Liberty County
Driving in Liberty County
Liberty County residents have approximately 6,833 registered private and commercial vehicles, and this total makes up around 0.04% of all Florida-registered vehicles.
About 4 in 5 drivers in Liberty County commute to their workplace on their own, and 43% of these lone drivers need more than 30 minutes to reach their destination.
About 1 in 5 Florida-based drivers do not have auto insurance coverage, and this implies that more than 1,000 vehicles in Liberty County could possibly be uninsured or underinsured. Aside from this, around every 16th traffic accident in Liberty County is a hit and run.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Liberty County
Deaths caused by vehicular collisions in Liberty County statistically occur at a rate of 22.30 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 2 fatal crashes per year.
In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 111 crashes in Liberty County: 2 fatal crashes that caused 2 fatalities. Studies have shown that in 27% of traffic-related fatalities, alcohol was a significant factor — which is the lowest percentage in the state of Florida.
Auto Insurance Analysis
- Close to 7 thousand vehicles registered in Liberty County are required to have at least the mandatory coverages. Basic Liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverages are required for all vehicles on the road to protect others from the damage you may cause in an accident. Aside from the mandatory minimum, the vehicle type and its use may prompt vehicle owners to purchase additional coverage such as: Comprehensive Auto, Non-owners car insurance, Inland Marine, Commercial or Farm Auto, Temporary car insurance, and so on.
- The majority of Liberty County is rural, and although vehicles that utilize rural roads are less susceptible to vehicular collisions, wildlife-vehicle collisions are more likely to happen — this is especially true for Florida with its diverse ecosystem, where animals (such as deer, black bears, alligators, and various birds) frequently cross the road. According to a study reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), there has been a 86% increase in the black bear population in the East Panhandle region of Florida from 2002 to 2015, making rural road crossings more likely. Although Personal Injury Protection coverage can cover your medical expenses and loss of income, having Comprehensive Auto insurance will help with the cost of repairing the car after hitting an animal.
- With every 16th crash as a hit-and-run and with 20% of drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains essential for Liberty County residents.
To discuss your auto insurance needs and to find affordable car insurance in Liberty County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
Liberty County Housing
Liberty County has an estimated 3,500 homes and 75% of them are inhabited by their respective owners, and 25% can be occupied by tenants. Almost all of Liberty County’s neighbors are dominated by owner-occupied homes. With an 82% rate, Wakulla County has the highest figure in the area, while Leon County’s 52% is the lowest in the region, and is the only county below the Florida state average of ≈65% (owner-occupied rate). This implies that every other housing property in Leon County is a rental unit.
About 11% of the homes in Liberty County encounter housing problems, overcrowding, substandard plumbing, or kitchen problems. In 1 out of 4 homes, residents dedicate more than 50% of their income to housing expenses.
Housing Insurance Analysis
- Almost 4 thousand residential units in Liberty County need insurance coverage. At a minimum, all owners of these properties ought to have Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for apartment complexes) to protect the investments from damage.
- Landlords in Liberty County take out Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
- Liberty County tenants secure Home Renters Insurance coverage to protect their belongings from possible damage or loss. Typically, renters’ insurance is affordable and usually covers the tenant's property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Some landlords in Liberty County may require Home Renters Insurance before putting pen to paper on a lease.
For consultation and to get a quote on Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of property insurance in Liberty County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
A Florida P&C insurance agent:
- analyzes your needs and restrictions,
- reviews your current policy, to make sure that the coverages are reflective of the current needs and housing market- helps to update, if needed,
- checks for available savings and bundling discounts,
- researches the locally available plans that fit your needs,
- provides you with the available options of coverage,
- explains how the differences between the options affect you once you start using each insurance product,
- assists you with the application process,
- does not affect your cost of insurance. (agent’s service is usually paid by the insurer)
Liberty County Health
Approximately 26% (≈2,000) of Liberty County residents experience health issues. This is partially due to the fact that among the adult population, 27% smoke, 19% consume too much alcohol, and around 37% of the residents do not exercise regularly. Hendry County has the highest percentage of uninsured in Florida (≈35%), while St. Johns County has the lowest rate at around 13%.
The fact that almost 2 in 5 Liberty County residents do not exercise regularly contributes to Liberty County’s 40% obesity rate (BMI of 30 or more) — this rate is above the Florida average of 27%. Among the peer counties, Gadsden County has the highest obesity rate at almost 44%, while Leon County’s 31% is the lowest figure.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Liberty County offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida health marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis
- Health insurance is the most important type of insurance coverage as its function is to pay for medical expenses that keep you alive and healthy. But despite this fact, about 1,300 residents (below 65 years old) of Liberty County do not have proper health insurance coverage.
- Florida residents have the ability to purchase multiple types of major medical health insurance and supplemental health insurance that picks up the slack for the main policy. This makes it easier for Liberty County residents to obtain coverage that fits each individual’s specific needs (both medically and financially): Group or Individual Marketplace ACA health insurance, various types of Short Term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Accident & Health, etc.
- If a Liberty County resident cannot afford proper health insurance coverage, they ought to apply for government subsidies to significantly reduce health insurance costs.
- If you do not have pre-existing conditions, short-term health insurance may provide an alternative saving path. (* Some Florida multi-year short-term health insurance plans may cover certain pre-existing conditions after a year or more of coverage).
Discuss your health insurance needs with a knowledgeable state-licensed Florida health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance plans available to Liberty County residents. Offerings of health insurance may differ between zip codes.
A Florida health insurance agent: analyzes your needs and restrictions, researches the locally available plans that fit your needs, provides you with the available options of coverage, and explains how the differences between the options affect you once you start using each insurance product. The agent assists you with the application process, and at any time you need to make a change to the policy or shop for replacement coverage.
Liberty County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
The average Liberty County resident has a lifespan of 76.5 years. In the region, Jackson County’s 74.4-year average is the shortest life expectancy, while Leon County’s 79.4 average life expectancy is the highest, and is the closest to the Florida state average of 80.2 years.
In the entire state of Florida, Collier County has the longest average life expectancy at 86 years old, while the shortest average is recorded in Union County, at under 69 years old.
In 2022 there were approximately 3,400 seniors (65 and older) residing in Liberty County.
Life Insurance Facts
- In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
- The greater the age of the life insurance applicant, the higher the premiums that they will have to pay over the course of the policy. This is why taking out a life insurance policy as early as possible can save the insured a considerable sum of money.
- Roughly 27% of the adults in Liberty County smoke, and this habit will likely negatively affect the life insurance premiums of these individuals by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. A smoker is considered more susceptible to developing fatal diseases that make them a higher risk to life insurance carriers.
- Permanent Life Insurance also has a cash value component, which can be used while the insured is still alive: to borrow against, for emergency expenses, or as a tax-free retirement income.
Liberty County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
The family and friends of a deceased Liberty County resident may have to spend $9,400 on the funeral of their loved one — this figure is higher than the Florida average of $5,900. It is also the highest in the region, followed by Wakulla County and Franklin County at $7,700. Jackson County has the most affordable funerals at an average of $5,200.
Across Florida, Collier County’s average of $9,600 is deemed as the most expensive in Florida, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest figures, both at closer to $4,600.
Life Insurance Analysis
- With 46% of Americans passing away with savings of less than $10,000, the family and friends of some Liberty County senior residents may have to figure out how to pay for the funeral instead of mourning their loss. (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
- On top of the funeral cost, the deceased often leave outstanding loans and taxes for the family to deal with, which can make the family’s financial hurdles more difficult.
- In most cases, Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance (FE) can help cover “final expenses” of up to $50,000.
- The most commonly used life insurance policies to leave money to the family are the variations of: Term Life Insurance and Cash Value insurance, such as Whole Life insurance, several types of Universal Life insurance, and Final Expense life insurance (FE).
To get advice regarding life insurance and to get life insurance quotes in Liberty County, reach out to a knowledgeable and Florida-licensed life insurance agent who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison on a case-by-case basis.
Liberty County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the estimated 127 business establishments in Liberty County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for approximately 63% of all employment in 2020 were:
- Government (39.0%)
- Construction (14.6%)
- Manufacturing (8.9%)
Commercial Insurance Analysis
- Construction - in order to receive a general contractor's license in Florida, a contractor must carry general liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage.
- Manufacturing businesses usually require insurance coverage for:
- Employees’ health and welfare
- Production facilities, tools, supplies, and other property
- Product liability coverage to protect the company itself if their product hurts the consumer, etc.
To assess your business insurance needs in Liberty County and to get a commercial insurance quote, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium financing options.
