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Florida Statute 324.171 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 324.171 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Link to State of Florida Official Statute
F.S. 324.171 Case Law from Google Scholar Google Search for Amendments to 324.171

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES
Chapter 324
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
View Entire Chapter
324.171 Self-insurer.
(1) Any person may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the department which may, in its discretion and upon application of such a person, issue said certificate of self-insurance when such person has satisfied the requirements of this section to qualify as a self-insurer under this section:
(a) A private individual with private passenger vehicles shall possess a net unencumbered worth of at least $40,000.
(b) A person, including any firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other person, other than a natural person, shall:
1. Possess a net unencumbered worth of at least $40,000 for the first motor vehicle and $20,000 for each additional motor vehicle; or
2. Maintain sufficient net worth, as determined annually by the department, pursuant to rules promulgated by the department, with the assistance of the Office of Insurance Regulation of the Financial Services Commission, to be financially responsible for potential losses. The rules shall take into consideration excess insurance carried by the applicant. The department’s determination shall be based upon reasonable actuarial principles considering the frequency, severity, and loss development of claims incurred by casualty insurers writing coverage on the type of motor vehicles for which a certificate of self-insurance is desired.
(c) The owner of a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in s. 207.002 or s. 320.01, may qualify as a self-insurer subject to the standards provided for in subparagraph (b)2.
(2) The self-insurance certificate shall provide limits of liability insurance in the amounts specified under s. 324.021(7) or s. 627.7415 and shall provide personal injury protection coverage under s. 627.733(3)(b).
(3) The department may require annual reports from any self-insurer which reports must continue to demonstrate the applicable amount of unencumbered net worth. Whenever the department finds that any self-insurer does not possess the required amount of unencumbered net worth, it shall revoke the certificate of self-insurance.
History.s. 1, ch. 29963, 1955; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 4, ch. 85-320; s. 4, ch. 86-18; s. 46, ch. 87-198; s. 365, ch. 2003-261; s. 88, ch. 2013-160.
Note.Former s. 324.12.

F.S. 324.171 on Google Scholar

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Amendments to 324.171


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 324.171

Total Results: 16  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Young v. Progressive Se. Ins. Co., 753 So. 2d 80 (Fla. 2000).

Cited 63 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 120, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 86, 2000 WL 144188

...the injured person in the uninsured motorist context. In Florida, a person can obtain a certificate of self-insurance to demonstrate compliance with the financial responsibility law after demonstrating "a net unencumbered worth of at least $40,000." § 324.171(a)....
...The operator or owner of any other vehicle may prove his or her financial responsibility by: (1) Furnishing satisfactory evidence of holding a motor vehicle liability policy as defined in ss. 324.021(8) and 324.151; [or] . . . . (4) Furnishing a certificate of self-insurance issued by the department in accordance with s. 324.171....
...The City chose to be self-insured and maintains coverage through its Risk Management Department. Thus, under section 768.28(13), the City qualifies as a self-insurer against tort liability. Gabriel argues that the City's failure to obtain the certificate described in sections 324.031 and 324.171, Florida Statutes (1979), left it uninsured and entitles him to recover uninsured motorist benefits....
...5)(a), Florida Statutes (1995). See § 627.733(3)(b), Fla. Stat. (1995). Owners of private passenger vehicles may obtain a certificate of self-insurance from the Department of Insurance if they show a net, unencumbered worth of at least $40,000. See § 324.171, Fla....
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Howard v. Am. Serv. Mut. Ins. Co., 151 So. 2d 682 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1963).

Cited 25 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida | 8 A.L.R. 3d 382, 1963 Fla. App. LEXIS 3571

...ecified in § 324.021(7), or "(3) Furnishing a certificate of the state treasurer showing a deposit of cash or securities in accordance with § 324.161, or "(4) Furnishing a certificate of self-insurance issued by the commissioner in accordance with § 324.171."
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Johns v. Liberty Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 337 So. 2d 830 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976).

Cited 18 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 1976 Fla. App. LEXIS 15487

...motor vehicle financial responsibility law." Section 324.031 F.S. 1967 provided that an operator or owner of a vehicle may prove his financial responsibility by furnishing a certificate of self-insurance issued by the commissioner in accordance with § 324.171 F.S....
...since § 324.051 exempted municipalities from having their operator's licenses and owners' registrations suspended within thirty days following notice of an accident, the Bureau concluded *832 that municipalities are exempt from the requirements of § 324.171....
...Nothing in the statute equates exemption with a self-insurance certificate, nor does the statute define a "self-insured" as a person exempt from the statute. The City of St. Petersburg did not hold a certificate of self-insurance issued in accordance with § 324.171 F.S....
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Indus. Fire & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Kwechin, 447 So. 2d 1337 (Fla. 1983).

Cited 16 times | Published | Supreme Court of Florida | 1983 Fla. LEXIS 3114

...of a surety company authorized to do business in this state, ..., (3) Furnishing a certificate of the department showing a deposit of cash or securities ..., (4) Furnishing a certificate of self-insurance issued by the department in accordance with s. 324.171. Section 324.171, Florida Statutes (1977) provides that one may self-insure only if he has unencumbered net capital of at least $40,000.
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Se. Title & Ins. Co. v. Collins, 226 So. 2d 247 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1969).

Cited 12 times | Published | District Court of Appeal of Florida

...nt while driving a vehicle owned by City Products. City Products Corporation did not own an insurance policy but was the holder of a certificate from the State Insurance Commissioner certifying that it had furnished satisfactory evidence pursuant to Section 324.171, F.S....
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Centennial Ins. Co. v. Wallace, 330 So. 2d 815 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976).

Cited 12 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

...ompany. Gary Cochrane, operator of the winch truck, had an automobile insurance policy with State Farm which refused to acknowledge liability upon a claim being filed against it by Loretta Wallace. The winch truck was self-insured by FPL pursuant to § 324.171, *817 Fla....
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Dixie Farms, Inc. v. Hertz Corp., 343 So. 2d 633 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977).

Cited 10 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 1977 Fla. App. LEXIS 15475

...ured and against a self-insurer upon the rendition of a judgment or decree in the insured's favor, concerning an issue of coverage. We believe that in accordance with Section 627.733(3)(b), Florida Statutes (1975), a self-insurer who qualifies under Section 324.171, Florida Statutes (1975), is subject to all the rights and obligations of *636 an insurer under the "Florida Automobile Reparations Reform Act," Sections 627.730-627.741, Florida Statutes (1975)....
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Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Mkt. Ins. Co., 296 So. 2d 555 (Fla. 3d DCA 1974).

Cited 9 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

...an insured employee driver who was involved in an accident while driving an uninsured truck owned by his employer, City Products Corporation, which had a certificate showing that it complied with the Florida Financial Responsibility Law, Fla. Stat. § 324.171, F.S.A., but had not obtained any kind of liability insurance covering the truck....
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Guemes v. Biscayne Auto Rentals, Inc., 414 So. 2d 216 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982).

Cited 7 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

...yne affords the primary coverage and is not entitled to indemnity; and that the South Carolina policy provides excess coverage. Reversed and remanded. NOTES [1] Biscayne had qualified as a self-insurer under the Florida Financial Responsibility Act, Section 324.171, Florida Statutes (1977)....
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Budget Rent a Car Sys. v. Taylor, 626 So. 2d 976 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).

Cited 5 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1993 WL 406624

...ess of the coverages available under the terms of the Agreement. (Emphasis added). Budget is a self-insurer and provides liability coverage for its renters in the amount of $10,000, in accordance with the contract. To qualify as a self-insurer under section 324.171, Florida Statutes (1989), Budget was required to obtain a certificate of self-insurance from the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles....
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United Servs. Auto. Ass'n v. Phillips, 740 So. 2d 1205 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999).

Cited 5 times | Published | Florida 2nd District Court of Appeal | 1999 WL 550790

...[2] We also approve the circuit court's determination that the Authority was not a self-insurer. In so holding the circuit court again followed Johns, in which we declined to decide the validity of the self-insurer exclusion because the tortfeasor had not obtained a certificate of self-insurance in accordance with section 324.171....
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Gabriel v. Travelers Indem. Co., 515 So. 2d 1322 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).

Cited 4 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 1987 WL 1586

...The City chose to be self-insured and maintains coverage through its Risk Management Department. Thus, under section 768.28(13), the City qualifies as a self-insurer against tort liability. Gabriel argues that the City's failure to obtain the certificate described in sections 324.031 and 324.171, Florida Statutes (1979), [3] left it uninsured and entitles him to recover uninsured motorist benefits....
...amount specified in s. 324.021(7), or (3) Furnishing a certificate of the department showing a deposit of cash or securities in accordance with s. 324.161, or (4) Furnishing a certificate of self-insurance issued by the department in accordance with s. 324.171....
...management programs, or to purchase liability insurance for whatever coverage they may choose, or to have any combination thereof, in anticipation of any claim, judgment, and claims bill which they may be liable to pay pursuant to this section. [3] Section 324.171 Florida Statutes (1979), provides: Self-insurer — Any person may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the department which may, in its discretion, upon application of such a person, issue said c...
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Zeichner v. City of Lauderhill, 732 So. 2d 1109 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999).

Cited 4 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1999 WL 71632

...self-insured, regardless of a $75,000 "deductible." In addition, appellant emphasized the City's lack of a certificate of self-insurance and absence of proof that the city maintained sufficient net worth to qualify as a self-insurer, as required by section 324.171, Florida Statutes (1995)....
...The city did not have liability insurance but had a Self-Insurance Program with coverage through its Risk Management Department. The stipulated record in that case showed that the city was financially responsible. However, the city did not have a certificate of self-insurance pursuant to section 324.171, Florida Statutes....
...[2] Section 768.28(15)(a) authorizes the city to be self-insured, providing, in pertinent part: the state and its agencies and subdivisions are authorized to be self-insured ... in anticipation of any claim, judgment, and claims bill which they may be liable to pay pursuant to this section. Self-insurer is defined in section 324.171, Florida Statutes (1995), which provides: (1) Any person may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance from the department which may, in its discretion and upon application of such a person, issue said cer...
...he amount specified in s. 324.021(7); (3) Furnishing a certificate of the department showing a deposit of cash or securities in accordance with s. 324.161; or (4) Furnishing a certificate of self-insurance issued by the department in accordance with s. 324.171.
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Rosati v. Vaillancourt, 848 So. 2d 467 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 10148, 2003 WL 21511326

responsibility for ‘primary coverage’ ”). . Section 324.171, Florida Statutes, governs eligibility of a
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Guardado v. Greyhound Rent-A-Car, 340 So. 2d 510 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

...is admittedly a sore spot in the law. In fact, appellants admit in their brief that, but for appellee's status, the facts of Kohly, supra, would be identical to the instant case and would control. We cannot, however, accept appellants' distinction. Section 324.171, Florida Statutes (1975), allows those who can financially qualify to become a self-insured....
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McKinney v. O'Malley, 379 F. Supp. 135 (M.D. Fla. 1974).

Published | District Court, M.D. Florida | 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7272

certificate of self-insurance in accordance with § 324.171 or to any person operating a motor vehicle for'

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.