Sarasota County
Driving in Sarasota County
There are roughly 373,996 vehicles registered in Sarasota County that are being driven by the residents for personal and business use. This number represents approximately 2.07% of all the automobiles in Florida.
It is estimated that 81% of the adult drivers in Sarasota County drive to and from work on their own, and a third of these drivers need more than 30 minutes to reach their place of work.
With 20% of Florida drivers not having auto insurance, approximately 75,000 vehicles in Sarasota County could be uninsured or underinsured.
It is estimated that every 3rd vehicle crash in Sarasota County is a hit and run.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Sarasota County
Deaths caused by vehicular collisions in Sarasota County statistically occur at a rate of 11.40 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: more or less 42 fatal crashes per year.
In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported over 6,632 crashes in Sarasota County: 55 fatal crashes that led to 59 deaths (including 12 motorcyclists). Alcohol is determined as the main factor for the fatal crashes in Sarasota County in about 29% of all driving fatalities.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Over 373 thousand vehicles registered in Sarasota County need insurance coverage. 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, other types of coverage could also be purchased depending on the choice of vehicle owners and its use: Commercial Transportation, Comprehensive, Ride-sharing, Collision, and so on.
More than 178 thousand individuals operating a separate vehicle in one area increases insurance premium rates. The more vehicles that are on the road at the same time, the higher the probability of a traffic accident taking place.
The long daily commute of roughly 73 thousand Sarasota County residents is another factor that spikes up auto insurance premium rates. Being on the road for an extended period increases the likelihood of a vehicular collision.
With every 3rd crash as a hit-and-run and with 20% of drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains essential for Sarasota County residents.
To discuss your auto insurance needs in Sarasota County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
Sarasota County Housing
Just like the majority of Florida, Sarasota County’s approximately 264,162 homes are mostly comprised of owner-occupied units. Around 75% of the houses in Sarasota County are inhabited by the owners — significantly higher than the Florida average of 65%.
In the region, Charlotte County has the highest proportion of owner-occupied homes at a rate of 80% — this means that only 2 out of 10 homes in Charlotte County can be occupied by tenants. The lowest owner-occupied rate is observed in DeSoto County at 70%
About 16% of the residential real estate in Sarasota County experience 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
More than 260 thousand housing units in Sarasota County need insurance coverage. At a minimum, all owners of these properties should 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 66 thousand housing units in Sarasota County as rentals, landlords take out Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and from the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
Renters insurance North Port: 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 Sarasota County may require Renters Insurance before putting pen to paper on a lease.
Sarasota County is located on the coast, not far from one of the main hurricane formation areas in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes bring in primarily wind and flood damage. The highest probability of a hurricane occurrence in Sarasota 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 Sarasota 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 insurance in Sarasota 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,
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)
Sarasota County Health
In Florida, about 19% of the population do not have proper health insurance coverage, and the same can be said for Sarasota County (≈18.5%). Among the neighbors, Sarasota County has the second-lowest uninsured adult rate, after Charlotte County at 18%. The highest figure of 30% is observed in DeSoto County.
About 16% of adults in Sarasota County are in poor health — this translates to about 70,000 adult residents reporting health problems. This is partially due to the fact that among the adult population, 18% smoke, 26% drink too much alcohol (highest figure in Florida), and close to 23% of the total population does not exercise regularly despite the fact that about 91% of the population have access to areas where physical exercise can be done.
This is one of the key factors why 21% of the adults in Sarasota County are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more) — lower than the Florida average of 27%. In the region, DeSoto County has the highest obesity rate, followed by Charlotte County with 28%.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Sarasota 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, and over 63 thousand residents (below 65 years old) of Sarasota County lack this necessity.
Florida residents are allowed to purchase multiple types of health insurance and supplemental plans. This makes it easier for them to obtain coverage that fits their 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, Accident & Health, etc.
Health insurance is beyond the budget of low-income individuals. That is why they are generally advised to apply for government subsidies to significantly lower the out-of-pocket costs of insurance.
If you do not have pre-existing conditions, Short-term 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 Sarasota County residents. Offerings of health insurance will 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.
Sarasota County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
In Florida, residents have an average life expectancy of 80.1 years old, which is comparable to Sarasota County’s average of 82 years. Sarasota has the longest life span in the region, followed by Manatee County at 81.7 years. The shortest average is observed in DeSoto County with 80.5 years.
In the whole state of Florida, Collier County has the longest life expectancy average at 86 years old, while Union County has the shortest at 69 years.
In 2022 there were approximately 168,000 seniors (65 and older) residing in Sarasota County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
Age is a significant factor that increases life insurance premium rates as it goes up. Young adults can save money in premiums by securing a policy while they are still young and healthy.
Over 18% of the adults in Sarasota County smoke, and this habit will increase the life insurance premiums of over 69,000 adults by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. A person who smokes is more likely to develop fatal diseases that make them a higher risk to life insurance carriers.
Besides the death benefit, which the beneficiaries receive after your death, you can use life insurance while still alive to:
Use for retirement income replacement that comes free of the federal income tax and to
Help pay the costs of terminal illness.
Sarasota County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
A traditional funeral in Florida costs around $5,900, which is significantly less expensive than the average funeral cost in Sarasota County, which is around $6,400 — this is also the most expensive average in the region. DeSoto County has the most affordable funerals at about $4,600. In fact, it’s among the most affordable in Florida.
Statewide, Collier County has the most expensive funeral cost average in Florida ($9,600), while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest, both at $4,600.
Life Insurance Analysis
With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, the family members and friends of approximately 77 thousand Sarasota County senior residents could possibly delay their grieving process as they have to focus their energies on making sure the funeral of their loved one will be paid for. (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
On top of the burial costs, the departed often leave outstanding loans and taxes for the family to take care of.
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, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance, and Final Expense (FE).
To find out more about life insurance options in Sarasota County, speak with a knowledgeable state-licensed and experienced life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison on a case by case basis.
Sarasota County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the over 17 thousand business establishments in Sarasota County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for nearly 53% of all employment in 2020 were:
Professional and Business Services (20.7%)
Manufacturing (17.5%)
Financial Activities (15.2%)
Commercial Insurance Analysis
Over 6 thousand professional services and consulting businesses in Sarasota County can benefit from professional liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O insurance). E&O insurance protects their clients in case the professional advice they give causes damages or losses.
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 Sarasota County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers.
