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL to register a car.

What happens if I don't see a doctor within 14 days? PIP medical benefits may not apply. Section 627.736 requires initial services and care within 14 days after the accident.

Why would PIP only pay $2,500? The $10,000 medical limit applies when a qualified provider finds an emergency medical condition. Without that finding, reimbursement is limited to $2,500.

Does Florida require bodily injury liability? Not for basic registration of most private cars, but it can be required after certain crashes or violations, and it protects you if you injure someone.

Next step

Put a reminder in your phone: after any crash, get checked within 14 days. Then look at your declarations page and talk with a licensed local agent about bodily injury and uninsured motorist limits that fit what you own.

Sources: FLHSMV: Florida Insurance Requirements; Section 627.736, Florida Statutes; Florida Department of Financial Services: Automobile Insurance Toolkit; Florida Senate: SB 522 (2026); Florida Senate: HB 769 (2026).

Florida homeowners insurance has no one typical price. The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) says cost varies a lot by location, construction type, dwelling value, wind mitigation features, and the deductibles you choose. Your roof, your discounts, and add-ons like law and ordinance coverage move the number too. A real quote for your address is the only figure that counts.

That's frustrating if you're budgeting for a closing in Fort Myers or a renewal in Miami. But it also means a lot of your premium is tied to things you can check, document, or change.

Where can I see sample Florida rates?

OIR runs a free tool called CHOICES. Pick one of its example homes, then a county, and it shows sample average rates for many companies writing in that county, plus Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

Use it to spot which companies are active in your county and roughly how they compare. Don't treat it as your price. OIR says the rates are illustrative, come from the most recent approved filings, and leave out companies that filed their data as trade secret. It recommends getting an official quote from an agent or insurer.

What drives a Florida homeowners quote?

OIR names four big factors besides location:

• Type of construction. How the walls, roof, and openings are built affects wind losses.
• Dwelling value. The higher the cost to rebuild, the higher the premium.
• Mitigation features. Wind-resistant features can earn discounts on the hurricane part of the premium.
• Deductibles. Higher deductibles generally mean lower premiums.

How much does my roof matter?

A lot. Roof shape, covering, and how the roof is attached are part of the wind mitigation inspection. OIR's CHOICES tool notes that hip roofs are less susceptible to wind damage and qualify for bigger discounts.

Roof age also shows up. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) says roof age discounts vary by company and typically apply only to roofs under 10 years old.

Florida law gives older roofs some protection. Under section 627.7011(5), Florida Statutes, an insurer can't refuse to issue or renew a homeowners policy solely because a roof is less than 15 years old. For a roof 15 years or older, the insurer has to let you get an inspection by an authorized inspector, at your expense, before requiring replacement. If that inspection shows at least five years of useful life left, the company can't refuse or nonrenew you solely because of roof age.

Which discounts are worth asking about?

DFS's Insurance Consumer Advocate lists common Florida discounts. Some are company choices and some are required by law:

• Hurricane loss mitigation. Insurers must offer discounts for features like certain roof coverings and connections or shutters, verified by a wind mitigation inspection.
• Roof deductible credit. If your policy carries an optional roof deductible, insurers must give a premium credit. You can reject the roof deductible and skip the credit.
• Bundling home with auto or other policies
• Claims-free and loyalty discounts
• Home improvements such as electrical or plumbing upgrades
• Security and fire alarm systems, and sometimes smoke detectors
• Gated community location
• Paying in full instead of monthly

The mitigation discount is the one Florida law ties directly to how your house is built. Our guide to Florida wind mitigation discounts covers the inspection form and how long it stays valid. If you haven't had an inspection in years, that's probably the first thing to fix.

The state's My Safe Florida Home program offers free wind mitigation inspections and grants for approved upgrades like roof-to-wall connections, secondary water barriers, and impact windows and doors. Its site currently advertises grants of up to $10,000. Funding and eligibility change, so check the program site before you plan around it.

How do deductibles change the price?

DFS says most Florida policies have two separate deductibles, an all other perils deductible and a hurricane deductible. You may also see optional deductibles for roof, sinkhole, or non-weather water claims.

Each one can lower your premium. Stack too many and a single bad year gets expensive. DFS's advice is to weigh the savings against whether you could actually pay. The hurricane deductible is often a percentage of your dwelling limit, so it grows when your coverage grows. See how Florida's hurricane deductible works before you raise it.

Which coverage choices raise the premium?

Two choices worth slowing down on:

• Replacement cost vs. actual cash value. Florida law requires insurers to offer replacement cost coverage on the dwelling. DFS notes personal property is covered at actual cash value unless you pay extra for replacement cost.
• Law and ordinance coverage. This pays the extra cost of rebuilding to current building codes. Insurers must offer it at 25% or 50% of the dwelling limit, and unless you reject it in writing, your policy is treated as including the 25% level.

Cutting these can shrink the quote. It can also leave a big gap after a hurricane, when code upgrades and full rebuild costs come due. Ask for both versions on paper.

What isn't in the price at all?

Flood. Florida law requires a bold notice on your declarations page saying the policy doesn't cover flood, even if hurricane winds and rain caused it. A flood policy is a separate purchase with its own premium, so add it to your budget. You can check your address on FloodFireCheck before you shop. NFIP policies usually come with a 30-day wait, so don't leave it for storm season.

If private companies won't write your home, or their price is far above Citizens, Florida's insurer of last resort may be an option. Our Citizens explainer covers who qualifies.

FAQ

What is the average cost of homeowners insurance in Florida? OIR doesn't publish one number that fits every home. Its CHOICES tool shows sample average rates by county and company for example houses. Your actual premium depends on your construction, value, mitigation features, deductibles, and coverage choices.

Can a Florida insurer drop me because my roof is 15 years old? Not solely for age if an authorized inspector finds the roof has at least five years of useful life left. You pay for that inspection. Roofs under 15 years can't be refused solely because of age.

Does a wind mitigation inspection lower my premium? It can. Insurers must offer hurricane mitigation discounts for verified features. The amount depends on your home and the company's filed rates.

Is flood included in a Florida homeowners quote? No. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood. You need a separate NFIP or private flood policy.

Next step

Gather your declarations page, your latest wind mitigation form, and your roof's install date. Then talk with a licensed local insurance agent who can quote several companies, show you the price at different deductibles, and explain which discounts you're already getting.

Sources: OIR CHOICES homeowners rate tool, DFS: Tips for shopping for homeowners insurance, Section 627.7011, Florida Statutes, My Safe Florida Home, OIR wind mitigation resources.

Florida insurers must offer hurricane loss-mitigation discounts when your home has qualifying wind-resistant features verified on the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form. Condo unit owners usually need an HO-6 policy for interior and personal property risks the association master policy does not cover.

Those two topics travel together after every storm season. Homeowners ask how to lower the wind portion of the premium. Condo owners ask why the association policy did not pay for flooring, cabinets, or a special assessment. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), the Department of Financial Services, and Citizens Property Insurance all publish consumer guidance on the split.

What is a wind mitigation discount?

Florida law requires residential property insurers to recognize fixtures and construction techniques that reduce hurricane wind damage. OIR maintains the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802). An authorized inspector completes the form. You give it to your insurer so applicable discounts can be applied.

OIR notes the form is valid for up to five years if no material changes are made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found. A revised OIR-B1-1802 became effective April 1, 2026, after OIR's periodic review of wind-loss mitigation research.

Insurers must also provide a Notice of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation and publish mitigation discount information on their websites. Ask your agent for the carrier's current discount schedule rather than guessing a percentage from a neighbor's bill. Discount ranges depend on features, construction type, and the insurer's filed rating.

Common features inspectors document include roof shape, roof covering and attachment, roof deck attachment, secondary water resistance, opening protection (shutters or impact glass), and wall-to-foundation connections. Only features that are actually present and correctly verified count.

How do I get an inspection and keep the credit?

Pick an inspector authorized under section 627.711(2)(a), Florida Statutes. OIR encourages consumers to verify that authorization before paying for an inspection.

After the inspection:

• Keep a copy of the completed Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form
• Send it to your insurer or agent and ask for written confirmation of any discount applied
• Update the form after material upgrades (new roof, new opening protection) so the file matches the house
• Recheck at renewal if the carrier asks for a newer form

Florida also runs mitigation assistance programs. My Safe Florida Home (individual homeowners) and the My Safe Florida Condo Pilot Program (associations) are listed by OIR among state mitigation programs managed through the Department of Financial Services. Eligibility, grant amounts, and inspection offers change with funding cycles, so confirm current rules on mysafeflhome.com before you budget around a grant.

Mitigation discounts reduce the windstorm portion of the premium. They do not erase your hurricane deductible, and they do not create flood coverage. Pair hardening with a clear flood plan; see flood insurance basics for Florida.

What does a condo HO-6 policy cover?

Citizens explains the ownership split this way: when you own a house, you are responsible for the structure. When you own a condo unit, you are generally responsible for interior features such as flooring and appliances, while the association maintains exterior and building structure items described in the governing documents.

An HO-6 (condo unit-owner) policy is the usual product for that interior and personal-property risk. Citizens notes HO-6 options can include:

• Dwelling coverage for portions of the unit you are responsible for
• Personal property
• Loss of use if a covered loss makes the unit uninhabitable
• Personal liability and medical payments
• Loss assessment coverage

Citizens states that loss assessment coverage of up to $2,000 is included in its HO-6 policies, and that assessments are typically for deductibles and repairs not covered by a unit-owner policy. Always read your own form and the association's master policy. Association documents control what the master covers (often described as "bare walls," "single entity," or similar approaches). Request a copy of the association policy from the board before you assume cabinets or flooring are someone else's problem.

Loss assessment for a covered peril is not the same thing as every special assessment an association may levy for reserves, deferred maintenance, or capital projects. Ask your agent which assessments your HO-6 actually responds to.

How do Citizens, private markets, and condo towers fit together?

If private carriers will not write your condo unit or home at a comparable price, you may look at Citizens eligibility and the 20% rule. Citizens offers condo-unit products as part of its personal lines suite when eligibility is met through an appointed agent.

For single-family homes, a current mitigation form can be the difference between a workable private quote and a residual-market path. For condo buildings, association-level hardening and master-policy deductibles still drive unit-owner assessments after a storm. Unit owners should ask the board about the master deductible, reserve funding, and any recent mitigation work before renewal season.

FAQ

Does a wind mitigation inspection guarantee a discount?
It documents features. Your insurer applies discounts according to its filed rating and the verified items on the form. Ask for the resulting premium change in writing.

How long is the Uniform Mitigation Verification Form good for?
OIR says up to five years if there are no material structure changes and no inaccuracies on the form. Confirm what your insurer will accept at renewal.

Is the association master policy enough for a condo owner?
Usually not for your contents, interior finishes you are responsible for, liability, and loss assessments. Citizens describes HO-6 as the typical unit-owner policy for those gaps.

Will mitigation upgrades remove my hurricane deductible?
No. Deductibles and mitigation discounts are different parts of the policy. Hardening can lower premium; it does not eliminate the percentage hurricane deductible.

Where do I start if I want both a condo HO-6 review and a mitigation check?
Call a licensed local agent with your association master declarations, your unit HO-6, and any prior mitigation form. For program eligibility, review My Safe Florida Home current offerings separately.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can order or review a mitigation inspection, translate HO-6 limits next to your association master policy, and check Citizens or private options if you are shopping. Bring the declarations pages, condo docs, and any OIR-B1-1802 form you already have. More consumer guides sit under Florida insurance articles.

Sources: FLOIR: Wind Mitigation Resources, Citizens: Condo vs homeowners coverage, My Safe Florida Home.

Most Florida homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, including storm surge from hurricanes. You need a separate flood policy, and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage normally has a 30-day waiting period after you buy and pay for the policy.

That gap surprises people after king tides, tropical systems, and heavy rain over already-saturated ground. Wind damage and flood damage are different claims, often with different insurers and different deductibles. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) states that most policies do not include flood coverage and explains how NFIP waiting periods and claim rules work.

Does a Florida homeowners policy pay for flood?

Usually no. Standard homeowners forms are built around named perils like fire, wind, and theft. Flood is typically excluded. DFS's hurricane materials also note that hurricane coverage does not include flooding.

Flood can mean more than a river over its banks. NFIP's Standard Flood Insurance Policy covers direct physical loss by flood as the policy defines it, including certain flood-related erosion and mudflow situations described in the forms. Storm surge that pushes seawater inland is a common Florida flood loss, not a wind claim, even when a hurricane is in progress.

If you only carry a homeowners policy, water that enters because of rising surface water or surge is often uncovered. Separate flood insurance is the tool that addresses that risk.

How do I buy flood coverage in Florida?

DFS lists common paths:

• A flood policy from an authorized Florida insurer (forms and rates reviewed by the Office of Insurance Regulation)
• A flood policy from an eligible surplus lines company
• An NFIP policy sold directly or through a Write Your Own carrier that issues NFIP coverage under its own name while following NFIP rules

You can start at FloodSmart.gov or with a licensed agent who writes flood. For a quick look at flood risk tied to an address, use FloodFireCheck before you assume you are "high enough" to skip coverage. Many flood claims occur outside the zones people think of as high risk.

How long is the NFIP waiting period?

DFS's NFIP-focused FAQ says there is normally a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance goes into effect. Two basic exceptions:

• No waiting period when the initial purchase is tied to making, increasing, extending, or renewing a loan, if application and premium are handled at or before closing
• A 1-day waiting period when the initial purchase is made during the 13 months after a Flood Insurance Rate Map revision or update for the community

FEMA has also described additional exceptions, including certain loan-driven coverage increases, lender-required coverage on a loan that lacked flood insurance, some renewal increases, map-revision increases, and a post-wildfire exception. The safe habit is simple: do not wait for a cone on the forecast map to buy flood insurance.

A loss already in progress when a policy goes into effect is not covered. Buying while water is rising does not create last-minute protection.

What does NFIP cover, and what does it leave out?

Building coverage can include the insured building and foundation, electrical and plumbing systems, central HVAC and water heaters, built-in appliances, and certain permanently installed finishes. Detached garages may be limited to a percentage of building coverage. Other detached buildings usually need their own policy.

Personal property coverage can include furniture, clothing, and many household items, with special aggregate limits for categories like jewelry and collectibles. Contents losses are adjusted on an actual cash value basis.

Important gaps consumers ask about:

• Additional living expenses (hotel costs while you are out of the house) are not part of standard flood insurance
• Separate deductibles apply to building and contents; if both are damaged, both deductibles apply
• Sewer backup or seepage is not covered unless flooding is also occurring and is the proximate cause, under the policy's terms
• Fences, seawalls, outdoor pools, and land values are generally not covered
• Basements and areas below the lowest elevated floor have limited covered items

Increased Cost of Compliance coverage can help pay to raise, floodproof, demolish, or relocate a building when a community declares substantial or repetitive flood damage, up to the NFIP ICC limit described in DFS materials, subject to remaining building limits.

How does flood insurance interact with wind and Citizens?

After a hurricane, you may have a wind claim under homeowners or a residual product and a separate flood claim. Keep the claims distinct. Document water lines, take photos before cleanup when it is safe, and report promptly.

If you are on Citizens Property Insurance, remember Citizens is not flood insurance. You still need a flood policy for surge and rising-water risk. Your hurricane deductible applies to covered hurricane wind, not to NFIP flood losses.

When you buy or sell a Florida home, sellers must provide a flood disclosure at or before contract execution. That form is separate from the insurance purchase decision, but it is a reminder to ask about past flooding and current flood-zone status. See our Florida seller disclosure guide.

FAQ

Is storm surge a wind claim or a flood claim?
Storm surge is generally a flood loss. Hurricane wind coverage does not replace flood insurance.

If I buy NFIP coverage today, am I protected for a storm next week?
Usually not. NFIP normally has a 30-day wait unless a listed exception applies, such as certain loan-related purchases.

Do I need flood insurance if I am not in a mapped high-risk zone?
Lenders may not require it outside high-risk zones, but DFS and FEMA still urge people to consider flood risk. Many claims happen outside the zones people expect.

Does flood insurance pay for a hotel while repairs are underway?
Standard NFIP coverage does not include additional living expenses. Ask your agent what, if anything, another policy might cover.

How do I start a flood claim?
Report the loss to the agent or company that wrote the policy right away. NFIP claims also involve a proof of loss; DFS notes the usual 60-day proof-of-loss timeline and points consumers to FloodSmart claim resources and 877-336-2627.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can check whether you need NFIP or private flood, explain waiting-period exceptions tied to a mortgage, and place flood beside your wind deductible and any Citizens policy. Bring your address, elevation certificate if you have one, and current declarations pages. Browse more guides under Florida insurance articles.

Sources: DFS: Flood Insurance Coverage FAQs, FloodSmart, DFS: Florida's Hurricane Deductible.

A Florida hurricane deductible is usually a percentage of your dwelling limit, not a flat dollar amount like your all-other-perils deductible. It applies during a defined National Hurricane Center warning window and runs on a calendar-year basis when you stay with the same insurer or insurer group.

That difference catches people after the first named storm of the season. A $1,000 all-other-perils deductible can feel manageable. A 2% hurricane deductible on a $400,000 Coverage A limit is $8,000 out of pocket before the insurer pays covered wind damage. The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) spells out when the hurricane deductible applies, which options insurers must offer, and how a second storm in the same year is handled.

When does the hurricane deductible apply?

Florida law ties the hurricane period to National Hurricane Center actions, not to whether your street felt tropical-storm force winds.

According to DFS and section 627.4025, Florida Statutes, the hurricane deductible window:

• Begins when a hurricane warning is issued for any part of Florida by the National Hurricane Center for a storm the NHC has declared a hurricane
• Ends 72 hours after the last hurricane watch or hurricane warning issued for any part of Florida ends

When the hurricane deductible applies, no other deductible under the policy may be applied to that hurricane loss. DFS is clear on that point.

"Hurricane coverage" means loss or damage caused by windstorm during a hurricane. It can include interior damage from rain or debris if wind first creates an opening. It does not include flooding. Storm surge and other flood losses need separate flood insurance. See Does Florida homeowners insurance cover flood?.

How is a percentage deductible calculated?

The percentage is based on the policy's dwelling or structure limit (often Coverage A), not on the repair estimate and not on the home's market value. DFS requires the hurricane deductible to be listed as a dollar amount on the policy even when it is described as a percentage.

DFS uses this example: a home insured for $200,000 with a 2% hurricane deductible has a $4,000 hurricane deductible. If a hurricane causes $5,000 of covered wind damage, the insurer subtracts $4,000 and the covered balance is $1,000, subject to the policy and adjustment.

Insurers must generally offer hurricane deductible options of $500, 2%, 5%, or 10% of dwelling limits, unless a percentage would be less than $500. There are statutory exceptions by dwelling limit, including:

• Homes with dwelling limits from $100,000 through $249,999: an insurer may offer a one-year non-renewal guarantee instead of a $500 deductible option, with up to a 2% hurricane deductible
• Homes with dwelling limits of $250,000 or more: the insurer does not have to offer $500, but must offer 2%, 5%, or 10%
• Homes under $500,000 dwelling limits: a hurricane deductible above 10% needs a specific handwritten (or typed) insured statement and, if mortgaged, mortgagee approval
• Higher-value dwellings: other option sets apply between $1 million and $3 million, and above $3 million

Surplus lines policies can use different deductible structures. Read that declarations page carefully if you are not with an admitted carrier.

How does the calendar-year rule work for a second storm?

For personal lines residential policies issued or renewed on or after May 1, 2005, the hurricane deductible applies on an annual basis to covered hurricane losses in the same calendar year when you stay with the same insurer or an insurer in the same group.

DFS explains the second-storm math this way. If the first hurricane only partially used the hurricane deductible, the next hurricane claim uses the greater of:

• The unused balance of the hurricane deductible, or
• The all-other-perils deductible stated on the policy

If the first hurricane fully met the hurricane deductible, later hurricane wind claims in the same year with the same insurer group use the all-other-perils deductible instead.

If you move the policy to a different company outside that group after the first storm, the full hurricane deductible can apply again to the second claim with no credit for what you already paid. File claims even when damage looks smaller than the deductible so the company has a record for credit and for supplemental damage found later.

What else should I check on the declarations page?

Look for:

• The hurricane deductible dollar amount and percentage
• The all-other-perils deductible
• Any separate roof deductible (DFS notes a roof deductible cannot be applied to a roof loss from a hurricane)
• Whether an Inflation Guard endorsement can raise limits and, with them, a percentage hurricane deductible
• Whether you excluded windstorm coverage entirely (that requires a specific insured statement under Florida law and mortgagee approval when applicable)

If private carriers will not write you at all, you may be looking at Citizens Property Insurance. Citizens still uses hurricane deductibles; residual market does not mean a $500 storm deductible.

Wind-resistant features can change the premium side of the bill. Florida's wind mitigation discount process uses a Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form.

FAQ

Is the hurricane deductible a percent of the damage bill?
No. It is a percent of the dwelling or structure limit on the policy, shown as a dollar amount on the declarations page.

Does the hurricane deductible apply to a tropical storm that was never a hurricane?
DFS ties the deductible to a storm the National Hurricane Center has declared a hurricane, during the warning window described in statute. Ask your agent how your policy treats other wind events outside that window.

If two hurricanes hit the same year, do I pay the full percentage twice?
Not if you stay with the same insurer or insurer group and the first claim already used some or all of the annual hurricane deductible. The unused balance or the all-other-perils deductible may apply instead. Switching companies can restart the full hurricane deductible.

Should I file a claim if repairs look cheaper than the deductible?
Yes. DFS recommends filing so the company records credit toward the calendar-year deductible and so you can add supplemental damage later if contractors find more.

Where can I get help reading my deductible?
Start with your agent and the declarations page. Florida DFS Consumer Services publishes the hurricane deductible guide and can answer consumer insurance questions through the contacts on myfloridacfo.com.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can translate your percentage hurricane deductible into a real dollar number, compare options at renewal, and check how flood coverage sits beside wind. Bring your declarations page and any recent mitigation inspection. More guides live under Florida insurance articles.

Sources: DFS: Florida's Hurricane Deductible, Fla. Stat. § 627.701.

Citizens Property Insurance is Florida's insurer of last resort when no authorized company will write you, or when comparable authorized coverage costs more than 20% above Citizens. You apply through an appointed Citizens agent after the Clearinghouse check required by Florida law.

People run into Citizens after private non-renewals, hard-to-place roofs, coastal exposure, or premium quotes that jumped past what they can pay. Citizens is a bridge, not a full private-market substitute. Flood still needs a separate policy. Wind deductibles still work under Florida's hurricane rules. Read the offer carefully before you treat Citizens as automatic.

What is Citizens Property Insurance?

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is the residual market Florida created so eligible residential risks can still buy coverage when the voluntary market will not write them at a comparable price. Citizens says it may write a new policy only when coverage is not available from a Florida-authorized insurer, or when premiums for comparable authorized coverage are more than 20 percent higher than Citizens' premium for comparable coverage.

You cannot walk up and buy a policy online from Citizens as a retail customer. Only appointed Citizens agents can help you purchase coverage. Citizens publishes an agent look-up tool so you can find one nearby.

Policy types include homeowners-style forms, dwelling forms, condo unit-owner (HO-6) coverage, tenants coverage, and certain wind-only products depending on eligibility and underwriting. Coverage terms are not identical to every private HO-3 you may have had before.

Who qualifies under the 20% rule?

Under Florida law, you may be eligible if:

• No private-market authorized company is willing to offer coverage at its approved rates, or
• The premium for comparable coverage from authorized insurers is more than 20% higher than the premium for comparable coverage from Citizens.

Agents must establish that eligibility before placing a new policy. Citizens' Clearinghouse program, required by Florida Statute 627.3518, helps agents check whether private options exist when you apply and again at many renewals. If a private-market insurer offers comparable coverage that is not more than 20% greater than Citizens' premium, you are not eligible for a new Citizens policy.

"Comparable" is not a vague feeling. Citizens training materials tell agents that Coverage A limits, hurricane deductibles, ordinance and law percentage (if offered), mitigation credits, and loss settlement (actual cash value or replacement cost) should match when quotes are compared.

What happens at renewal and depopulation?

Clearinghouse shopping is not only for new business. Citizens explains that policies subject to the Clearinghouse are shopped again at renewal. If a private carrier offers comparable coverage within 120% of the Citizens renewal premium, you may no longer be eligible to stay. If the private offer exceeds that threshold, you may be able to remain with Citizens.

Separately, Citizens runs depopulation (take-out) programs where approved private insurers offer to assume policies. Those offers also deserve a side-by-side look at coverage, deductibles, and exclusions, not only the premium line. A take-out that looks cheaper can still change wind settlement terms or deductibles in ways that matter after a storm.

What does Citizens leave out that people forget?

Citizens is property insurance for eligible residential risks. It is not flood insurance. Storm surge and other flood losses generally require a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood product. See our guide to why Florida homeowners policies do not cover flood.

Also check your hurricane deductible. Florida personal lines policies often use a percentage deductible for hurricane wind that is larger than the all-other-perils deductible. Our Florida hurricane deductible explainer walks through when that deductible applies and how the calendar-year rule works.

If you own a condo unit, ask whether you need an HO-6 unit-owner policy in addition to the association master policy. Citizens publishes a short comparison of condo versus homeowners coverage for that split of responsibility. Wind-mitigation credits can also change what you pay; see Florida wind mitigation discounts and condo HO-6 basics.

How should I prepare before I apply?

Shop the voluntary market first with an independent agent who can try multiple carriers. Fix underwriting problems you can fix: unrepaired damage, occupancy questions, outdated mitigation paperwork. Gather declinations or comparable quotes that show the 20% gap. Bring a recent inspection, roof age documentation, and any Uniform Mitigation Verification form you already have.

Ask the agent to explain in plain language:

• Whether the Clearinghouse returned any comparable private offers
• How the Citizens deductible and Coverage A compare to the private quotes
• Whether wind-only or other residual products are part of the stack
• What happens at the next renewal if a take-out offer arrives

Keep copies of every quote and declination letter. Eligibility arguments later are easier when the paper trail is clear.

FAQ

Can I buy a Citizens policy without an agent?
No. Citizens says only appointed Citizens agents can help you purchase a policy. Use the Citizens agent look-up tool to find one.

What is the 20% rule in plain English?
You may qualify if authorized private coverage for a comparable policy costs more than 20% above Citizens' premium, or if no authorized company will offer coverage at all.

Does a Citizens policy include flood?
No. Flood, including many storm-surge losses, needs separate flood coverage. Plan that before hurricane season, not after water is in the house.

Will I stay on Citizens forever once I'm approved?
Not necessarily. Clearinghouse checks and depopulation offers can move eligible policies back to the private market when comparable coverage is available within the statutory thresholds.

Who can help if I'm stuck between non-renewal and Citizens?
A licensed local insurance agent. For consumer insurance questions, Florida DFS Consumer Services can also help; the Division's consumer line is listed on myfloridacfo.com.

Next step

A licensed local insurance agent can confirm whether you meet Citizens eligibility, compare private quotes against the 20% rule, and explain deductibles next to any flood policy you still need. Bring recent quotes, declination letters, roof and mitigation documents, and your prior declarations page. For more Florida consumer guides, browse Florida insurance articles.

Sources: Citizens: Get a Policy, Citizens: Clearinghouse, Citizens: Condo vs homeowners coverage.