The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has taken steps to reduce the length of time that it takes to identify uninsured motorists. Under its former system, an uninsured motorist could operate a vehicle for an extended period of time (165 days) before being identified and subjected to enforcement action. The department is now implementing an on-line insurance data reporting system that, along with other changes, is expected to reduce this time period to 60 days. Currently, 129 insurance companies, accounting for approximately 95% of the motor vehicle insurance policies in the state, are using this new reporting system.
The department reported that Florida's uninsured motorist rate was 5.9% (or 665,475 uninsured vehicles) as of June 2004, which was significantly lower than the estimated rate in prior years. The lower rate appears to be primarily due to the department using a new methodology for estimating the percentage of uninsured motorists in the state. However, it does not reflect the likelihood of being in an accident involving an uninsured motorist. The department estimated that 8.2% of the vehicles involved in crashes during Fiscal Year 2003-04 may have been uninsured.

Progress Report: Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Addresses Most Driver License Recommendations
Report 02-52 October 2002
Driver License-Related Activities Performed by the Licenses, Titles, and Regulations Program Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Report 01-02 January 2001
License Plate Seizure Program's Error Rate Still High; Program Should Be Abolished
Report 00-25 December 2000
Follow-Up Report on the Uninsured Motorist Program Administered by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Report 97-20 December 1997

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.