Best Cheapest Car Insurance Florida With Full Coverage for Engine Failure and Damage

Finding affordable car insurance that provides adequate protection in Florida can be challenging. Rates are higher than in many other states due to the risk of extreme weather events like hurricanes and flooding. However, it's important not to sacrifice critical coverages like full coverage for engine failure just to save money on premiums.

This comprehensive guide reviews the top car insurance providers in Florida that offer affordable full coverage options, including protection for engine failure from both collisions and normal wear and tear. We'll compare rates, coverage details, discounts, customer service, and more to help you find the best value policy for your needs.

Best 5 Car Insurance Companies in Florida: Top Picks for Affordable Rates and Quality Coverage

• State Farm : Renowned for its customer service, State Farm offers competitive car insurance quotes and full coverage options for Florida drivers.
• Geico : Geico is known for its cheap car insurance rates and convenient online quotes, making it a favorite among new and young drivers.
• Allstate : Allstate provides a range of car insurance options near you, with a focus on full coverage policies for complete peace of mind.
• Country Financial : Offering personalized service and competitive rates, Country Financial is ideal for those seeking the best car insurance quotes online.
• Liberty Mutual : Liberty Mutual stands out for its tailored policies that cater to both new drivers and those looking for no-deposit car insurance companies.

How We Selected the Best Cheap Car Insurance in Florida

We compared quotes and coverage from the largest auto insurers in Florida, including State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, Country Financial, and Liberty Mutual. Policies were reviewed based on the following:

• Cost: Monthly and annual premium rates for basic full coverage policies.
• Coverage: Scope of coverage for engine and mechanical failure from both collisions and normal wear and tear.
• Discounts: Availability of discounts for good drivers, multi-vehicle policies, anti-theft devices, bundling with other insurance products, and more.
• Limits and Deductibles: Ability to customize coverage limits and choose optimal deductibles to fit your budget.
• Customer Service and Claims: Reputation for timely and satisfactory claims payments and customer support.
• Financial Strength: The insurer's financial strength rating and ability to pay out claims.

Based on these criteria, we identified the providers likely to offer the best value full coverage car insurance for Florida drivers concerned about engine failure protection.

Do You Need Full Coverage Car Insurance in Florida?

Florida only requires you to carry minimum liability car insurance coverage limits:

• $10,000 for personal injury protection (PIP)
• $10,000 for property damage liability
• $10,000 for bodily injury coverage per person
• $20,000 for bodily injury coverage per accident

This coverage only protects other drivers if you cause an accident. It does NOT cover any damage to your own vehicle.

Full coverage insurance adds:

• Comprehensive: Covers damage to your car from theft, vandalism, fire, extreme weather, hitting an animal, and more.
• Collision: Covers your vehicle if damaged in an accident, regardless of fault.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Protects you if you're hit by a driver with no or inadequate insurance.

Though more expensive, full coverage is highly recommended in Florida to fully protect your vehicle investment against the many hazards. It's especially critical if you have an auto loan or lease since lenders require it.

Comprehensive coverage is what pays for engine or mechanical damage not caused by a collision, like from normal wear and tear or flooding. This is essential in Florida's hot, humid, and flood-prone environment, which can take a toll on cars.

Factors That Affect Car Insurance Costs in Florida

Your individual profile and history as a driver have a major impact on what you'll pay for coverage. Key factors include:

• Driving Record: Past tickets, accidents, or DUI convictions raise rates substantially. Having a clean record saves you the most.
• Credit Score: Insurers view lower credit scores as higher risk. Maintaining excellent credit reduces premiums.
• Location: Insurance costs more in urban areas and high-crime neighborhoods. Consider a rural address if possible.
• Age and Experience: Teen and elderly drivers pay the most. Middle-aged drivers get the best rates.
• Vehicle Type: Insuring sports cars, luxury vehicles, or modified cars costs more than family sedans and minivans.
• Annual Mileage: Driving fewer than 10,000 miles/year lowers rates. High mileage raises risk.
• Multi-policy Discounts: Bundling auto with renters, homeowners, or life insurance saves up to 30%.
• Anti-theft Devices: Cars with anti-theft devices, alarm systems, or advanced safety tech qualify for discounts of up to 25%.

Shopping around and comparing quotes from multiple insurers is the best way to find the cheapest car insurance rates tailored to your specific situation. Never sacrifice critical coverages just to lower your premium.

5 Best Car Insurance Providers in Florida

State Farm

Our top pick for Floridians is State Farm , the largest auto insurer in the state with over 20% market share. State Farm offers affordable premiums and some of the best coverage for mechanical breakdowns and engine failures.

They have three excellent full-coverage options:

• State Farm Standard Car Policy: All peril comprehensive and collision coverage. Engine failure from wear and tear is covered under comprehensive after deductible.
• State Farm Extended Car Policy: Adds limited coverage for major component breakdown from normal use.
• State Farm Platinum Car Policy: Expanded powertrain, steering, and named-component breakdown protection.

State Farm's mechanical breakdown coverage includes the engine, transmission, steering, brakes, air conditioning, electrical system and more. Claims service is excellent, and digital tools like the mobile app make managing your policy convenient.

Cost: State Farm offers competitive base rates that can be 30%+ lower with multi-line discounts.

Discounts: Up to 30% discount for bundling auto with renters, homeowners, condo, or life insurance. Plus discounts for students, safe vehicles, anti-theft devices, and insuring multiple cars.

Financial Strength: State Farm has an exceptional A++ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best.

State Farm is our top pick for outstanding engine failure protection and great all-around value.

GEICO

Known for low pricing, GEICO is another excellent choice in Florida. They offer two levels of full coverage options:

• Basic Policy: Standard comprehensive and collision cover engine failure from accidents or floods.
• Plus Policy: Adds rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, identity fraud protection, and other perks.

GEICO mechanical breakdown insurance covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, brakes, steering, air conditioning, electrical system, and more against failure from normal wear and tear or defects. You can easily add or remove this coverage when getting a quote.

Cost: GEICO offers some of the lowest base premium rates in Florida.

Discounts: Get up to 26% off for military service, anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes, airbags, good driver discounts, and more.

Financial Strength: GEICO has an A++ rating for superior financial strength to pay claims.

With rock-bottom pricing and extensive discounts, it's easy to find cheap full coverage at GEICO. Customer service satisfaction lags slightly behind competitors.

Allstate

Allstate is a major insurer in Florida offering solid full coverage options:

• Basic Policy: Standard collision and comprehensive coverage.
• Plus Policy: Adds rental reimbursement, custom parts value, roadside assistance, and accident forgiveness.

Their Gold plan also includes an enhanced auto replacement cost benefit. Engine failure from wear and tear is covered under comprehensive after the deductible.

Cost: Base rates are middle of the road but increase steeply for less-than-perfect driving records. Attractive multi-line discounts are available.

Discounts: Bundles auto with condo, renters, life, or motorcycle insurance for up to 30% off. Also offers accident forgiveness to avoid premium increases after the first at-fault collision.

Financial Strength: Allstate has an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from A.M. Best.

Allstate is a good option for Floridians who want accident forgiveness and can bundle multiple policies. Rates are steep for less-than-stellar drivers.

Country Financial

Country Financial is known for competitive pricing, extensive coverage options, and great technology tools for customers. They offer three levels of protection in Florida:

• Basic Policy: Standard collision and comprehensive without extras.
• Plus Policy: Adds roadside assistance, custom parts coverage, and rental car reimbursement.
• Premium Policy: Roadside assistance, custom coverage, rental coverage, gap insurance, and mechanical breakdown insurance.

The mechanical breakdown option covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, brakes, front suspension, steering, air conditioning, electrical system, and more against failure from normal wear and tear and defects.

Cost:? Country Financial offers affordable rates that become even more competitive with multi-policy bundles and other discounts.

Discounts: Snapshot safe driving program discount, multi-vehicle discount, continuous insurance discount, and more.

Financial Strength:? Country Financial has an A+ (Strong) rating from A.M. Best.

Country Financial is worth considering if you want robust digital tools and like the Snapshot program for significant discounts.

Liberty Mutual

Rounding out our top picks is Liberty Mutual . They offer:

• Basic Policy: Standard full coverage protections.
• Better Car Replacement: Covers replacement cost of a new vehicle in first year after model purchase.
• New Car Replacement: Replace the car instead of repairing it if it totaled in the first year of ownership.

Engine breakdowns are covered under the comprehensive policy after deductible. Liberty Mutual has affordable base rates that remain stable for good drivers over time.

Cost: Liberty Mutual offers competitive pricing, especially when bundling home and auto insurance. Rates don't increase as quickly for minor infractions.

Discounts: Up to 12% discount for bundling auto with home or renters insurance. Additional discounts for anti-theft devices, government employees, military, alternative energy vehicles, students away from home, and more.

Financial Strength: Liberty Mutual has an A rating for excellent claims-paying ability.

Liberty Mutual is a great choice if you want rate stability over time and multi-policy bundles. Customer service satisfaction is not as high as some competitors, however.

What Full Coverage Options Do Florida Insurers Offer?

When comparing car insurance rates in Florida, look closely at what is included in the full coverage options:

State Farm offers strong mechanical breakdown coverage options beyond basic full coverage. This includes their unique Platinum policy with extensive component protection.

GEICO lets you add or remove mechanical breakdown coverage when getting a quote. This flexibility makes it easy to customize. Roadside assistance is only included in the Plus policy.

Country Financial bundles many value-added features like roadside assistance and custom parts coverage into their Plus and Premium policies for full protection. Mechanical breakdown coverage is similarly included in Premium.

Allstate takes a more basic approach focused on core protections like collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist coverage, and liability. Rental coverage and accident forgiveness are the main extras.

Liberty Mutual also focuses on core protections, with new and better car replacement options on upgraded policies. No mechanical breakdown insurance, but this can be added separately.

Always read the policy documents closely and ask your insurer exactly what engine and component failures are covered under each plan. This can vary significantly between providers.

How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance in Florida

The cheapest car insurance companies for you depend heavily on personal factors like age, driving record, and location. However, there are proven ways to lower rates at any provider:

• Ask about all available discounts and take advantage of everyone you qualify for. Look for multi-policy, safe drivers, anti-theft devices, safety features, and good student discounts.
• Bundle auto insurance with homeowners, renters, or life insurance for a multi-policy discount up to 30% lower rates.
• Buy older or used cars that cost less to insure than new or luxury vehicles. Or choose a minivan or sedan over a sports car or SUV.
• Increase your deductibles, which substantially lowers premiums. Going from a $500 to $1000 deductible could save 15-30%.
• Check rates frequently and shop around every renewal to make sure you're getting the best deal. Loyalty rarely pays off.
• Ask about usage-based programs like Country Financial's Snapshot that provide discounts for safe driving habits confirmed by a monitoring device.
• Take a defensive driving course approved by Florida's DHSMV. Completing one earns an insurance discount of up to 10% for three years.
• Pay your full 6-month or annual premium upfront rather than in monthly installments. This avoids the $3-$5 monthly fees that insurance companies add when splitting up payments.
• Maintain excellent credit and correct any errors on your credit reports. Every point over 680 saves more.
• Consider dropping comprehensive and/or collision coverage on older cars worth less than ten times the annual premium cost. Liability coverage can be much cheaper.

Finding the cheapest car insurance in Florida while maintaining adequate coverage is achievable with some effort. Get quotes from multiple top-rated insurers and use available discounts and cost-cutting measures.

How Much Car Insurance Do You Need in Florida?

Florida only requires $10,000 per person, $20,000 per accident bodily injury liability, and $10,000 property damage liability. But we strongly advise buying more protection:

• Bodily Injury: Increase to $25,000-$50,000 per person and $50,000-$100,000 per accident limits.
• Property Damage: Raise to $25,000-$50,000 in coverage.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Get equal or higher limits as your liability coverage.
• Comprehensive: Insure the actual cash value or replacement cost of your vehicle.
• Collision: Insure for the actual cash value or replacement cost of your vehicle.
• PIP: Florida's minimum of $10,000 is generally adequate.

Higher liability limits prevent getting sued for excess damages not covered. Comprehensive and collision coverage is essential in Florida for severe weather. Cut costs with higher deductibles instead of lower limits.

How To File a Car Insurance Claim in Florida

If your vehicle is damaged in an accident or other loss, follow these steps to file an insurance claim:

1. Move to a safe location if possible and call 911 and the police if anyone is injured or a driver seems impaired.
2. Take photos of the damage, accident scene, and any injuries. Get contact info for other involved drivers.
3. Call your insurance provider right away to start the claims process. Describe what happened in detail.
4. Cooperate fully with the claims adjuster once assigned. Provide a statement, proof of loss, repair estimates, and any other requested evidence.
5. Your car will be assessed for repair costs or total loss value. Make sure the estimate accurately reflects all damage. Negotiate if you disagree.
6. For repairs, you can select any licensed shop. Your insurer will issue payment directly once approved.
7. If your car is totaled, you'll receive a payout to either replace the car or pay off your loan balance if financed. Total loss is determined based on repair costs exceeding the car's value.
8. Review the claim settlement offer carefully before accepting. Negotiate respectfully if it seems inadequate.
9. Accept the finalized settlement and close the claim. Your insurer will mail the payment within a few weeks typically.

Most car insurers now offer a mobile app to make starting the claims process fast and easy after an accident. Take advantage of this convenience where available.

Tips for Buying Car Insurance in Florida

Follow these top tips when getting quotes and buying coverage:

• Shop around! Compare quotes from at least five insurers. Rates can vary widely for the same driver.
• Look beyond just premium cost. Consider coverage, discounts, financial strength, customer service ratings, and technology tools.
• Inform insurers about all eligible discounts and seek multi-policy bundles. Quotes assume minimal discounts otherwise.
• Narrow your choices to 3-4 companies and compare quotes for identical liability limits, deductibles, and coverage. Compare apples-to-apples.
• Ask specifically what engine failure scenarios are covered under each policy. Don't assume.
• Avoid brand-new cars requiring full coverage. Used 2-4 year old vehicles cost significantly less to insure. Lexus and Toyota have the lowest insurance rates on average.
• Increase deductibles to at least $500 or $1000 to save more. Just be sure you have savings to cover the larger out-of-pocket cost if you do need to file a claim.
• Ask about usage-based insurance options to get cash back and discounts for safe driving confirmed by an app or device.
• Report major life changes quickly, like moving, adding teen drivers, or changes in marital status. These impact your rate. Stay on top of adjustments.

If you invest the time upfront to make smart choices when purchasing car insurance in Florida, you'll benefit from long-run savings and the right protections for your vehicle. Avoid skimping on critical coverages to keep premiums artificially cheap.

Disclaimer: The reviewed car insurance products are stand-alone services, and we have no direct involvement in their quotes or influence over rates and terms. Requesting a car insurance quote does not guarantee approval, and some products may perform other checks. Some car insurance products may not be available in all States. This article provides general information, and although we strive for accuracy, we are not liable for errors or omissions. Some links may be affiliate links, and we may earn commissions if clicked. Verify information independently and seek professional advice before making decisions; use of this article implies acceptance of these terms.