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Florida ranks in the top 10 most expensive for car insurance. What drivers are paying
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Floridians don’t just pay some of the highest insurance rates in the nation to insure their homes. The cost for car insurance in Florida is priced well over the national average as well.
Financial information company MarketWatch completed 800 hours of research, reviewed 45 car insurance companies and surveyed 8,500 car insurance consumers to create a guide to the best car insurance companies by state, age, driving record and credit score.
According to MarketWatch’s car insurance guide, Florida ranks in the top three states where care insurance costs the most.
Here’s where Florida ranks in car insurance prices, an average of what Floridians pay for car insurance each month and some of the cheapest options for Sunshine State drivers.
What state has the highest car insurance rates?
According to MarketWatch’s car insurance guide, Louisiana is the state with the most expensive car insurance prices. New York follows close behind in second place and Florida, where drivers pay an estimated $289 per month for full coverage car insurance, ranks in third place overall.
Here are the top 10 states where car insurance costs the most and the corresponding average rate for full coverage car insurance in each state, according to MarketWatch:
- Louisiana, $340
- New York, $310
- Florida, $289
- Nevada, $281
- Texas, $271
- Pennsylvania, $269
- California, $260
- Colorado, $246
- Rhode Island, $244
What is the average car insurance payment in Florida?
How expensive it is to insure a car depends on if the policy you buy is full or minimum coverage and which insurance company you purchase from.
The average full coverage car insurance policy in Florida costs around $289 per month, a whole $66 more than the national average for full coverage car insurance pricing, according to MarketWatch’s car insurance guide.
Here are some other key findings about the cost of car insurance in Florida, according to MarketWatch’s car insurance guide:
- The cheapest full coverage auto insurance option in Florida is through Geico, at an average rate of $174 per month.
- The cheapest minimum liability auto insurance option in Florida is also through Geico, at an average rate of $54 per month.
- The average minimum liability auto policy in Florida costs $130 per month.
Who has the most affordable auto insurance in Florida?
“According to rate data, on average, Florida auto insurance costs $3,244 per year for full coverage insurance policies, which is 62% higher than the national average,” according to MarketWatch.
“Car insurance rates went up an average of 10.1% in Florida in 2023…However, some of the best car insurance companies in the country offer manageable premiums, despite Florida having far more expensive coverage than the U.S. average, according to our rate data.”
According to MarketWatch’s findings, the cheapest car insurance options in the state of Florida are offered by State Farm, Geico, Travelers, Mercury and Progressive. Which option is cheapest for you depends on a lot of different variables, though; like how old you are, which city you live in, your credit score (or lack thereof) and your driving record.
Finding a car insurance policy that’s best for you will require getting and comparing quotes from different companies, since pricing is somewhat personalized based on the factors listed above.
The corporate website lists the store as coming soon.
But that’s not quite right.
Ever so quietly, Swig opened its first Cape Coral location on Monday, May 4, at 1121 Solaris Drive.
Word has spread quickly, and a steady stream of cars has been pulling in and out ever since.
“We’re so excited to be in Cape Coral,” said Monique LeRoy, the franchise owner of this and the recently opened Fort Myers locations. “People have been asking us to come to Cape Coral for months now.”
You’ll find it in the new Shops at Del Sol, off Pine Island Road, just west of Del Prado Boulevard. It’s in the same development as the newly opened Chicken Salad Chick and the yet to come Cigar Bar and Burrito Shak.
Swig — an extremely popular drive-thru drink chain known for its trending “dirty soda” concept — doesn’t need any advertising or social media announcements for fans of the brand to know when a new shop is open.
“People see the big inflatable cup outside, and they know,” LeRoy said.
When she opened the Fort Myers Swig in the Publix-anchored University Crossing on the northeast corner of Summerlin Road and Cypress Lake Drive back in February, there was no advertising then either. She just turned on the open sign.
“We won’t officially advertise until our grand opening,” said LeRoy, who also has a franchise in Bradenton. “That should be the weekend of (May) 29th or 30th.”
It’s during the grand opening when free drinks (24-ounces only, no blenders) and cookies (chocolate chip only) will be given to everyone who drives through.
“In Fort Myers, we gave away more than 1,200 free drinks,” she said. “We were doing over 100 orders an hour.”
In the meantime, though, Swig in Cape Coral is in its soft opening phase, with the drive-thru now open seven days a week (the lobby is closed until after the grand opening) with a full menu offered. And that menu is a lot.
Just what is Swig’s dirty soda?
Swig’s dirty soda begins with a base soda, and then a customizable mix of flavored syrups, fresh fruits, purees, and creams are added to it.
Base options include Mountain Dew (regular, diet, zero), Sprite (regular and zero), Dr. Pepper (regular, diet, zero, blackberry), Coke (regular, diet and zero), Pepsi (regular and zero), ginger ale and Fresca.
Flavors and fruits run the gamut from blue raspberry and butterscotch to toasted marshmallow and watermelon.
Then come the purees (like mango, peach and raspberry) and creams (as in coconut, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and whipped), chills (iced or blended) and sweetness (lite, extra or extra-extra).
You can choose from one of the signature sodas like the popular Texas Tab, with Dr. Pepper, vanilla and coconut cream or the Shark Attack with Sprite, lemonade, blue raspberry and a gummy shark.
“Mojito Mamma (lemonade, mojito mint, coconut puree, coconut cream and fresh lime available for a limited time) is one of my new favorites,” LeRoy said.
Or you can pick and choose your favorite flavors to create your own customized combination. The possibilities are endless.
Drinks come in four sizes — 16, 24, 32 and 44 ounces.
But wait. There’s more.
“We also have refreshers — our water-based beverages,” LeRoy said. We have tea (sweet and unsweet), revivers, which are Swig’s version of energy drinks, cookies and pretzels. If I need a reviver, I get Drama Queen (sugar-free reviver, lemonade, with sugar-free strawberry, peach and coconut).”
And our personal favorite — frozen hot chocolate!
Cookies — sugar swirl, mini chocolate chip, and birthday cake — are served cold.
“It’s based on cookie dough,” LeRoy said. “They’re served fresh, but cold.”
And when it comes to Swig, she knows just about all there is to know.
More Swigs coming to Southwest Florida
Swig originated in St. George, Utah, where LeRoy happens to be from.
“I grew up going to Swig,” she said. “In middle school, when life was sad, I remember going and getting some pick-me-up pretzels.”
When it opened in 2010 (happy Sweet 16!), its “dirty soda” became an extremely popular alternative to coffee and alcohol in the Mormon community. Since then, the company has expanded to nearly 150 locations in 16 states.
LeRoy, who went to Utah State University with the founder of Crumbl, has personally opened three locations in the last year and aims to open 15 total.
“We’re so excited,” she said. “We haven’t found our next location yet. We’re looking in Port Charlotte, Lakewood Ranch. We’re looking in Estero and Naples. I would like to get multiple locations in Naples ASAP.”
For now, though, she’s focused on Cape Coral.
“We trained all the staff at our Fort Myers location,” LeRoy said, adding that her locations are always hiring. “So we will be able to move everyone along quicker. We always have a line ambassador outside to help you.”
And with all those options, that’s a very good thing.
Swig, 1121 Solaris Drive, Cape Coral; open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; swig.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram. Find the Fort Myers location at 13401 Summerlin Road at University Crossing
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.
The quick-firing Eta Aquarids will shoot across Florida skies in the early hours between May 5 and May 6.
Floridians who are willing to stay up to see the Eta Aquarid meteor shower may be able to see spectacular incandescent bits of debris from passing meteors, according to NASA.
Unlike last month’s Lyrid meteor shower, the Eta Aquarids will only have about 10 meteors per hour due to the moon’s brightness. Here’s what Florida Panhandle residents need to know to catch a peek at the meteor shower.
What makes the Eta Aquarids meteor shower special?
Eta Aquarid meteors hail from Halley’s comet, which was last seen by casual observers in our solar system in 1986, according to NASA.
The meteors are known for being quite fast, shooting across the sky at 40.7 miles per second. Their speed is responsible for the long trains of debris that follow in the wake of the meteors.
Stargazers can usually catch the Eta Aquarids meteor shower when they peak in early May.
When is the best time to see Eta Aquarids meteor shower in the Florida Panhandle?
The Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak in the early morning hours between May 5 and May 6. The sky over the Florida Panhandle will be darkest around 12:45 a.m., but the moon’s luminosity and moderage cloud coverage will obscure views of the shower.
Where to look for Eta Aquarids meteor shower in the sky?
Look for Eta Aquarid meteors in the eastern sky, near the constellation Aquarius. The meteors originate from the area of the constellation that features one of its brightest stars, Eta Aquarii, according to NASA.
Here’s some more specific information regarding where to look in Pensacola, provided by TimeandDate.com.
Time (May 6)
Direction
Altitude
3 a.m.
95° east
7.6°
4 a.m.
103° east-southeast
20.3°
5 a.m.
113° east-southeast
32.6°
6 a.m.
125° southeast
43.9°
The direction is in reference to true north, and the altitude measures height in degrees over horizon.
How cloudy will it be?
View of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will be further obscured by sky coverage, according to the National Weather Service. Sky coverage is forecast to be about 55% at 1 a.m. on May 5, and 48% by 4 a.m.
Tips to see Eta Aquarids meteor shower
Seeing the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will require a bit of luck in the Panhandle. Here are some tips to help you have the best chance of catching a meteor:
- Skies in the Florida Panhandle should be darkest around 12:45 a.m., making it the best time to see the Eta Aquarids.
- Find a spot with as little light pollution as possible, like the beach or rural areas.
- Bring something comfortable to sit or lie on, like a lawn chair, blanket or sleeping bag.
- Give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
When is the next meteor shower?
There will be a gap between meteor showers following the Eta Aquarids. The Southern delta Aquarids will peak on the night of July 30.
2026 meteor shower calendar
Popular showers, like the Perseids, Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids, are just a few months away.
The following meteor showers are still ahead in 2026, according to the American Meteor Society:
- Southern delta Aquarids – July 12 to Aug. 23; peaks on the night of July 30
- Alpha Capricornids – July 3 to Aug. 15; peaks on the night of July 30
- Perseids – July 17 to Aug. 24; peaks on the night of Aug. 12
- Orionids – Oct. 2 to Nov. 7; peaks on the night of Oct. 21
- Southern Taurids – Sept. 20 to Nov. 20; peaks on the night of Nov. 4
- Northern Taurids – Oct. 20 to Dec. 10; peaks on the night of Nov. 11
- Leonids – Nov. 6 to Nov. 30; peaks on the night of Nov. 16
- Geminids – December 4, 2026 to Dec. 17; peaks on the night of Dec. 13
- Ursids – Dec. 17 to Dec. 26; peaks on the night of Dec. 21
- Quadrantids – Dec. 28, 2026 to Jan. 12, 2027; peaks on the night of Jan. 3, 2027
His goals include making Stuart’s economy one based on tourism.
MARTIN COUNTY — Sensing chaos in the city, former Stuart Mayor Merritt Matheson has filed to run again for a seat on the City Commission.
So far, he has one opponent: Johnny Cealmov.
Matheson served as mayor from December 2021 to August 2022, when former Mayor Christopher Collins defeated him by a slim margin of 95 votes or 2.6% in the election that year. He began his service as a city commissioner in 2018.
“I’m running to bring back integrity, respectful, responsible leadership and stability to the city of Stuart,” Matheson said. “I’d like to stop the chaos that we’ve seen in the city.”
Collins, in his first term on the commission, quit as mayor April 30 to run for Martin County Commission. Stuart Vice Mayor Sean Reed automatically becomes mayor.
The chaos includes going through four city managers in six months and departures of high-level staff, such as the finance director, as well as other finance department staff, Matheson said.
The chaos also includes, he said, the unnecessary lawsuits the city has faced and others it lost, such as one with Polk Street Hotels. It includes, too, the severance paid to former City Manager Michael Mortell, who was fired without cause.
The city remains out of compliance with Senate Bill 180, a state law prohibiting changes to land development regulations between August 1, 2024, and October 1, 2027, because it’s still implementing the changes it made after August 1, 2024.
The state, Matheson said, has reacted to the chaos by taking away Stuart’s ability to govern itself — by enacting laws like SB 180 — which made changes to Stuart’s land development regulations null and void.
What prompted Matheson to run?
Nothing in particular prompted him to run for City Commission this time, he said. The chaos certainly played a part.
Collins’ push to use Martin County Forever funds to buy a historic school building was another reason, Matheson said. Martin County Forever funds are meant for improvements to water quality and to conserve environmentally sensitive land.
Stuart is getting about $2 million a year for 10 years from the Martin County Forever initiative that voters passed in 2024.
“The best way to manage growth in Martin County is grow our conservation land,” Matheson said. He helped lead the work to get the Martin County Forever initiative passed and he sits on the Martin County Environmental Lands Oversight Committee, which helps direct the use of those funds.
What he would like to accomplish
Calling himself a “slow-growth proponent,” Matheson said he follows the law and understands property rights, too, he said.
“The job of a commissioner, more often than not, is choosing the best of two bad outcomes,” Matheson said.
He would like to improve the city’s infrastructure, such as sidewalks, bike lanes and landscaping. And he wants to find solutions to ease traffic. He’s a proponent of other ways of getting around, which might include a water taxi, for example.
And he would like Stuart to become a tourism-based economy, rather than a growth-based economy, he said.
Keith Burbank is a watchdog reporter for TCPalm, usually covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com.
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