When it comes to car insurance, Gainesville, Florida, uses the no-fault system. This means you have to file a claim under your own auto insurance policy if you sustain financial losses in an accident, regardless of whether or not you're at fault. Check out this helpful guide to better understand how car insurance works in Gainesville:
Is It Compulsory for Gainesville Drivers to Carry Auto Insurance?
According to Florida law, every vehicle driven or parked on the state's roadways must be insured. As a car owner, you're required to always carry proof of insurance in your vehicle and furnish it under the following circ*mstances:
- A law enforcement officer wants to know your car insurance status.
- Your car is involved in a crash.
- You need to renew your vehicle registration.
According to CarInsurance.org, the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles makes it mandatory for drivers in the state to purchase at least the following auto insurance coverage limits:
- Personal injury protection: $10,000.
- Property damage liability: $10,000.
Personal injury protection helps pay for your in-house care, medical equipment, and lost wages if you sustain injuries in a collision. Additionally, it covers funeral expenses if applicable. If you're found to be the party responsible for causing an accident, property damage liability reimburses the victims for the costs of repairing or replacing their damaged vehicles. It also allows you to claim compensation for legal expenses if you face a lawsuit after an accident, says Insurify.
If you fail to meet Florida's auto insurance requirements, you may have your vehicle registration, vehicle license tag, and driver's license suspended for a maximum of three years.
How Much Does Auto Insurance Cost in Gainesville?
On average, drivers in Gainesville pay $1839 a year for auto insurance. This amount is below the state average of $2309 and above the national average of $1548.
What Are the Major Determinants of Auto Insurance Costs in Gainesville?
In Gainesville, your auto insurance cost may vary significantly depending on a wide range of factors, including:
Insurance Provider
Your choice of insurance company may have an impact on your car insurance cost. According to The Zebra, State Farm offers the most affordable auto insurance rates in Gainesville. Finding cheap car insurance can help you save money, but make sure you choose a policy that suits your specific driving profile. The following is a list of insurers in Gainesville that offer competitive prices:
- State Farm: $1280 per year.
- GEICO: $1679 per year.
- Progressive: $1997 per year.
- Allstate: $2724 per year.
Age
In most places, teenagers are the drivers who face the highest auto insurance rates. If you're a teen driver, reaching your 20s is one of the most effective ways to reduce your car insurance cost. In Gainesville, the difference between the average premiums of teen drivers and 20-something drivers is $2876, which is the largest gap between any two age groups. Take a look at the average auto insurance costs for different age groups in Gainesville:
- Teens: $5225 per year.
- 20s: $2350 per year.
- 30s: $1831 per year.
- 40s: $1795 per year.
- 50s: $1686 per year.
- 60s: $1719 per year.
- 70s: $2084 per year.
Driving Record
You'll enjoy a more favorable auto insurance rate if you're able to maintain a clean driving record. Having an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, DUI charge, or reckless driving citation in your driving history usually leads to a premium hike. In Gainesville, motorists who are caught driving recklessly pay $943 more per year for car insurance compared to the city average. A speeding ticket results in a rate increase of $430, while a DUI violation can cost you an extra $867. Below are the average auto insurance premiums of Gainesville drivers who have caused an accident or committed a traffic offense:
- At-fault collision with damages below $1000: $2511 per year.
- At-fault collision with damages exceeding $2000: $2511 per year.
- Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 20 mph: $2269 per year.
- Reckless driving: $2782 per year.
- DUI: $2706 per year.
Credit Score
It's a well-known fact that credit scores have a close correlation with auto insurance costs. On average, drivers in Gainesville who improve their credit ratings from the “very poor” to the “exceptional” category see a 59 percent decline in their car insurance rates. Those who only manage to move from the “very poor” to the “fair” tier save an average of $1370 on auto insurance. The average car insurance rates in Gainesville by credit rating are as follow:
- Exceptional: $1487 per year.
- Very good: $1674 per year.
- Good: $1839 per year.
- Fair: $2248 per year.
- Very poor: $3618 per year.
Marital Status and Gender
Marital status can be a contributing factor to auto insurance rates. In most locations, married drivers enjoy lower premiums than single drivers because statistical data shows they're less likely to file claims. However, in Gainesville, drivers who are married pay the same as those who are single. Additionally, widowed drivers usually pay less for car insurance than single drivers. Nonetheless, this isn't the case in Gainesville, where widows face higher prices than singles.
Auto insurance companies may also take gender into consideration when setting auto insurance rates. In Gainesville, the average annual premium of female drivers is $31 higher than that of male drivers. The following are the average car insurance costs in Gainesville by marital status and gender:
- Married: $1766 per year.
- Single: $1766 per year.
- Divorced: $1839 per year.
- Widowed: $1803 per year.
- Male: $1839 per year.
- Female: $1870 per year.
To find the right auto insurance deal in Gainesville, you need to carefully compare quotes and offers from different insurance companies. Choose an auto policy that offers good value for your money rather than going for the cheapest option available. It's essential to have adequate car insurance coverage so that you can avoid big losses if you meet with a major accident.
Check this out if you need additional information, resources, or guidance on car insurance.
Sources:
Florida Car Insurance Guide (2021) Car Insurance Guide (Cheap Rates + Best Companies) | Free Car Insurance Comparison | carinsurance.org
Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Gainesville, FL (2021) | insurify.com
Gainesville, FL Car Insurance | thezebra.com
How to Lower Your Car Insurance Rates | caranddriver.com
Does Credit Score Affect Car Insurance? | caranddriver.com
How to Deal With Insurance After an Accident | caranddriver.com
Car Insurance | caranddriver.com
Hearst Autos Research
Hearst Autos Research, produced independently of the Car and Driver Editorial staff, provides articles about cars and the automotive industry to help readers make informed purchasing choices.
