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Driving in Florida

The rules foreign visitors most often get wrong — with the official source for every fact. Always verify directly before you drive.

Florida is the most-visited US state for international tourists, and rental car volume reflects that. Orlando (theme parks), Miami (cruise port + Latin American hub), Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Jacksonville carry most of the rental market. The state's flat terrain and gridded freeway/highway system make driving easy in absolute terms; the hazards are heat, hurricanes, and the no-fault insurance regime.

Florida is a no-fault insurance state. The minimum required is $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL). There is NO bodily-injury liability requirement under state law unless you have a DUI conviction or operate a taxi. Most rental car insurance comes with at least the state minimum.

The entire toll-bridge and toll-road network operates on SunPass, which is interoperable with E-ZPass and most other US toll programmes.

The headline rule

Florida is a no-fault insurance state — no bodily-injury liability minimum

Unlike every other US state we cover, Florida does not require bodily-injury liability insurance. The minimum is $10K PIP (covers your own injuries) and $10K PDL (covers damage you cause to others' property). This sounds permissive but actually drives up insurance costs because lawsuits over uninsured drivers are routine. For rental cars, the rental company's included insurance typically meets the state minimum but most renters add supplemental liability coverage anyway.

Key rules

Max rural interstate speed
70 mph[1]
Right turn on red
Permitted after full stop (unless signed otherwise)[1]
Seatbelt enforcement (front)
Primary enforcement[2](as of 2009-06-30)
Handheld phone
Banned for novice drivers / in specific zones[3]

Handheld banned only in school/work zones; texting primary statewide

Texting while driving
Banned[3](as of 2019-07-01)
Min liability — bodily injury per person
$0[4]

Florida is a no-fault state — NO bodily injury liability required unless DUI/taxi

Min liability — bodily injury per accident
$0[4]

See no-fault note above

Min liability — property damage
$10,000[4]

PIP $10K + PDL $10K required

Motorcycle helmet
Required for some riders (see notes)[5]

Under 21 required; 21+ exempt with $10K medical insurance

Move-over law
Yes — required to move over / slow for emergency vehicles[6]
Studded tires
Prohibited (limited emergency exceptions)[7]

FS §316.299 — metal studded tires prohibited

Marijuana in vehicle
unverifiedSee notes — verify with the state authority.

Recreational illegal; medical only — verify direct at flhsmv.gov

Famous driving routes in Florida

Tips for foreign visitors

Tolls in Florida

Florida's toll network (Florida Turnpike, SunPass-tolled bridges, Express Lanes on I-95 and I-75) operates on SunPass. Cash booths have been eliminated on most facilities. Rental cars handle this through the rental company's pass programme; SunPass is interoperable with E-ZPass and other US tolling systems.

Primary resources for Florida

Sources

Every claim above links to its numbered source here. If a link is broken, or you believe a fact is outdated, please let us know.

  1. [1]FLHSMV — Obeying the Speed Limit — FLHSMV · accessed 2026-04-23
  2. [2]FLHSMV — Buckle Up Florida: It's the Law (Dori Slosberg Law) — FLHSMV · accessed 2026-04-23
  3. [3]FLHSMV — Wireless Communications While Driving (texting ban eff. 2019-07-01) — FLHSMV · accessed 2026-04-23
  4. [4]FLHSMV — Insurance Requirements (no-fault / PIP/PDL) — FLHSMV · accessed 2026-04-23

    Florida is a no-fault state; no BI liability minimum required

  5. [5]FLHSMV — Helmet Exemption (21+ with $10K med ins) — FLHSMV · accessed 2026-04-23
  6. [6]NHTSA — Move Over, It's the Law — NHTSA · accessed 2026-04-23
  7. [7]FL Stat §316.299 — Metal Studded Tires Prohibited — Florida Legislature · accessed 2026-04-23