What You Need for an Insurance Quote

Chris Chase
Licensed Florida insurance broker · FL License #G193830 · NPN 21407586
Last reviewed October 2026

The more accurate the details, the closer a quote will be to what you actually pay. That isn’t just my preference. The Florida Department of Financial Services explains that when a company confirms information after a policy is issued, the price can change, and incorrect information on an application can put a claim at risk.

Have these handy. If you’re missing something, call anyway and I’ll work through it with you.

For auto insurance

• Every driver. Name, date of birth, and driver license information.
• Every household member, including teens who aren’t driving yet. Many companies want them listed from age 14 or 15.
• Each vehicle. Year, make, and model, or the VIN.
• Where the vehicles are kept. The address where each car sleeps at night.
• How each vehicle is used. Commuting, pleasure, work, rideshare, or delivery. This changes which companies fit.
• Driving history. Tickets, accidents, and claims for the last few years, including accidents that weren’t your fault.
• Your current policy. The declarations page lets me compare the same coverages and shows your prior insurance.
• Who holds the title and whether there’s a loan or lease.

Why prior insurance matters

Showing that you’ve been continuously insured is one of the biggest factors in your price. Companies often ask for proof, and there’s a deadline for sending it. If you can’t find your declarations page, your current company or agent can provide one.

Photos

If you want collision and comprehensive and you live in one of seven Florida counties, including Hillsborough and Pinellas, the vehicle has to be inspected before that coverage starts. Usually that means photos. A brand-new car with a dealer bill of sale is typically exempt.

If you need a filing

For an SR-22 or FR-44, have your case number and any letter from the state. See SR-22 and FR-44 in Florida.

Not sure what the coverages on your current policy mean? Start with What Does “Full Coverage” Really Mean?

For homeowners insurance

• The property address and year built.
• The roof. Age, material, and the replacement date if it’s been replaced. A permit or a paid contractor invoice is the usual proof.
• Updates. When the electrical, plumbing, and heating and air were last updated.
• The water heater’s age and where it sits.
• What the pipes are made of, if you know.
• The electrical panel. A photo of the label helps.
• Inspection reports. A wind mitigation or four-point inspection, if you have one.
• Claims history for the home and for you.
• Your current policy, or the closing date if you’re buying.
• Mortgage company information, if there’s a loan.
• What’s in the yard. A pool, a trampoline, dogs.
• How the home is used. Primary home, seasonal home, or rental, and how the title is held.

Why I ask about the yard and the dog

The Department of Financial Services notes that insurance companies inspect homes before or shortly after a policy starts, looking for things like pools, trampolines, unrepaired damage, and overhanging tree limbs. It’s better for you if I know about those up front and quote companies that are comfortable with them.

If you’re buying

Start as early as you can. Older homes often need inspections, and some companies want coverage to begin within a couple of weeks of closing. See Buying a Home in Florida: Your Insurance Timeline.

For a rental property

• Whether it’s rented long term or short term
• How the title is held: your name, an LLC, or a trust
• How many rental properties you own
• The same roof, age, and update details as a home

More in Insuring a Rental Property in Florida.

For business insurance

• Business name, address, and years in operation
• A description of the work you do
• Estimated annual revenue and payroll
• Number of employees and subcontractors
• Current coverage and claims history
• Any certificate requirements from customers or general contractors

What not to send through a website form

Please don’t put Social Security numbers, payment details, or medical information in an online form. A first conversation doesn’t need them. If I need something sensitive later, I’ll collect it securely once we’re working together.

What happens after you send it

• I review what you sent.
• I call or email to talk through your needs and gather anything else the insurance companies require.
• I compare the companies available to me for your situation.
• I explain the options and help you put coverage in place.

After the policy is written, I’m still here for questions and service.

Why accurate information protects you

It’s tempting to leave off the teenager with a permit, the ticket from last spring, or the fact that you deliver food on weekends. Don’t. The Florida Department of Financial Services is blunt about what can happen: if an application has incorrect or incomplete information, the insurance company can rescind the policy after an accident, refund what you paid, and deny the claim. Misrepresentation on an application can also be charged as a crime.

A complete picture can raise a quote a little. It also means the policy pays when you need it. And when I know the real situation, I can look for the companies that are comfortable with it instead of ones that will change their answer later.

Common questions

Every insurance company has its own rules and prices, and they change. I’ll tell you what applies to the options I find for you.

Official sources

• Florida Department of Financial Services: personal auto insurance overview
• Florida Department of Financial Services: auto insurance questions
• Florida Department of Financial Services: homeowners insurance overview

Keep reading

• Can I Switch Insurance Companies Before My Policy Expires?
• What Does “Full Coverage” Really Mean?
• Buying a Home in Florida: Your Insurance Timeline
• Request a quote

Related coverage: auto insurance and homeowners insurance.