How to Choose a Reliable Auto Insurance Company in Florida

Updated October 2026

Quick answer: A reliable auto insurance company in Florida is one that is authorized to sell insurance here, offers the coverage you need beyond the state minimum, and explains its claims process clearly. You can confirm a company on the Office of Insurance Regulation's Active Company Search and an agent on the Department of Financial Services licensee search, and compare quotes with the same limits and deductibles.

Car insurance is a promise to pay when something goes wrong, so the company and the agent behind it matter as much as the price. This guide covers what to check before you choose, using Florida law and state agency sources listed at the end.

Confirm the company is authorized in Florida

Under section 624.401, Florida Statutes, no one may act as an insurer or transact insurance in Florida without a certificate of authority from the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), except where the insurance code provides otherwise. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) also says Florida drivers should buy their policy from an insurance company licensed to do business in Florida.

OIR's Active Company Search lets you look up companies doing business in Florida by name, company type and address. If you work with an agent, ask which company will actually issue your policy, and look that company up.

It's also worth asking about the company's financial strength. Independent rating agencies publish financial strength ratings for insurance companies, and your agent can tell you how a company is rated.

From Bryson Ritz, licensed Florida agent: A company's financial strength matters more than most people realize. After a major storm, like a Category 3 or stronger hurricane, an insurer can face thousands of claims at once, including cars damaged by wind, falling trees and flooding. A company without strong financial backing may pay claims more slowly, or pay less if it runs into serious trouble, and that delay can put a real financial strain on the people waiting on it. Is your company financially stable? If you're not sure, give us a call at (352) 512-6334.

Confirm the agent is licensed

Under section 626.112, Florida Statutes, no one may act as or advertise as an insurance agent unless they are currently licensed by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and appointed. You can look up an agent on the DFS licensee search by name or license number.

Look at the coverage options

FLHSMV says a vehicle with four or more wheels registered in Florida must carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability (PDL), and the coverage must stay in force even if the vehicle is not being driven. A company worth choosing also offers, and clearly explains, the coverages most drivers look at beyond the minimum:

• Bodily injury liability, which FLHSMV describes as paying for injury or death to others.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Under section 627.727, Florida Statutes, this coverage does not apply if an insured named in the policy rejects it in writing, so you should be offered the choice.
• Collision and comprehensive for damage to your own car.
• Optional coverages such as roadside assistance and rental reimbursement, which vary by company and policy.

Our guide to buying car insurance in Florida explains each of these coverages step by step.

Compare quotes with matching limits

• Ask for every quote with the same coverages, limits and deductibles, so you are comparing like with like.
• Check what each quote leaves out, not just the total.
• Make sure every driver and vehicle in your household is listed the same way on each quote.

Understand the claims process

• Ask how you report a claim and who you will deal with after you report it.
• Ask how repairs are handled and what you need to provide.
• Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

Florida law also sets a deadline for paying a settled claim. Under section 627.4265, once you and the insurer agree in writing to settle a claim, the insurer must pay within 20 days, or by another date in the agreement, or the payment earns interest at 12 percent a year. If payment depends on you signing a release, interest starts once the signed release is returned.

Where to go with a complaint

The DFS Division of Consumer Services helps with insurance concerns, including claim disputes, premium issues, cancellations and non-renewals, and issues with agents and agencies. DFS suggests these steps:

• First contact the insurance company, explain your concern and give it a chance to resolve the issue.
• Provide what the company asks for and keep detailed records of every communication.
• If the issue is not resolved, contact the Division of Consumer Services. You can submit a concern online through its Consumer Assistance Portal or call 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if an auto insurance company is licensed in Florida?

Companies need a certificate of authority from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. You can look a company up on OIR's Active Company Search.

How do I check that an insurance agent is licensed?

Search the agent's name or license number on the Florida Department of Financial Services licensee search.

What is the minimum car insurance in Florida?

At least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection and $10,000 in Property Damage Liability on a vehicle with four or more wheels registered in Florida.

How fast does an insurer have to pay a settled claim in Florida?

Within 20 days of a written settlement agreement, or the date in the agreement. Late payments earn interest at 12 percent a year (section 627.4265).

Where can I file a complaint about an insurance company?

Contact the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services, online or at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).

This article is general information, not legal advice, and it does not describe what any particular policy will pay. To talk through your auto insurance options with a licensed agent, see our page on car insurance in Ocala, FL or call (352) 512-6334.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, section 624.401: Certificate of authority required
• Florida Statutes, section 626.112: License and appointment required
• Florida Statutes, section 627.727: Motor vehicle insurance; uninsured and underinsured vehicle coverage
• Florida Statutes, section 627.4265: Payment of settlement
• Florida Office of Insurance Regulation: Active Company Search
• Florida Department of Financial Services: Licensee search
• Florida Department of Financial Services: Division of Consumer Services
• FLHSMV: Insurance Requirements