New Florida Car Insurance Laws 2026: What Passed, What Died and What's Next
Florida passed no law in 2026 that changes the car insurance you're required to carry. Required coverage is still $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 of property damage liability (PDL), bodily injury liability is still optional for most drivers, and every bill that tried to change that died when the regular session ended on March 13.
I went through all 240 chapter laws in the 2026 Laws of Florida and searched the Senate's bill database by every auto insurance statute I could think of: the no-fault law, uninsured motorist, rideshare, the financial responsibility minimums. Every 2026 bill citing the core PIP statute, s. 627.736, died in committee or on the calendar.
What did pass are four smaller laws that change what happens around a policy: when you have to call the police after a crash, how the state can notify you that your license is suspended for an insurance lapse, how a totaled car's title gets signed over, and who counts as a habitual traffic offender. A fifth bill, which would have raised what you can collect after a crash with a government vehicle, was vetoed. Here's each one, with the date it took effect and what I'd do about it.
Source: Laws of Florida 2026; s. 316.065; s. 322.251; Fla. Const. art. III, s. 3.
Every change, by effective date
This is the full list of 2026 laws I found that touch car insurance or a driver's insurance-related obligations. None of them is dated January 1, 2027, so if you've seen a "new Florida car insurance law starting January 1," check whether it's a bill that died.
| Effective | What changed | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2026 | Insurers must use identity-verification controls acceptable to FLHSMV for e-signed odometer disclosures on totaled cars | CS/HB 961, ch. 2026-56 |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Driving without a valid license now counts toward habitual traffic offender status | CS/HB 35, ch. 2026-53 |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Drivers must notify police of a crash with injury, death or at least $2,000 in apparent damage (was $500) | SB 488, ch. 2026-39 |
| Oct 1, 2026 | License suspension orders, including insurance-related ones, can be sent by e-mail if you authorize it | SB 488, ch. 2026-39 |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Registering a vehicle requires proof of address plus a REAL ID, U.S. passport, or foreign passport with I-94 | SB 488, ch. 2026-39 |
| Oct 1, 2026 | E-mail addresses FLHSMV collects for notices are exempt from public records | SB 490, ch. 2026-40 |
Source: ch. 2026-56; ch. 2026-53; ch. 2026-39; ch. 2026-40, Laws of Florida.
October 1, 2026: you call the police at $2,000 of damage, not $500
Under s. 316.065(1) as amended by SB 488, the driver of a vehicle in a crash must immediately notify law enforcement when the crash causes injury or death, or damage to any vehicle or other property "in an apparent amount of at least $2,000." Inside a city, that's the local police department. Outside one, it's the county sheriff or the nearest Florida Highway Patrol station. Skipping the call is a noncriminal, nonmoving infraction; the Senate staff analysis put the base fine at $30 and the total, with fees and court costs, at up to $108.
The old number was $500, set in 1989. The Senate staff analysis gave the reasoning: from 2021 to now, the typical crash repair cost fell between $1,000 and $1,499, and 60% of crashes caused more than $2,500 in damage. In plain terms, $500 had stopped meaning anything.
Source: Florida Senate staff analysis of SB 488; s. 316.065.
Show the numbers
| Apparent damage that triggers the duty to notify police | |
|---|---|
| Before 1989 | $100 |
| 1989 to Sept 30, 2026 | $500 |
| From Oct 1, 2026 | $2,000 |
Here's what didn't change, and it matters more than the threshold:
- The 10-day self-report. If a crash damaged a vehicle or other property and no law enforcement report is required, s. 316.066(1)(e) still says the driver must send FLHSMV a written report within 10 days. The form is the Driver Report of Traffic Crash (Self Report), HSMV 90011S, which you can e-mail or mail. The form itself tells you to keep a copy "for insurance purposes."
- Proof of insurance at the scene. If an officer does write a report, every party has to show proof of insurance. Failing to is an infraction, but the agency may void the citation if you bring proof that was valid at the time of the crash within 24 hours.
- Hitting a parked car. The $2,000 figure doesn't apply. Under s. 316.063(1), if you damage an unattended vehicle or other property, you must stop, find the owner or leave a written note with your name, address and registration number, and notify the police without unnecessary delay. Skipping that is a second-degree misdemeanor.
- Your policy's notice clause. The statute is about the police. Your insurance policy has its own duty to report a loss promptly, and $2,000 has nothing to do with it.
Example (hypothetical): another driver taps your rear bumper at a light in Orlando. Both of you are there, nobody is hurt, and the damage looks like maybe $1,500. You no longer have to call the police. You do still have to file the self-report with FLHSMV within 10 days, and you should tell your insurer promptly. If the other driver later says the damage is $4,000, you'll be glad you took photos.
What I'd actually do: "apparent" damage is a guess made at the scene, and bumpers with sensors are expensive. If the other driver disputes fault, seems uninsured, or anyone mentions pain, call the police anyway. An officer's report, which you can later buy through the FLHSMV Crash Portal for $10 plus a $2 convenience fee per transaction, is much better evidence than two drivers' memories.
October 1, 2026: insurance suspension notices can arrive by e-mail
If FLHSMV's records show your car has no PIP and PDL on file, the department can suspend your license and registration. Before October 1, the order came by personal delivery or first-class mail. Under the amended s. 322.251, it can also come "by e-mail notification if authorized by the licensee."
The timing is what to watch. Notices issued under chapter 324 (financial responsibility) or the PIP security sections, ss. 627.732 to 627.734, are complete 15 days after the e-mail is sent or the letter is mailed. Other suspension notices are complete after 20 days. And the statute is blunt: if you don't receive the order, that doesn't stop it from taking effect.
| Notice or deadline | Rule from Oct 1, 2026 | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| How suspension orders can be sent | Personal delivery, first-class mail, or e-mail if you authorized it | s. 322.251(1) |
| Insurance-related orders (ch. 324, ss. 627.732-627.734) | Complete 15 days after e-mail or mailing | s. 322.251(2) |
| Other suspension and revocation orders | Complete 20 days after e-mail or mailing | s. 322.251(2) |
| Proof of liability insurance after a crash or conviction case | Within 14 days after FLHSMV provides notice of the crash | s. 324.091(1) |
| Insurer confirms your coverage to FLHSMV | Within 20 days after the department's notice | s. 324.091(1) |
| Your e-mail address on file | Exempt from public records; exemption repeals Oct 2, 2031 unless renewed | s. 119.0712(2)(c) |
Source: s. 322.251; s. 324.091; ch. 2026-40 (SB 490).
Why it matters for your insurance: the department learns about lapses from insurers, which have to report a PIP or PDL cancellation or nonrenewal within 10 days (s. 324.0221). If a payment bounces or you switch carriers with a gap of even a few days, the suspension process can start. Reinstating costs $150 the first time, $250 the second and $500 for each one after that within three years of the first.
What to do: keep your e-mail and mailing address current with FLHSMV, and check your spam folder for anything from the department. If you're selling a car or taking one off the road, FLHSMV says to turn in the plate before you cancel the insurance.
October 1, 2026: what you need to register a car
You can't register a car in Florida without showing PIP and PDL, so this one touches insurance too. SB 488 rewrote s. 320.02(2). An individual applicant now has to give proof of address satisfactory to FLHSMV plus one of: a valid REAL ID driver license or ID card from any state, a valid unexpired U.S. passport, or a valid unexpired foreign passport with an unexpired Form I-94. Active-duty service members who are Florida residents don't have to give a Florida street address.
The bill also deleted the option for owners with no permanent Florida address to register using a relative's or friend's address. If you're new to the state or move around a lot, sort out the ID and address before you buy the car and the policy, not at the tax collector's counter.
July 1, 2026: e-signing a totaled car over to the insurer
When your car is a total loss and the insurer pays the claim, the title goes to the insurer, which has to send it to FLHSMV for a salvage certificate of title or certificate of destruction. Title transfers generally need an odometer disclosure. CS/HB 961 (chapter 2026-56) changed how e-signatures on those disclosures work when they go through an insurance company.
According to the House final analysis, the old law tied those e-signatures to a federal digital identity standard (NIST 800-63-3, Level 2); the new law requires the insurer, or its agent, to use controls acceptable to FLHSMV instead. It passed the House 113-0 and took effect July 1, 2026.
For you, the change is mostly behind the scenes: it's about how the insurer verifies that the e-signature is really yours. One thing from the background law is worth knowing: if the insurer can't get the title from you, it can get the salvage title on its own 30 days after paying the claim, with a lien release, proof of payment and an affidavit. Agree on the settlement figure before you sign anything.
July 1, 2026: Isaiah's Law and habitual traffic offenders
CS/HB 35, cited as "Isaiah's Law," added one offense to the list in s. 322.264(1): driving a motor vehicle without a valid license. Three convictions from separate acts within five years for offenses on that list make you a habitual traffic offender. The list already included DUI, driving while suspended or revoked, and leaving the scene of a crash with death or injury.
The consequence is serious. Under s. 322.27(5)(a), FLHSMV revokes a habitual offender's license, with no eligibility to be relicensed for at least five years, except as allowed by s. 322.271. If someone in your household drives without a valid license (never licensed, or expired more than six months), a conviction for that is now on the habitual offender list, since July 1, 2026.
Vetoed: higher limits for crashes with government vehicles
HB 145, Claims Against the Government, passed the Legislature and was vetoed by the governor on June 30, 2026. It would have raised the sovereign immunity caps in s. 768.28(5), which limit what you can collect from the state, a county, a city or another public body, including after a crash with a government vehicle such as a county truck or a city bus. Anything above the cap generally takes a claim bill passed by the Legislature, unless the agency settles within its own insurance coverage.
| Sovereign immunity cap | Current law (still in force) | HB 145 (vetoed) |
|---|---|---|
| Any one person | $200,000 | $350,000 |
| All claims from the same incident | $300,000 | $500,000 |
Source: s. 768.28(5)(a); HB 145, enrolled text; HB 145 bill history.
So the caps stay at $200,000 and $300,000. If several people are badly hurt in a crash caused by a public vehicle, that $300,000 can get split thin. Your own coverage still pays the way it always has: PIP pays its benefits regardless of who was at fault, and collision pays for your car under your own policy. If you've been thinking about higher limits, this is one more piece of the picture.
What died in 2026, and why it matters
None of the bigger auto insurance bills passed both chambers. They all died when the session ended on March 13.
| Bill | What it would have done | Died in |
|---|---|---|
| SB 522 / HB 769 | Repeal PIP and the no-fault law; require 25/50/10 bodily injury and property damage from Jan 1, 2027 | Committee (both) |
| SB 926 | Attorney fees for the prevailing party when providers sue over overdue PIP medical benefits | Committee |
| SB 632 / HB 585 | Rewrite insurance requirements for rideshare (TNC) companies, drivers and vehicle owners | Committee (both) |
| CS/SB 1054 / HB 807 | Mandatory hearings, penalties and bodily injury coverage for drivers whose infractions cause a crash | Senate calendar; House committee |
| SB 1558 / CS/HB 1553 | Change what evidence of medical bills is allowed in injury lawsuits (the HB 837 rule) | Committee (both) |
| HB 1269 | Change attorney fee awards in coverage lawsuits against insurers | Committee |
| CS/CS/CS/SB 260 / HB 37 | Storage fees and rules for damaged electric vehicles; limits on what auto insurers must pay | Senate calendar; House committee |
| SB 1400 / HB 1363 | Information drivers must get when a crash-disabled car is towed; storage notices | Committee (both) |
| CS/HB 1241 | Handheld phone ban tied to careless driving | Committee |
Source: Florida Senate bill pages: SB 522, HB 769, SB 926, SB 632, SB 1054, HB 807, SB 1558, HB 1553, HB 1269, SB 260, HB 37, SB 1400, HB 1363, HB 1241.
"Died on calendar" means the bill cleared its committees but never got a floor vote. The PIP repeal is the one people ask me about. Both bills would have ended PIP and required bodily injury liability starting January 1, 2027. Neither got a hearing. If you read somewhere that PIP ends in 2027, that was the bill, not the law. The full history, including the 2021 repeal that passed and was vetoed, is in my post on the Florida PIP repeal.
The evidence bills matter too. They would have reopened part of the 2023 civil justice law, HB 837, which cut the negligence filing deadline from four years to two and barred recovery for anyone more than 50% at fault. Since they died, those 2023 rules stand as written. My post on Florida tort reform explains what they mean after a crash.
What didn't change
| Topic | Status after the 2026 session | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|
| Required coverage to register | Unchanged: $10,000 PIP and $10,000 PDL | FLHSMV; s. 627.736; s. 324.022 |
| Bodily injury liability | Still not required to register most private cars | FLHSMV |
| No-fault law (PIP) | Still law; both repeal bills died | ss. 627.730-627.7405 |
| HB 837 (2023) rules | Comparative fault, medical evidence and bad faith sections not amended since 2023 | ss. 768.81, 768.0427, 624.155 |
| Rideshare (TNC) insurance rules | Unchanged | s. 627.748 |
| Uninsured motorist rules | Unchanged | s. 627.727 |
| Commercial vehicle minimums | Wording conformed; dollar amounts unchanged | s. 627.7415 |
Source: FLHSMV insurance requirements; Florida Senate citation search; s. 768.81 history; ch. 2026-39, s. 46.
One number from FLHSMV puts the minimums in context: in October 2026, 5.06% of registrations (854,357 of 16,880,795) had no PIP and PDL on file. Add the drivers who carry only the minimums and no bodily injury liability, and you can see why uninsured motorist coverage is worth a look. My post on Florida car insurance requirements walks through each coverage.
What's next: the 2027 session
The Florida Constitution sets the regular session to start on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of odd-numbered years, which makes it March 2, 2027, with a 60-day limit. The Florida Bar News reported an organization session on November 17, 2026 and interim committee weeks starting November 30, 2026, when committees start meeting again.
As of October 21, the 2027 bill list had no PIP repeal bill and no House bills at all. PIP repeal bills were filed in 2021 and in every session from 2023 through 2026, so I'd expect another, but that's a guess, not news. Nothing in this post is scheduled to change on January 1, 2027. I'll update it after the 2027 session ends.
FAQ
Are there new car insurance laws in Florida in 2026?
No 2026 law changed Florida's required auto coverage. You still need $10,000 of PIP and $10,000 of property damage liability to register a car. The 2026 changes affect crash reporting, e-mailed suspension notices, vehicle registration ID, total-loss title paperwork and habitual traffic offender rules.
Did Florida repeal PIP in 2026?
No. SB 522 and HB 769 would have repealed the no-fault law and required 25/50/10 bodily injury and property damage coverage from January 1, 2027, but both died in committee on March 13, 2026. PIP is still required.
Do I have to call the police after a minor car accident in Florida?
From October 1, 2026, you must notify law enforcement immediately if the crash causes injury or death or apparent damage of at least $2,000, up from $500. If no law enforcement report is required but a vehicle or property was damaged, you must still send FLHSMV a written self-report within 10 days. Hitting an unattended vehicle still requires notifying the police at any damage amount.
Can Florida suspend my license by e-mail for a lapse in insurance?
Since October 1, 2026, FLHSMV can send suspension orders by e-mail if you authorized e-mail notification. Insurance-related orders are complete 15 days after the e-mail or mailing, and not receiving the order does not stop it from taking effect.
Your own policy wording and Florida law control how your coverage and claims work. Confirm your situation with a licensed agent, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, or, for legal questions, an attorney.
Sources
- Laws of Florida, 2026 chapter law index
- Chapter 2026-39, Laws of Florida (SB 488, Transportation)
- Florida Senate: SB 488 (2026) bill history
- Florida Senate staff analysis of SB 488 (Fiscal Policy, Feb. 4, 2026)
- s. 316.065, F.S., Crashes; reports; penalties
- s. 316.066, F.S., Written reports of crashes
- s. 316.063, F.S., Duty upon damaging unattended vehicle or other property
- FLHSMV: Driver Report of Traffic Crash (Self Report), HSMV 90011S
- FLHSMV: Traffic crash reports
- s. 322.251, F.S., Notice of cancellation, suspension, revocation, or disqualification
- s. 324.091, F.S., Notice to department; notice to insurer
- s. 324.0221, F.S., Reports by insurers; suspension; reinstatement
- Chapter 2026-40, Laws of Florida (SB 490, Public Records/DHSMV)
- s. 320.02, F.S., Registration required
- Chapter 2026-56, Laws of Florida (CS/HB 961)
- Florida House final bill analysis, CS/HB 961 (May 5, 2026)
- Chapter 2026-53, Laws of Florida (CS/HB 35, Isaiah's Law)
- s. 322.264, F.S., Habitual traffic offender defined
- s. 322.27, F.S., Authority of department to suspend or revoke
- Florida Senate: HB 145 (2026) bill history
- HB 145 (2026), enrolled text
- s. 768.28, F.S., Waiver of sovereign immunity in tort actions
- Florida Senate: 2026 bills citing s. 627.736
- Florida Senate: SB 522 (2026)
- Florida Senate: HB 769 (2026)
- Florida Senate: SB 926 (2026)
- Florida Senate: SB 632 (2026)
- Florida Senate: CS/SB 1054 (2026)
- Florida Senate: HB 807 (2026)
- Florida Senate: SB 1558 (2026)
- Florida Senate: CS/HB 1553 (2026)
- Florida Senate: HB 1269 (2026)
- Florida Senate: CS/CS/CS/SB 260 (2026)
- Florida Senate: HB 37 (2026)
- Florida Senate: SB 1400 (2026)
- Florida Senate: HB 1363 (2026)
- Florida Senate: CS/HB 1241 (2026)
- s. 768.81, F.S., Comparative fault
- FLHSMV: Insurance requirements
- FLHSMV: Uninsured motorist rate
- Florida Constitution, Article III
- The Florida Bar News: Legislative committee meetings set to begin in November (Aug. 7, 2026)
- Florida Senate: 2027 bill list
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax or insurance advice. Coverage depends on the actual policy, its terms, conditions and exclusions, and state law. Maru Insurance · WA License (WAOIC) #1365574 · FL License #G363233 · NPN 22261820.