The companies say they would prefer to slug it out in court and recover damages from drivers who are responsible for accidents.

Some of these companies also say their experience in Colorado, which eliminated its no-fault in 2003, shows auto insurance rates dropped in the ensuing years.

But without no-fault, consumer advocates and officials like Alex Sink, Florida's CFO, worry that even minor accidents will result in lawsuits and bog down the courts.

If another driver is at fault for your injuries, "you will potentially have to hire a lawyer to get your medical bills paid, " Sink said. "We're getting ready to have a lot more lawsuits, a lot more attorney involvement. We just have to get prepared for an entirely new environment."

Indeed, other rates could also go higher.

CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

Paul Sanford, a lobbyist for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, said the insurer's actuaries estimate of transferring the cost of auto accident-related medical care to a health insurer could mean monthly increases in healthcare premiums of $5 to $7 per family member.

For a family of four, that's $20 to $28 per month, or $240 to $336 a year. That would wipe out a good portion of savings that could come from eliminating PIP premiums.

Agents, like Alex Chavez, district manager for AAA Auto Club South in Miami-Dade, are caught in the middle. Confused policyholders are asking what added coverage they should buy.

"If you don't have uninsured motorist coverage, buy it. That will be our biggest recommendation, " Chavez said.

It's the most beneficial in South Florida because of the high number of uninsured drivers.

Yet, Chavez expects rates on all coverages to rise even further next year as insurers see more claims in these areas under a tort system.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER NO-FAULT EXPIRES

Here are questions and answers on figuring out what auto insurance you might need after the no-fault law expires as expected on Oct. 1.:

Q. What kind of auto-insurance coverage will be mandatory?

A. After the no-fault law expires, drivers will no longer be required to buy $10,000 in personal injury protection, or PIP, that covers medical expenses and lost wages in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

Only property damage liability will be required for drivers to register a car in Florida. The minimum required is $10,000.

Property damage liability covers damage to another person's property, including buildings and fencing.

Q. Will new policies be issued to all insured drivers after Oct. 1?

A. No. Most insurance companies will make the change as policies come up for renewal. On policies renewed before Oct. 1, the personal injury protection will remain in place until the policy expires.

However, some insurers, such as State Farm and Allstate, will allow policyholders to eliminate the PIP coverage from policies after Oct. 1. If they have paid for their policies in full at renewal, they will be issued a refund. If they're paying premiums monthly, the unused portion of the PIP premium will be credited to their remaining payments.

But any accidents that happen after Oct. 1 are no longer under the no-fault system. Fault will have to be determined by police on the scene or in court before further benefits are paid.

Q. Will auto-insurance rates go down because of the change?

A. Overall, premiums could drop because drivers won't be required to buy personal injury protection. This would be true for drivers who have healthcare insurance through an employer or already pay for it individually.