Florida snowbirds maintain a more complicated insurance picture than most homeowners. Two homes, sometimes two vehicles in different states, seasonal travel between residences, the occasional international trip, and a primary residency question that affects everything from auto rates to property tax exemptions. Here’s a practical seasonal checklist for the most common questions we walk Florida snowbirds through.

1. Verify your Florida homeowners covers extended vacancy

This is the single most important thing for snowbirds. Florida homeowners policies typically include a "vacancy clause" that limits or excludes coverage when the property is unoccupied for more than 30–60 consecutive days. Most snowbird Florida homes sit empty for 4–6 months. Without specific coverage adjustments, you may be substantially uninsured during exactly the period when storm and water-damage risk is highest.

The fix is typically one of these:

• A vacancy permit endorsement (extends standard coverage during stated vacancy periods)
• A dwelling fire policy (DP-3) instead of HO-3 if the home is genuinely a seasonal residence rather than your primary home
• A vacant home policy (specialty carriers) if it’s extended vacancy
• Smart-home monitoring (water leak sensors, security systems, HVAC monitoring) often required by carriers for seasonal coverage and frequently lowers premiums

2. Confirm primary residence and tax/insurance interaction

Where you claim primary residency affects:

• Florida homestead exemption ($50,000 reduction in taxable value, 3% Save Our Homes cap on annual assessment increases)
• Florida no state income tax (only relevant if you’re a true Florida resident)
• Auto insurance rates (Florida’s no-fault PIP/PDL system applies to Florida-registered vehicles)
• Health insurance options (Florida-based plans vs. plans in your other state)

The state where you claim primary residency drives a cluster of decisions. We can’t advise on the tax implications (talk to a CPA or tax attorney), but we can advise on the insurance side: vehicles registered in Florida need Florida insurance; properties claiming Florida homestead need to be your stated primary residence.

3. Update vehicle insurance for the seasonal vehicle

If you keep one vehicle in Florida and another up north, both vehicles need to be insured properly in their registration states. Most national auto carriers (Geico, Progressive, State Farm, etc.) can write across multiple states, but they don’t automatically optimize for the snowbird use pattern. Specifically:

• Vehicle parked in Florida 5–6 months unused — verify there’s no "unused vehicle" exclusion
• Vehicle parked up north 5–6 months unused — same question for that policy
• Confirm coverage for moving the vehicles in transit between residences
• Storage discount opportunities when vehicles aren’t in active use

4. Set up travel medical for international trips

Medicare doesn’t cover most international travel. If you’re taking that European river cruise or visiting family abroad, Faye travel medical insurance covers what Medicare and your Medigap policy won’t. Pricing for the 65+ age band is age-graded but generally $7–15/day. For a 14-day international trip, that’s roughly $100–200/person — well worth it given that ICU care abroad can run $10,000+ per night without coverage.

5. Confirm watercraft, ATV, and golf cart coverage

Florida snowbird residences often include boats, jet skis, golf carts, or ATVs. These typically aren’t covered by the Florida HO policy, or are covered with very limited liability and physical damage limits. Specialty boat or recreational vehicle policies fill the gap. Important: liability claims from watercraft or motorized recreational vehicle accidents can be substantial — carry adequate liability limits.

6. Schedule jewelry, art, and collectibles

Pieces that travel with you between residences need coverage that follows. Most homeowners scheduled riders are tied to a single insured location. Standalone jewelry policies through BriteCo or Jewelers Mutual provide worldwide coverage that follows the items wherever they go. For art and collectibles that move between residences, specialty fine art coverage often makes more sense than relying on either property’s HO policy.

7. Verify pet insurance applies in both states

Pet insurance from Odie covers your pet at any U.S. veterinarian. So a snowbird with a pet that travels between Florida and Massachusetts is covered at vet hospitals in both states. Confirm this with your specific carrier when policies are placed, especially if you bought the policy through a Florida-specific vet or rescue partnership.

8. Umbrella liability across both residences

If you own two homes, possibly multiple vehicles, watercraft, and travel internationally, your liability exposure is broader than the average household. A $1–2 million umbrella liability policy typically costs $200–500/year and sits on top of your auto and homeowners liability across both residences. This is one of the highest value-per-dollar coverage purchases for snowbirds.

Contact Nymble to walk through the full snowbird insurance picture — we regularly coordinate cross-state coverage for Florida seasonal residents and can identify gaps before they become claims problems.