[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

In both Maryland and Florida you MUST carry liability insurance in order to possess plates/tags. If you drop the insurance without FIRST turning in the plates you will be fined. As a driver in Florida you want this. Otherwise, some drivers will "forget" to reactivate their insurance.

Whether the other coverages can be canceled for a period of time is up to your insurance company.

We often travel for months. If you do not wish to carry insurance on the vehicle while you are away, take the license plate and current insurance to the department of motor vehicles.(county tax office) It is a must that you do this before your current insurance expires. DOMV will do the required paper work. I believe there is a charge of $8.

You must leave your vehicle in the garage while you are away. If it sits outside without a plate, you will be red tagged. If you are not home to receive the notice, your car will be towed. Easy peasy! Leave it in the garage!

When you return to the Villages, purchase an insurance policy and return to the department of motor vehicles. They will do the paperwork and give you a plate along with a valid registration and sticker.

[USOTR]

Originally Posted by bopat

Florida allows you to self insure your car if you meet certain requirements. Do a web search or check out the Florida DMV website

Unfortunately, Florida canceled this a few years ago. You can not longer just post a 10k bound, and not have insurance.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

We often travel for months. If you do not wish to carry insurance on the vehicle while you are away, take the license plate and current insurance to the department of motor vehicles. It is a must that you do this before your current insurance expires. DOT will do the required paper work.

You must leave your vehicle in the garage. If it sits outside without a plate while you are away, it will be red tagged. If you are not home to receive the notice, your car will be towed. Easy peasy! Leave it in the garage!

When you return to the Villages, purchase an insurance policy and return to the department of motor vehicles. They will do the paperwork and give you a plate along with valid registration sticker.

Aren't there fees involved with this process? Also, it sounds like a hassle. I think I would just keep my insurance in place.

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Aren't there fees involved with this process? Also, it sounds like a hassle. I think I would just keep my insurance in place.

No hassle except you may have to sit and wait for an hour or so. DOMV is always busy.

If you are gone for months, it saves you a few hundred dollars. We use the savings to upgrade our hotel stays.

[Laurawilcox]

Have you found a low mileage option here?

[MrLindy]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

I asked my insurance agent to cancel my car insurance while I'm out of town for several months. She informed me that if I did that, my plates could be recalled and I'd be fined by the state. There is a 'vacation hold' I could use, but it would still require liability, property damage, and comprehensive, and I wouldn't save that much on the premium. What gives here in Florida? It doesn't make sense to have all that insurance for a vehicle parked in a garage!

Most experts advise that Homeowners Insurance DOES NOT cover motorized vehicles! Read your policy....insurance is relatively cheap compared to the expense of replacing a vehicle like a car...

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by Laurawilcox

Have you found a low mileage option here?

When you purchase insurance, the agent/sales will ask how frequently you use your vehicle. We explain we live in a golf cart community and vehicle is rarely driven. Shop around if you feel the amount quoted is too much.

[jerseyjoy]

This is like asking not to pay your mortgage while you're away on vacation.

[lpkruege1]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

I asked my insurance agent to cancel my car insurance while I'm out of town for several months. She informed me that if I did that, my plates could be recalled and I'd be fined by the state. There is a 'vacation hold' I could use, but it would still require liability, property damage, and comprehensive, and I wouldn't save that much on the premium. What gives here in Florida? It doesn't make sense to have all that insurance for a vehicle parked in a garage!

I can't say what other insurance companies offer but State Farm Auto allows you to put the car in storage which cuts your premium to about a third of what it normally is. I have 2 cars in 2 different states and do the same thing with the other one when I'm not there. They allow me to reinstate the insurance at times I'm there like over Christmas.

[sowilts]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

I asked my insurance agent to cancel my car insurance while I'm out of town for several months. She informed me that if I did that, my plates could be recalled and I'd be fined by the state. There is a 'vacation hold' I could use, but it would still require liability, property damage, and comprehensive, and I wouldn't save that much on the premium. What gives here in Florida? It doesn't make sense to have all that insurance for a vehicle parked in a garage!

Have vehicles in Florida and Maryland. Had a USAF plate Florida, and assumed had to have Florida insurance on both. Received a letter from Florida and they were going to suspend my license if I didn’t have Md insurance. Changed to Md insurance, had to get Md plates and turn in Florida plate. Both insurance policies went down. Still have Florida license and a card with information if we are stopped with a Florida license.

[oneclickplus]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

In both Maryland and Florida you MUST carry liability insurance in order to possess plates/tags. If you drop the insurance without FIRST turning in the plates you will be fined. As a driver in Florida you want this. Otherwise, some drivers will "forget" to reactivate their insurance.

Whether the other coverages can be canceled for a period of time is up to your insurance company.

I'm in Maryland right now - this is indeed correct. Perhaps this is an argument for "insurance by the mile".

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by MrLonzo

I asked my insurance agent to cancel my car insurance while I'm out of town for several months. She informed me that if I did that, my plates could be recalled and I'd be fined by the state. There is a 'vacation hold' I could use, but it would still require liability, property damage, and comprehensive, and I wouldn't save that much on the premium. What gives here in Florida? It doesn't make sense to have all that insurance for a vehicle parked in a garage!

All I ever do is ask them to put it in storage.

[MrLonzo]

Originally Posted by Harleyman

We just sold our place but for fifteen years we deleted all but comprehensive coverage when we were not there. We were with Allstate and I spent my life as an insurance broker so I know what I am telling you. They appeared be the best seasonal auto company do deal with.

I just checked with Allstate. They confirmed that liability insurance is required even for a vehicle not being used temporarily. Policy must have changed since you were a broker.

[bopat]

Originally Posted by USOTR

Unfortunately, Florida canceled this a few years ago. You can not longer just post a 10k bound, and not have insurance.

It’s still up on their website
Self-Insurance - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
And
Natural Person - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

[MrLonzo]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

We often travel for months. If you do not wish to carry insurance on the vehicle while you are away, take the license plate and current insurance to the department of motor vehicles. It is a must that you do this before your current insurance expires. DOT will do the required paper work.

You must leave your vehicle in the garage. If it sits outside without a plate while you are away, it will be red tagged. If you are not home to receive the notice, your car will be towed. Easy peasy! Leave it in the garage!

When you return to the Villages, purchase an insurance policy and return to the department of motor vehicles. They will do the paperwork and give you a plate along with valid registration sticker.

How're you going to get back home from the DMV without a license plate? You have to arrange an Uber or other alternative. Same when you come back to town and want your plates back. And how will you get around between the time you return the plates to DMV and the time you leave? Waiting til the last minute is just one more item on the 'to do' list trying to get out of town. NOT so easy peasy!!