Pinellas County
Driving in Pinellas County
Out of the estimated 18 million vehicles in the state of Florida, approximately 797,885 of them are registered in Pinellas County, and this total constitutes 4.41% of all the registered vehicles in Florida.
Each adult driver is alone in about 78% of the vehicles that are used to commute daily to and from their places of employment, and a third of those vehicles are on the road for more than 30 minutes.
About 1 in 5 Florida-based drivers do not have auto insurance coverage, and this implies that around 160,000 vehicles in Pinellas County could possibly be uninsured or underinsured. Aside from this, around every 3rd traffic accident in Pinellas County is a hit and run.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Pinellas County
Deaths caused by vehicular collisions in Pinellas County statistically occur at a rate of 12.78 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 102 fatal crashes per year.
In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 16,457 crashes in Pinellas County: 151 fatal crashes that caused 160 deaths (including 27 motorcyclists). Studies have shown that in 21% of traffic-related fatalities, alcohol was a significant factor.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Nearly 800 thousand vehicles registered in Pinellas 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, Non owners car insurance, Ridesharing, Commercial Transportation, Temporary car insurance, and so on.
Approximately 450 thousand individuals operating a separate vehicle in one area increases insurance premium rates. The probability of a vehicular collision is high when there are more vehicles sharing the roads of Pinellas County.
Roughly 190 thousand Pinellas County residents are on the road for extended periods, which increases their auto insurance premiums. The more time a driver spends on the road, the higher the possibility of getting involved in a traffic accident.
With every 3rd crash as a hit-and-run and with 20% of drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains essential for Pinellas County residents.
To discuss your auto insurance needs in Pinellas County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
Pinellas County Housing
The majority of the estimated 517,255 residential properties in Pinellas County are inhabited by the families or individuals that own them. About 67% of this total is owner-occupied, which is not far from the Florida average of 65%. Among the neighboring counties, Pasco County has the highest owner-occupied rate at 72%, while Hillsborough County has the lowest figure in this regard at 56%, but has the highest rental-property rate at 41%. This means that every other home in Hillsborough County is a rental.
About 18% of the homes in Pinellas 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
Around half a million residential units in Pinellas 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 underlying financial investment from possible loss or damage.
With approximately 170 thousand homes in Pinellas County as rentals, landlords take out Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
Renters insurance St. Petersburg: Tenants buy 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 Pinellas County may require Renters Insurance before putting pen to paper on a lease.
Pinellas County is located on the coast, not far from one of the main hurricane formation areas in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes bring in primarily wind and flood damage. The highest probability of a hurricane occurrence in Pinellas County is between early June and the end of November. Every Florida resident should be aware of the procedures and safeguards set in place by the local County and State agencies. All homeowners, landlords, and renters in Pinellas County need to maintain appropriate insurance coverage to protect their property against possible loss and damage from wind and water damage.
For consultation and advice about Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of property insurance in Pinellas 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)
Pinellas County Health
Approximately 18% of the Pinellas County adult population do not have proper health insurance coverage — almost at par with the Florida average of 19%. Pinellas County’s next-door neighbors, Pasco County and Hillsborough County also have 18% uninsured adult rates. Across Florida, Hendry County has the highest figure at 35%, while St. Johns County has the lowest rate at 13%.
Approximately 18% (≈170,000) of Pinellas County residents experience health issues. This is partially due to the fact that among the adult population, 20% smoke, 24% consume too much alcohol, and around 23% of the residents do not exercise regularly, even though 97% of the population have access to places where physical exercise can be done.
The fact that almost 1 in 5 Pinellas County residents does not exercise regularly contributes to Pinellas County’s 27% obesity rate (BMI of 30 or more) — this rate is at par with the Florida average of 27%. Looking at the bordering counties, Pasco County has a higher obesity rate at 31%, while 26% of the Hillsborough County adults are considered obese.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Pinellas County offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis
Health insurance is the most important type of insurance coverage as its function is to pay for expenses that keep you alive and healthy. But despite this fact, about 140 thousand residents (below 65 years old) of Pinellas County do not have proper health insurance coverage.
Florida residents have the ability to purchase multiple types of major medical health insurance and supplemental plans that pick up the slack for the main policy. This makes it easier 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 insurance, Critical Illness insurance, Accident & Health, etc.
Not everyone in Pinellas County can afford health insurance due to financial constraints. If this is the case, these low-income individuals ought to apply for government health insurance subsidies to significantly reduce the total out-of-pocket expenses of health insurance.
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 options available to Pinellas 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.
Pinellas County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
Pinellas County residents have an average life expectancy of 79.1 years, which is comparable to the Florida state average of 80.2 years. Looking at the neighbors, Hillsborough County has the longest life expectancy at 79.6 years old, while Pasco County has the shortest at 77.8 years.
In Florida, Collier County has the longest life expectancy average at 86 years old, and Union County has the shortest at 69 years.
In 2022 there were approximately 248,000 seniors (65 and older) residing in Pinellas County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
The age of a life insurance applicant is directly correlated to the premium rates they are about to be offered. The greater the age, the greater the cost of the policy. Securing life insurance at a younger age will allow the insured to save a significant sum in the long run.
Roughly 20% of the adults in Pinellas County smoke, and this habit will likely negatively affect the life insurance premiums of over 164,000 adults 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. The Living Benefits allow you to borrow against the policy for emergency expenses, to draw on as a tax-free retirement income, or to pay for insurance premiums.
Pinellas County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
A traditional funeral in Florida can cost around $5,900, which is more affordable compared to Pinellas County’s average of $7,200 — this is also the highest average in its region. Among the peer counties, Pasco County has the more affordable funeral cost average at $5,200, while Hillsborough County funerals could cost around $6,600.
Across Florida, Collier County has the most expensive funeral cost average at around $9,600, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest, 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 approximately 114 thousand Pinellas County senior residents may have to put their grief on hold to make sure that the funeral expenses will be settled. (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 departed often leave outstanding loans and taxes for the family to deal with, which adds more to the family’s financial challenges.
In most cases, Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance can help cover “final expenses” with a death benefit 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, multiple Universal Life insurance, and Final Expense (FE).
To get advice regarding life insurance in Pinellas County and help lighten the load for your family after your passing - reach out to a Florida-licensed, knowledgeable life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison on a case-by-case basis.
Pinellas County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the over 36 thousand business establishments in Pinellas County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for approximately 52% of all employment in 2020 were:
Professional and Business Services (17.7%)
Manufacturing (17.3%)
Financial Activities (17.0%)
Commercial Insurance Analysis
Around 13 thousand professional services and consulting businesses in Pinellas County can benefit from professional liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O insurance). E&O liability insurance financially protects the insured business when its professional actions can cause damages or losses to its clients.
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 Pinellas County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium financing options.
