You probably found this page because you are looking for “Clearwater car insurance”. My guess is that you were looking for local Clearwater car insurance agents. Before you go off getting auto insurance quotes, it can be helpful to know the minimum amount of auto insurance that is required in Clearwater so that you can try to stay as close to the minimum as possible. The less coverage you have, the less money you have to pay to the insurance companies. At the same time, however, you assume more risk because you car insurance company won’t be as generous if you happen to get into an accident. The balance between risk and saving money is yours to figure out as you know more than anyone else about what you need. What’s the minimum amount of risk that you can have? Clearwater follows the mandates set by Florida law, which requires that you have two types of coverage: Liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP). So, when you are getting Clearwater car insurance quotes, keep in mind that these two things are always part of the expense.

When shopping for car insurance in Clearwater you must have liability coverage in the form of 10/20/10. Keep in mind that liability coverage does not cover you, but those around you in an accident in which you are found to be at fault. What does 10/20/10 stand for? You must have at least $10,000 in bodily injury liability for one person in an accident, $20,000 in bodily injury liability for all people in an accident, and $10,000 in property damage liability. Bodily injury liability covers medical expenses, income lost, and/or pain and suffering. Property damage liability covers damage done to other cars as well as damage done to stationary property such as fences, telephone polls, or park benches. Is it okay to have just 10/20/10 is liability coverage? Probably not. Let’s assume you have the minimum amount of liability coverage required. You hit the back of a Lexus (can happen to the best of us) and an auto body shop estimates that it will cost $15,000 to fix the back of this Lexus. Because you only have $10,000 in property damage liability, the extra $5,000 has to be paid by you. If you don’t have these $5,000 the other party can sue you and your assets are at stake. A much more serious accident can happen where you are responsible for the medical expenses of another party, which can soar. So, although 10/20/10 is the minimum, it is recommended that you have around 100/300/50 according to insure.com. Sure, your premium will be higher. But it is a small price to pay if you happen to get into a serious accident. The 10/20/10 is liability coverage is one of the lowest minimums in the country.

Aside from liability coverage, when looking for car insurance in Clearwater FL you must also have at least $10,000 worth of Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which pays for you and your passengers medical expenses, wage lost, and/or replacements services.
If you are financing or leasing your car you most likely are required to have collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision pays for damage to your car and comprehensive pays for damage or loss resulting from things such as the weather or wildlife.

What other types of insurance should you ask about?:

Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Around 15% of Floridians are uninsured. It’s a wise coverage to have and it isn’t expensive.

GAP insurance: I explain it in depth in Bakersfield Car Insurance: Some Tips.

More car insurance hubs, which can help you out:

Auto Insurance Discounters: You Are Your Own Discounters!
Car Insurance for Young Drivers Guide
Inexpensive Car Insurance: Some Tip
Short Term Car Insurance Guide
Tulsa Car Insurance
Salt Lake City Auto Insurance
Cambridge Car Insurance: Car Insurance Cambridge MA Tips
Tampa Car Insurance: Car Insurance in Tampa FL Tips

And, of course, I I have this car insurance Clearwater FL guide!