Florida Snowbirds May Have to Reexamine Their Car Insurance Needs

December 20, 2012

Around this time every year the great migration begins - and no, I am not referring to the v-formation exodus of geese flying south for winter, but instead the countless retired "snowbirds" who flock to warmer locales such as Florida in order to avoid the frosty northern weather. And while the gentle warm Florida breezes are usually a welcomed relief from the bitterly cold winds of the north, there are many logistical hurdles snowbirds have to deal with when managing their two different households.

For example, snowbirds need to make arrangements for someone to take care of their other house while they are in Florida - which can involve shoveling sidewalks or driveways, collecting mail or even just checking in on the house every once in a while. In addition, snowbirds need to make sure their cars are properly insured and registered given that each state has different registration laws and requirements. And, while making a small mistake with car registration and insurance may not seem like a big deal, it may lead to a denied insurance claim if ever in an accident in Florida.

Florida car registration and insurance

Snowbirds are often retired, meaning they generally are living on a fixed income. Consequently, given that maintaining two households can be quite expensive, snowbirds often attempt to save money any way they can. For instance, snowbirds may elect to avoid registering their cars in Florida as a way to take advantage of cheaper car insurance rates in their northern home state.

However, Florida law requires anyone who has their car in Florida for more than 90 days a year to register the vehicle. Failure to do so may lead to a ticket, and neglecting the issue entirely may result in a denied insurance claim if the vehicle is involved in an accident.

For example, if a snowbird only has their vehicle registered and insured in their northern home state - which is usually their legal residence - but they actually drive and garage the car in Florida, their insurer might deny a claim for a Florida car accident by citing a "misrepresentation" about where the car was located. This would based on the argument that the insurer had determined the car's insurance premiums based on the northern address and not the Florida address, thus they were not able to properly rate the risk of the driver and car since they had the wrong information.

Consequently, Florida snowbirds may find it is easier to simply obtain car insurance in Florida as well as their home state. While this may add to upfront costs, it may end up saving more money in the long run if an insurance claim is ever denied. However, if you have already had a car accident claim denied by an insurer it is important to speak with an experienced insurance claims attorney to be advised of your rights and options.

Article provided by Williams Law Association, P.A.
Visit us at www.floridainsuranceclaimlawyer.com