Mary Lou Jay

Are you a Florida snowbird who migrates south for the winter? You have lots of company. A University of Florida study found that almost 1 million people (a quarter of them from states like New York, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania) leave their snowy homes and head south during the coldest months.

If you're like many of Florida's part-time residents, you leave your vehicle behind in storage when you return north. It's easier to fly back than make that long drive. But be careful. Although you may be tempted to save a few dollars by canceling your vehicle insurance during your time away, you could end up paying a lot more in penalties than you save. 

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, all vehicles registered in the state and carrying a state tag must maintain Florida's minimum required auto insurance. That means at least $10,000 in personal injury protection (also known as PIP or no-fault coverage) and $10,000 in property damage liability. 

The penalties for failing to maintain those insurance minimums can be steep. Florida can suspend your driving privileges, including your vehicle license plates and your registration, for up to three years. You can lift the suspension by showing proof of insurance, but you'll have to pay a reinstatement fee of $150 to do it the first time. If your vehicle license and registration are suspended additional times, the reinstatement fee could rise as high as $500 for each violation.

You can't avoid this requirement by maintaining your car registration in another state. According to Florida law, if you keep your vehicle in the state for more than 90 days in a 365-day period, you must meet Florida's minimum insurance requirements. The 90 days do not have to be consecutive for the rule to apply.

To avoid paying vehicle insurance during your time away, you can surrender your Florida registration and tags when you leave the state. When you return, you'll have to re-register the vehicle, showing proof that you have the necessary Florida vehicle insurance.

You may be able to take other steps to reduce your vehicle insurance costs, however. Contact your insurance agent to see whether the company offers any kind of rate reduction for vehicles in storage. You also can ask your agent to review your policy and your driving record to see whether you're eligible for any other discounts.

Finally, take some time to do some comparison shopping for Florida auto insurance rates.  Although you don't want to base your insurance buying decisions solely on price, you may find that you can reduce your vehicle insurance costs simply by choosing lower-priced coverage with a different, equally reputable company.
After all, there’s no point in paying more for insurance than you have to, whether you’re basking in Florida to escape the winter cold or enjoying your summer back home in the north.