Florida Statute 324.022 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 324
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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324.022 Financial responsibility for property damage.—

(1) Every owner or operator of a motor vehicle required to be registered in this state shall establish and maintain the ability to respond in damages for liability on account of accidents arising out of the use of the motor vehicle in the amount of $10,000 because of damage to, or destruction of, property of others in any one crash. The requirements of this section may be met by one of the methods established in s. 324.031; by self-insuring as authorized by s. 768.28(16); or by maintaining an insurance policy providing coverage for property damage liability in the amount of at least $10,000 because of damage to, or destruction of, property of others in any one accident arising out of the use of the motor vehicle. The requirements of this section may also be met by having a policy which provides coverage in the amount of at least $30,000 for combined property damage liability and bodily injury liability for any one crash arising out of the use of the motor vehicle. The policy, with respect to coverage for property damage liability, must meet the applicable requirements of s. 324.151, subject to the usual policy exclusions that have been approved in policy forms by the Office of Insurance Regulation. No insurer shall have any duty to defend uncovered claims irrespective of their joinder with covered claims.

(2) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Motor vehicle” means any self-propelled vehicle that has four or more wheels and that is of a type designed and required to be licensed for use on the highways of this state, and any trailer or semitrailer designed for use with such vehicle. The term does not include:

1. A mobile home.

2. A motor vehicle that is used in mass transit and designed to transport more than five passengers, exclusive of the operator of the motor vehicle, and that is owned by a municipality, transit authority, or political subdivision of the state.

3. A school bus as defined in s. 1006.25.

4. A vehicle providing for-hire transportation that is subject to the provisions of s. 324.031. A taxicab shall maintain security as required under s. 324.032(1).

5. A personal delivery device as defined in s. 316.003.

(b) “Owner” means the person who holds legal title to a motor vehicle or the debtor or lessee who has the right to possession of a motor vehicle that is the subject of a security agreement or lease with an option to purchase.

(3) Each nonresident owner or registrant of a motor vehicle that, whether operated or not, has been physically present within this state for more than 90 days during the preceding 365 days shall maintain security as required by subsection (1) that is in effect continuously throughout the period the motor vehicle remains within this state.

(4) The owner or registrant of a motor vehicle is exempt from the requirements of this section if she or he is a member of the United States Armed Forces and is called to or on active duty outside the United States in an emergency situation. The exemption provided by this subsection applies only as long as the member of the Armed Forces is on such active duty outside the United States and applies only while the vehicle is not operated by any person. Upon receipt of a written request by the insured to whom the exemption provided in this subsection applies, the insurer shall cancel the coverages and return any unearned premium or suspend the security required by this section. Notwithstanding s. 324.0221(3), the department may not suspend the registration or operator’s license of any owner or registrant of a motor vehicle during the time she or he qualifies for an exemption under this subsection. Any owner or registrant of a motor vehicle who qualifies for an exemption under this subsection shall immediately notify the department prior to and at the end of the expiration of the exemption.

History.—s. 8, ch. 88-370; s. 1, ch. 89-238; s. 302, ch. 99-248; s. 4, ch. 2007-324; s. 7, ch. 2017-150.

F.S. 324.022 on Google Scholar

F.S. 324.022 on CourtListener

Amendments to 324.022

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 324.022

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

S324.022 - NONMOVING TRAFFIC VIOL - REMOVED - M: S

S324.022 - NONMOVING TRAFFIC VIOL - FAIL TO HAVE MTR VEH LIABILITY INSURANCE - M: S

Cases Citing Statute 324.022

Total Results: 11

Clay Elec. Co-Op., Inc. v. Johnson

873 So. 2d 1182, 2003 WL 22966277

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 18, 2003 | Docket: 397879

Cited 193 times | Published

comply with the financial responsibility law. See § 324.022, Fla. Stat. (2002). Pedestrians and drivers can

Garcia Ex Rel. Estate of Garcia v. Vanguard Car Rental USA, Inc.

510 F. Supp. 2d 821, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15335, 2007 WL 686625

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 5, 2007 | Docket: 1808737

Cited 22 times | Published

in Opposition, P. 7. [11] See also Fla. Stat. § 324.022 (the requirement of having sufficient financial

Grant v. New Hampshire Ins. Co.

613 So. 2d 466, 18 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 107, 1993 Fla. LEXIS 169, 1993 WL 32053

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Feb 11, 1993 | Docket: 454198

Cited 3 times | Published

accident. [4] The appellants also cite to "section 324.022, Florida Statutes, (1986)" to support their

Welford v. Liberty Insurance Corp.

190 F. Supp. 3d 1085, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84024, 2016 WL 3360431

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Jun 2, 2016 | Docket: 64309141

Cited 1 times | Published

and property damage coverage under Fla. Stat. § 324.022. . There is a dispute in the record as to whether

DaimlerChrysler Insurance Co. v. Arrigo Enterprises, Inc.

63 So. 3d 68, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 7171, 2011 WL 1878009

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 18, 2011 | Docket: 2364956

Cited 1 times | Published

required for financial responsibility under section 324.022. Chapter 324 leaves lessors and lessees free

Progressive Specialty Insurance Company v. Florida Hospital Ocala, Inc. D/B/A Adventhealth Ocala A/A/O Sandra Thomas

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 14, 2024 | Docket: 69257779

Published

destruction of, property of others in any one crash.” § 324.022(1), Fla. Stat. (2019). The obligation arises

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Anna Bevilacqua Spangler

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Apr 3, 2023 | Docket: 65768765

Published

Argued: Nov 18, 2022

of the Court 21-12062 § 324.022(1). Put simply, a driver of a motor vehicle must

Classy Cycles, Inc. v. Bay County

201 So. 3d 779, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 14507

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 28, 2016 | Docket: 60257072

Published

incorporates section 324.022 regarding financial responsibility for property damage. In section 324.022 motor

Antonelli v. United Automobile Insurance Co.

133 So. 3d 1007, 2014 WL 21012, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 1

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 2, 2014 | Docket: 60238642

Published

statutorily mandated. § 627.736, Fla. Stat. (2013); § 324.022, Fla. Stat. (2013); see United Auto. Ins. Co.

Sommerville v. Allstate Insurance Co.

65 So. 3d 558, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 8987, 2011 WL 2421043

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 17, 2011 | Docket: 60301733

Published

destruction of, property of others in any one crash. § 324.022, Fla. Stat. (2007).

United Automobile Insurance Co. v. Reece

4 So. 3d 80, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 1958, 2009 WL 529589

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 4, 2009 | Docket: 60295138

Published

pursuant to Florida’s Financial Responsibility Law. § 324.022, Fla. Stat. (2008) (“Every owner or operator of

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. Attorney Syfert regularly works with Chapter 324 in the context of auto insurance and financial responsibility and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.