What Is PIP Coverage? Florida's No-Fault Insurance, Explained

PIP in One Sentence

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is coverage that pays a portion of your ownmedical bills and lost wages after a car accident — regardless of who caused the crash. That's why it's called "no-fault" coverage, and every Florida driver must carry $10,000 of it.

What PIP Actually Pays

• 80% of reasonable medical expenses from the accident, up to your coverage limit
• 60% of lost wages if your injuries keep you from working
• A $5,000 death benefit paid to survivors

PIP follows the person, not just the car: it generally covers you while driving, riding as a passenger, or even as a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a vehicle. It also extends to certain household members and children.

The 14-Day Rule (Don't Miss It)

Here's the trap: to use your PIP benefits, you must get initial medical treatment within 14 daysof the accident. Wait longer, and your insurer can deny the claim entirely — even if you're genuinely hurt. Soreness after a crash often shows up days later, so getting checked out promptly protects both your health and your claim.

One more wrinkle: unless a doctor determines you had an emergency medical condition, your PIP benefit can be limited to $2,500 instead of the full $10,000.

What PIP Does Not Cover

• Damage to any vehicle (that's property damage or collision coverage)
• The other driver's injuries (that's bodily injury liability)
• The 20% of medical bills PIP doesn't pay, or bills beyond $10,000

With hospital visits routinely exceeding $10,000, PIP alone runs out fast. That's why agents usually recommend pairing it with bodily injury liability, uninsured motorist coverage, and medical payments coverage.

Can You Lower What You Pay for PIP?

You can't drop PIP, but its price varies meaningfully between insurers, and options like a deductible or coordinating with your health insurance can change what you pay. Because every carrier rates PIP differently, the same driver can see very different totals from one company to the next — comparing is the only way to know.