Is PIP Still Mandatory in Florida? What Drivers Need to Know About Possible 2026 Law Changes
Is PIP mandatory in Florida? Yes, for now Personal Injury Protection is currently required for all Florida drivers. Florida operates as a no-fault state under Florida Statute §627.736, but this requirement could face a major change that will affect your auto insurance coverage.
Starting July 1, 2026, Florida may eliminate its PIP requirement entirely. After more than 50 years of no-fault insurance, the state could end personal injury protection coverage and moving to a system that works differently for you and your family.
Under the new law, you would need to carry minimum bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $5,000 in medical payment (MedPay) coverage. This represents a complete shift in how your car insurance protects you after an accident.
These changes will affect nearly every Florida driver. With Florida drivers already paying the highest average annual premium in the country at $1,529 for minimum required coverage, understanding what's coming in 2026 becomes crucial for your budget and protection.
We'll walk you through Florida's current PIP requirements, explain exactly what changes in 2026, and help you prepare your insurance coverage for this important transition.
What is PIP and is it currently required in Florida?
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is currently mandatory for all Florida drivers who own a vehicle with four or more wheels. This insurance requirement has been a cornerstone of Florida's auto insurance system, though the 2026 changes will eliminate this long-standing rule.
Understanding Florida's no-fault system
Florida has operated under a no-fault insurance system since 1971. When you're involved in an accident, you turn to your own insurance policy for coverage, regardless of who caused the collision. This system was designed to get you quick access to funds after an injury without waiting months or years for court decisions about fault. The no-fault approach also reduces the need for lawsuits over medical expenses from auto accidents.
This differs significantly from most other states, where the at-fault party's insurance typically handles damages. Florida's approach puts your own coverage first.
What PIP covers under current law
Florida requires a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage that provides:
- 80% of reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- 60% of lost wages due to accident-related injuries
- $5,000 in death benefits
You must seek initial medical services within 14 days after the accident to qualify for these benefits. PIP covers you, relatives living in your home, certain passengers without their own vehicles, and others driving your car with permission. Pedestrians and bicyclists struck by vehicles are also entitled to PIP coverage. For accidents outside Florida but within the U.S. or Canada, PIP covers only you and relatives in your household.
Florida Statute 627.737 explained
Florida Statute 627.737 creates what's known as the "tort exemption" within the no-fault system. This statute limits when you can sue another driver for damages. You can only pursue a lawsuit for pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages if your injury meets Florida's "serious injury threshold". Your injury must include:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Death
This limitation keeps the no-fault system balanced by allowing lawsuits only for significant injuries, while PIP handles minor injuries more efficiently.
What' Could Change in 2026: The PIP Repeal and New Requirements
Florida's auto insurance laws face their biggest change in over 50 years. After decades as a no-fault state, the Sunshine State could be ending mandatory PIP coverage and moving to a system that works completely differently.
The state tried to make this change before. Previous repeal efforts in 2021 faced opposition and were vetoed. This time, lawmakers are trying to include a longer implementation period - giving you and your insurance company adequate time to adjust to these major changes.
New Mandatory Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
If PIP disappears, you'll need bodily injury liability coverage instead. This represents a fundamental shift in how your auto insurance works.
The new law would require all drivers to maintain:
- $25,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage
- $50,000 per accident minimum for bodily injury
- This coverage pays for injuries you cause to others in an accident
Here's the key difference: Currently, your own insurance covers your injuries regardless of who caused the accident. Under the new system, the driver who caused the accident becomes financially responsible for other people's injuries. Florida is joining most other states that operate under this at-fault system.
MedPay and Property Damage Liability Updates
The new law requires additional coverage beyond bodily injury liability. You must carry $5,000 in Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage to help pay for your medical expenses after an accident. Think of this as a smaller version of what PIP currently provides.
You'll also need $10,000 in property damage liability coverage - this requirement stays the same as current law.
Here's what this means for you: Florida is potentially moving from a system focused primarily on covering your own injuries to one that emphasizes your financial responsibility for injuries you cause to others. Most drivers will need to review and potentially increase their coverage limits before the 2026 deadline.
How the 2026 Changes Would Affect Florida Drivers
The 2026 changes go far beyond just switching insurance types. These new requirements will change how accidents work, who pays for what, and how much protection you actually have when you need it most.
Will Your Premiums Go Up or Down?
Nobody can give you a definitive answer yet. A 2021 Pinnacle report estimated that premiums might increase by 13.3% (approximately $202 per vehicle annually). However, drivers rejecting medical payments coverage might see only a 1.5% increase ($23 annually).
Recent trends tell a different story—Florida's top five auto insurers indicated an average 6.5% rate decrease for 2025. State Farm has already reduced rates by 10% (their third reduction since 2024), whereas AAA has lowered premiums by 15% through three separate decreases.
Your actual cost will depend on your specific situation, driving record, and coverage choices.
What Happens When You're at Fault?
Under the new system, you become personally responsible for paying other people's medical bills and damages. Your bodily injury coverage becomes the primary payment source for these costs. This represents a complete flip from today's system where your own insurance covers your injuries first.
If you have been injured in an accident and need an attorney, call Pittman Law Firm, P.L. today for a free consultation.
Your Health Insurance Becomes Critical
Once PIP disappears, your personal health insurance will need to cover your medical bills while fault gets sorted out. Right now, PIP serves as primary coverage up to $10,000 with health insurance as secondary. That safety net disappears in 2026.
Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Matters More Than Ever
15.9% of Florida drivers lack sufficient coverage, making uninsured motorist protection essential under the new system. Standard policies include this coverage, though you can decline it in writing. With nearly one in four Florida drivers underinsured, this protection creates your safety net against hit-and-run scenarios.
Don't assume the other driver has enough insurance to cover your injuries—protect yourself.
What Drivers Should Do to Prepare for the New Law
Taking action now protects you and your family from coverage gaps when these major changes take effect. The 2026 transition gives you time to make smart decisions about your auto insurance coverage.
Review Your Current Policy
Start by examining your policy declarations page to understand exactly what coverage you have. Look for any existing bodily injury coverage and note the limits. Your insurer must notify you about the upcoming changes by April 1, 2026, explaining that PIP will be repealed and no longer available for purchase. That current $10,000 PIP minimum gets replaced with mandatory bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Talk to Your Insurance Agent
Your insurance agent can explain exactly how your policy will transition to meet the new requirements. Ask about the process—insurers must allow you to obtain bodily injury coverage without extra charges beyond any premium increases. If you have been injured in an accident and need an attorney, call Pittman Law Firm, P.L. today for a free consultation.
Consider Higher Liability Limits
Many Florida drivers currently carry only minimum coverage, but the 2026 changes deserve a fresh look at whether those new minimums truly protect your assets. The law also increases minimum security amounts for those choosing self-insurance. Adding uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage becomes even more important given how many drivers maintain inadequate insurance.
Shop Around for Better Rates
Auto insurance shopping jumped 16% year-over-year in Q1 of 2025, creating more competition and better rates for smart shoppers. Rates vary significantly between companies, so getting quotes from multiple carriers makes sense. Timing matters too—if your current carrier plans a 2026 rebate based on 2025 policy activity, staying with them through that period might benefit your wallet.
Conclusion
Florida's move away from mandatory PIP coverage represents the biggest change to auto insurance in over 50 years. By July 2026, the no-fault system that has defined Florida insurance will disappear, and you'll need to understand how this affects your coverage and protection.
Your current policy declarations page holds the answers you need right now. Look at what coverage you already have and what gaps the new requirements might create. The switch to required bodily injury liability coverage ($25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident)plus $5,000 in MedPay changes everything about how your insurance protects you and your family after an accident.
Premium predictions remain mixed, but major carriers are actually reducing rates heading into 2025. Your individual situation depends on your driving history, where you live, and what coverage choices you make. Shopping for quotes closer to the transition date will give you the most accurate picture of your costs.
Your health insurance becomes your primary protection once PIP ends. Without PIP covering your medical bills first, your health insurance takes over while fault gets determined. This makes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage more important than ever, especially with nearly one in six Florida drivers lacking adequate coverage.
Don't wait until 2026 to start planning. Early preparation helps you avoid coverage gaps and gives you time to find the best rates for your situation. If you've been injured in an accident and need legal help, contact our experienced team for a free consultation.We understand how these insurance changes affect accident victims, and we're here to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Florida's insurance system is getting a complete overhaul, but taking action now puts you ahead of the changes and protects what matters most to you and your loved ones.
Key Takeaways
Florida drivers need to understand these critical changes coming to auto insurance requirements and prepare accordingly for the 2026 transition.
• PIP ends July 1, 2026: Florida will eliminate mandatory Personal Injury Protection coverage, ending its 50+ year no-fault insurance system.
• New coverage requirements: Drivers must carry $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury liability plus $5,000 MedPay instead of current $10,000 PIP minimum.
• You'll pay for others' injuries: The shift to at-fault system means your insurance covers injuries you cause to others, not your own.
• Health insurance becomes crucial: Without PIP as primary coverage, your health insurance must cover your medical bills after accidents.
• Start preparing now: Review your current policy, talk to your agent, and consider uninsured motorist coverage given Florida's high rate of inadequately insured drivers.
This transition represents the most significant change to Florida auto insurance in decades. While premium impacts remain uncertain, taking proactive steps now will help you avoid coverage gaps and ensure adequate protection under the new system.
FAQs
Q1. Is PIP insurance still mandatory in Florida? Yes, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is currently mandatory in Florida. However, this requirement is set to change on July 1, 2026, when Florida will transition away from its no-fault insurance system.
Q2. What will replace PIP insurance in Florida after 2026? Starting July 1, 2026, Florida drivers will be required to carry bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, along with $5,000 in medical payment (MedPay) coverage. This replaces the current PIP requirement.
Q3. How will the 2026 insurance changes affect Florida drivers' premiums? The impact on premiums is not entirely clear. While some projections suggest potential increases, recent trends show major insurers reducing rates. The actual effect may vary based on individual circumstances and coverage choices.
Q4. Will health insurance become more important after the PIP repeal? Yes, health insurance will play a more crucial role after PIP is repealed. Without PIP's primary coverage for your injuries, your health insurance will need to cover medical expenses while fault is being determined in an accident.
Q5. What should Florida drivers do to prepare for the 2026 insurance changes? Drivers should review their current policies, discuss the upcoming changes with their insurance agents, consider increasing liability limits, and potentially add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. It's also advisable to shop around for better rates as the transition date approaches.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship with Pittman Law Firm, P.L.