What Does Florida PDL Actually Cover?

Florida PDL — Property Damage Liability — pays for damage you cause to another person's property in a car accident. This includes damage to their vehicle, but also fences, buildings, mailboxes, or anything else you hit. Florida requires a minimum of $10,000 in PDL coverage, which is far less than what most accidents cost.

What PDL pays for

• Vehicle damage: If you rear-end another car, your PDL pays to repair or replace their vehicle up to your coverage limit.
• Other property: If you crash into a fence, a storefront, a utility pole, or any other structure, PDL covers the repair costs.
• Legal defense: If the property owner sues you, your insurer provides legal defense as part of your PDL coverage.

Why $10,000 is not enough

The average cost of a new car in the United States is over $48,000. Even used vehicles commonly cost $15,000 to $30,000. If you cause an accident that totals someone's $25,000 vehicle and you carry only $10,000 in PDL, you are personally liable for the remaining $15,000. The other driver can sue you for that amount, and a judgment could lead to wage garnishment or asset seizure. Florida's $10,000 minimum was set decades ago and has not kept pace with vehicle values.

PDL only covers the other party's property

It is important to understand that PDL covers damage you cause to others — not to yourself. If you are at fault and your own car is damaged, PDL does nothing for you. You need collision coverage to repair your own vehicle. And PDL does not cover injuries to the other driver — that requires bodily injury liability, which Florida does not currently mandate but is essential to carry.

What adequate PDL looks like

At minimum, we recommend $50,000 to $100,000 in property damage liability. The cost difference between $10,000 and $100,000 in PDL is surprisingly small — often just $50 to $150 more per year. That modest increase protects you from a financial catastrophe that could otherwise drain your savings or put your assets at risk.

What Truscott recommends

Never settle for Florida's minimum PDL. The $10,000 limit is a legal minimum, not a safe one. At Truscott, we recommend PDL limits that match the real cost of a modern vehicle and the real risk you face on the road. Request a Truscott policy checkup and we will make sure your liability coverage protects you properly.