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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis talk initiatives to lower insurance rates
In a Jan. 12 press conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed home and auto insurance in the Florida, speaking in programs they've used to lower these rates for consumers.
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. - Lowering insurance rates is not an easy solution, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
However, DeSantis said the state is aiming to assist homeowners with insurance rates and said the recent rates of insurance companies are showing that their efforts are working.
While he discussed the role inflation played in insurance rate hikes – saying, "Our country has had the biggest inflation it’s had in 40 years," – affecting groceries, housing and insurance – he said that 17 new companies have entered the market for home insurance.
As of January 2026, De Sanits said there have been 83 filings for rate decreases and 100 filings for no increase – bringing the 30-day average request by companies for home rates down by 2.3%.
"Nationwide, this is still all going up. We're probably the only state in the country where you're seeing decreases," he said.
What we know:
The state of Florida – position on a peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean, the Straits of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico – has higher insurance rates due to the number of hurricanes that hit the area. In the past seven years, Florida has experienced six major hurricanes: Irma, Michael, Ian, Idalia, Helene and Milton. Each hurricane brought varying amounts of damage to that state.
"There’s more risk in Florida. … That’s just the reality that you have to contend with," DeSantis said.
That's a fact Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky echoed, saying, "(Florida) is the most challenging insurance market in the world."
The backstory:
In 2022 and 2023, Florida enacted tort reform measures to maintain insurance premiums for consumers.
The state also launched the My Safe Florida Home Program, which gives homeowners the opportunity to "harden" their homes and work with insurance companies to gain available discounts. The program offers free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants for homeowners to harden their properties against storm damage.
"Since the program was reinstated in 2022, more than 122,000 inspections have been completed, with 63,000 home hardening applications approved and 42,000 projects completed. More than 62,000 homeowners have received grants totaling $383 million, resulting in an average $900 premium reduction last year," a press release from DeSantis' office said.
Home insurance decreases in Florida
By the numbers:
DeSantis provided a list of insurance companies and their rate decreases.
- Florida Peninsula: -8.2%
- Security First: -8%
- Universal Property and Casualty: -5.1%
Auto insurance decreases in Florida
The top five auto insurance companies in Florida have an average of 6.5% reduction in premium.
"Honestly, they're kind of forced to do this because it’s a competitive market," he said.
By the numbers:
Auto insurance companies are lowering their insurance premiums. DeSantis shared the amount each company's insurance rate decreased by.
- USAA: -6.1%
- Florida Farm Bureau: -8.7%
- State Farm: -10.1%
- AAA: -15%
- All State: -4%
- Progressive: -8%
Progressive will complete its refund of nearly $1 billion to auto policyholders by Jan. 15, DeSantis announced. This comes after DeSantis said Progressive would refund policyholders to reflect reduced losses.
"They (Progressive) charged more than they needed to because of the losses," DeSantis said.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from a press release from Gov. Ron DeSantis' office.