Don’t Own a Car But Drive in Florida
December 7, 2025
Not surprisingly, you can drive a car in Florida without owning one, as long as you meet the Sunshine State’s licensing and insurance requirements. Due to the state’s “No-Fault” insurance statutes, all drivers are required to have continuous insurance coverage whether they currently own a vehicle or not. When borrowing a vehicle, the car owner’s insurance usually covers permissive use but a non-owner’s policy helps to fill the gaps if that driver causes a more serious accident.
If you frequently borrow or rent cars but do not own a car yourself, a non-owner car insurance policy is recommended to provide you with your own primary liability and PIP coverage. That’s why Florida allows you to buy a non-owner policy. Additionally, you may need to purchase a non-owner policy for filing an SR-22 or FR-44 in order to fulfill a court order to reinstate a suspended license. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that damages to the vehicle you’re driving are typically only covered by optional provisions to a standard policy.
Finally, you must hold a valid driver's license. The license grants you permission to operate a vehicle on public roads and is not tied to car ownership. Instead, your driver’s license and non-owner auto insurance coverages are tied through the state’s Financial Responsibility Law, which means if you need auto insurance after a DUI, but don’t own a vehicle when purchasing a non-owner policy, it is the non-owner insurer that has to ensure you have certified coverage for an SR-22 or FR-44 filing requirement* to prevent license suspension for non-compliance.
*NOTE: This electronic filing by the insurer shows the state that you are meeting financial responsibility, as it provides the liability coverage needed to satisfy the state’s requirements to keep your driver’s license valid by acting as your “proof of insurance.” However, you must renew your non-owner policy on time and the state of Florida does not remind you. But, failure to do so can result in suspension of your driving privileges.
So, is auto insurance a must?
Yes, Florida law specifically requires all drivers to have continuous insurance coverage. Driving without minimum insurance coverage is a serious offense. The key is to ensure that either the vehicle you are driving is insured, or you have an active policy that covers your assets when driving a vehicle that you don’t own. So, if you don’t own a car but frequently borrow or rent one, a non-owner car insurance policy is a great option. This type of coverage provides minimum liability coverage (PDL) and personal injury protection (PIP) anytime you are legally driving a vehicle that isn’t yours. In addition, it may act as secondary coverage if the car owner’s insurance policy is insufficient.
Insurance Options for a Non-Car Owner
Never assume you're covered when borrowing a vehicle; always verify your auto insurance coverage status before you get behind the wheel. Even though the owner’s insurance policy is usually the primary coverage under "permissive use" provisions, you should always confirm with the car owner’s insurer that you are indeed covered. A non-owner policy in Florida primarily provides state-mandated PDL and PIP but it explicitly excludes damages to the vehicle you are driving. It does, however, allow you to maintain your history of continuous coverage.
- Non-owner car insurance:If you frequently borrow or rent different cars but do not own a vehicle yourself, a non-owner car insurance policy provides you with options for purchasing your own primary liability and PIP coverage, as well as maintain continuous insurance history in the state.
- Bodily Injury Liability (BI): While not always required, it may be mandatory for a FR-44 filing after a DUI and covers medical expenses, lost wages, and pain & suffering for the other driver and their passengers if you were “at fault” in an accident.
- Property Damage Liability (PDL): This mandatory coverage pays for damage you caused to another person’s property, such as their vehicle, fence or mailbox when you were “at fault” in an accident. Florida law requires a minimum of $10,000 in PDL.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): This mandatory coverage is required in $10,000 PIP on all non-owner policies. It pays medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers up to 80% of reasonable medical expenses and a 60% portion of lost wages.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: UM/UIM is optional but recommended to protect your assets in accidents with Florida’s high number of drivers with insufficient insurance. If you choose to purchase BI, you must reject UM/UIM coverage in writing.
- Medical Payments Coverage: This optional coverage can help to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of fault, and often kicks in after minimum coverage is exhausted. In other words, MedPay supplements your existing PIP.
- Being added to another person's policy: Alternatively, the vehicle's owner can add you as a secondary driver to their own insurance policy. This is important because in Florida, the owner of a car can be held responsible for an accident, even if they weren't the one driving.
If you're renting a car, you will need to either purchase liability coverage through the rental company or make certain your non-owner policy provides adequate coverage. Generally speaking, a non-owner auto insurance policy acts as secondary coverage, supplementing the vehicle owner’s primary PIP/PDL insurance if and when those limits are exceeded. Since Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country, UM/UIM coverage is strongly recommended. Conversely, non-owner insurance usually covers driving throughout the U.S. and Canada.
What is not covered in non-owner auto insurance?
In Florida, a non-owner policy is designed to follow the driver rather than a specific vehicle. This does make it a good option for some people who travel a lot as a broadening clause for Out-of-State provision that automatically adjusts coverage to meet the minimum liability requirements of the state you’re driving in; however, you are responsible to verify this with your insurer and it most often only applies to temporary travel. Obviously, this very important for non-residents as Florida’s PIP laws are unique.
This means minimum Florida coverage for non-drivers may exclude:
- Collision coverage: Usually does not pay for repairs to a borrowed car or rented car, if you as the driver are considered to be at fault in a crash.
- Comprehensive coverage: Usually does not cover cost of damages to a borrowed or rented car from non-collision events like theft or vandalism.
- Damage to personal belongings: Usually does not cover items or belongings stolen or damaged inside a borrowed or rented vehicle.
- Business use: Usually non-owner policies exclude driving for any business use or commercial purposes, including ridesharing or deliveries.
- Household vehicles: Usually does not cover vehicles owned by someone you live with as you should be listed on their policy instead.
Florida law requires all registered drivers to maintain continuous liability coverage to avoid having their license and license plate suspended. Owner liability in the Sunshine State can hold the owner of the car liable for accidents causes by the non-insured driver. That’s because Florida’s Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine states that the vehicle’s owner did not have to be present if they gave the non-insured driver permission to drive the vehicle. If you do plan to spend a significant amount of time in another state or are permanently moving, you should contact your insurer to update your policy to reflect your new primary residence.
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Several major insurance carriers offer non-owner car insurance in Florida. The best option for you may depend on factors like cost, customer service, and whether you require an SR-22 filing. Ensure the policy includes the minimum state requirements, and consider optional add-ons like Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage for added protection. However, state minimums are often insufficient to cover serious accident expenses, so you may need to carry more coverage to protect your assets in a lawsuit. At Nsurance Nation, our experienced staff can help you decide whether GEICO, Progressive, or a carrier you haven’t even considered has the insurance policy that works best based on your unique circumstances. Call 1-833-450-9490 to speak with an agent today.
