Gov. Ron DeSantis made a quick appearance in Sarasota Wednesday morning to announce nearly $1 billion in rebate credits for customers of Progressive Auto Insurance in Florida.
The governor did not get into detail as to when the rebates would be distributed. He was joined by Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky, whose office he said secured the deal with Progressive. DeSantis added that he hoped he could make similar deals with other auto insurance companies.
“It might be a check; it might be a credit on your bill, but the average across Florida policy holders is going to be a $300 rebate,” the governor said.
How much have auto insurance premiums increased in Florida?
“I know Mike’s going to work with all the other companies to get that statewide, across all our carriers,” DeSantis said. “I don’t think there’s a single carrier where these refunds aren’t going to be triggered.”
After skyrocketing insurance premiums for Floridians in recent years, the governor credited legislative efforts to reform insurance litigation as the reason for a slight decrease in rates.
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced in July that the five major auto insurance companies indicated a -6.5% rate change in 2025. However, that rate of decline is more modest than that fat increases that preceded it. Rates increased by 4.3% in 2024 and 31.7% in 2023.
By those averages, someone who paid a $200 monthly premium in 2022 would now be paying $256.87.
State Rep. Danny Nix, Charlotte County, was in attendance, along with Sarasota County Commissioner Teresa Mast and former Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo.
What did DeSantis say about Bradenton State Representative Jim Boyd?
Jim Boyd, the State Senator from Bradenton, has a background in insurance and sits on the Chamber’s Banking and Insurance Committee.
DeSantis called Boyd, the forthcoming Senate President, a key ally to his administration at a time when his relationship with state legislative leaders has largely broken down. The governor outright criticized the Florida House, which is perennially run by Republicans, as trying to dismantle his insurance reforms.
He also accused them of wanting to “make Florida sanctuary state” for illegal immigration.
Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@gannett.com or christiancasale@protonmail.com. Follow the Herald-Tribune on Instagram
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Floridians with Progressive Insurance could receive $300 rebate, DeSantis says in Sarasota
Reporting by Christian Casale, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
