Texas • Car insurance requirements
Texas Auto Insurance: Requirements, Coverage Choices, and Quotes
Texas auto insurance must include at least 30/60/25 liability. Insurers must also offer personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which you can decline only in writing. Texas checks coverage electronically through TexasSure, and hail, flooding, and a large share of uninsured drivers make coverage choices especially important.
This guide covers Texas requirements, the PIP and UM/UIM decisions, how the Texas market works, and how to compare quotes. For saving strategies, see our low-cost Texas auto insurance guide. Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency licensed in Texas.
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Texas minimum requirements
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Personal injury protection | Must be offered ($2,500 minimum when included); can be rejected in writing |
| UM/UIM | Must be offered; can be rejected in writing |
Source: Insurance Information Institute table and Texas Department of Insurance guidance.
PIP and UM/UIM: should you keep them?
Texas is an at-fault state, but PIP pays your own medical bills and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault, quickly and without waiting for a liability decision. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. Both are included unless you reject them in writing. Given medical costs and the number of drivers carrying only minimum limits, many Texas drivers keep both.
TexasSure and proof of insurance
TexasSure is the state's electronic vehicle insurance verification system, used by law enforcement and county tax offices to confirm coverage. Driving without insurance can bring fines, surcharges, and impoundment. Keep coverage continuous, especially when changing insurers or vehicles.
How the Texas market works
Texas has a large and competitive auto market. Many nonstandard and newer programs are written through county mutual insurers, a Texas-specific type of insurer with more rating flexibility. When comparing, always check the legal name of the insurer issuing the policy, its financial strength, and its complaint record with the Texas Department of Insurance.
Hail, flood, and comprehensive coverage
Texas regularly experiences some of the most damaging hail in the country, and hurricanes and flash floods can total vehicles. Comprehensive coverage pays for hail, flood, wind, theft, and falling objects. If you park outdoors or live near the Gulf Coast, keep comprehensive and choose a deductible you can afford after a storm.
How to compare Texas quotes
| Coverage | What it pays for | What to match |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Injuries you cause to others | Per-person and per-accident limits, such as 100/300 |
| Property damage liability | Damage you cause to others' property | Same limit on both quotes, such as $100,000 |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Your injuries when the at-fault driver lacks enough coverage | Same limits; ideally equal to your liability limits |
| Collision | Damage to your car from a crash | Same deductible |
| Comprehensive | Theft, fire, hail, flood, animal strikes, glass | Same deductible; note any glass option |
| Medical payments or PIP | Medical costs for you and passengers | Same limit; PIP rules depend on your state |
| Rental and roadside | Transportation during repairs; towing | Same daily and total limits |
Limits shown are examples, not recommendations. State minimum requirements differ.
Three coverage levels compared
| Level | Liability limits | Who it may fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| State minimum | 30/60/25 | Drivers with few assets who need the lowest legal price | Little protection after a serious crash |
| Middle | 100/300/100 | Many households with savings or a home | Moderately higher premium |
| Higher | 250/500/100 or more | Homeowners and drivers who want an umbrella policy | Highest premium, strongest protection |
Examples only, not recommendations. Add UM/UIM at matching limits where possible.
Moving from the minimum to a middle level often costs less than people expect, because liability premiums do not rise in proportion to limits. Ask for both prices before deciding.
Ways to save
- Compare at least three quotes with identical coverage every year or two, and whenever your premium jumps at renewal.
- Raise collision and comprehensive deductibles to an amount you could pay tomorrow without strain.
- Drop collision and comprehensive on an older car only when the car's value is low enough that you could replace it yourself.
- Ask about every discount: multi-policy, multi-vehicle, good student, defensive driving, paperless, paid-in-full, and safety equipment.
- Try a driving-data program if you drive carefully and are comfortable sharing driving data. See usage-based insurance.
- Keep continuous coverage. Even a short lapse can raise future rates.
- Report accurate mileage. Lower annual mileage can mean a lower premium.
- Bundle auto with renters or homeowners insurance where the combined price is lower.
Coverage you should think twice about cutting
Some coverage cuts save very little and expose you to large losses. Be cautious about:
- Buying only the state minimum liability. Minimum limits can be exhausted by a single serious injury, leaving you personally responsible for the rest.
- Rejecting uninsured motorist coverage. It protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little. See uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- Dropping collision on a financed car. Lenders and lessors usually require it.
- Letting the policy lapse between vehicles or during a move.
How insurers set your price
Most insurers price a policy using your driving record, years licensed, age where allowed, the vehicle, where it is garaged, annual mileage, coverage limits, deductibles, prior insurance history, and, where state law permits, a credit-based insurance score. Each insurer weighs these factors differently, which is why quotes for the same driver can differ by hundreds of dollars. Improving the factors you control, especially your record and continuous coverage, pays off over several renewals.
High-risk drivers and SR-22 in Texas
If several insurers decline you because of violations, accidents, a lapse, or a DUI, you still have options. Many insurers specialize in higher-risk drivers, and every state has a residual market plan for drivers who cannot find coverage in the voluntary market. Prices are higher, but keeping coverage continuous and your record clean will usually bring rates down over three to five years. If a court or the motor vehicle agency requires an SR-22 or similar filing, see our SR-22 insurance and high-risk auto insurance pages.
Adding a teen driver
Adding a newly licensed teen is one of the biggest premium increases most Texas households face. Ask about good student and driver-training discounts, assign the teen to the least expensive car where the insurer allows, consider a telematics program that rewards safe habits, and keep higher liability limits. Compare quotes when the teen is added, because insurers price young drivers very differently.
Switching insurers without a gap
If a new quote is lower, switch carefully so you are never uninsured:
- Confirm the final price after the insurer verifies your information.
- Set the new policy to start on or before the date the old one ends.
- Give the new insurer your lender or lessor information if the vehicle is financed.
- Save your new ID cards and declarations page.
- Cancel the old policy effective the same day, and ask about any refund of unused premium.
- If you have an SR-22, confirm the new insurer files it before the old filing ends.
Discounts to ask about
| Discount | Who it may fit | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-policy | Households with renters or home insurance | How much it saves on the total, not just auto |
| Multi-vehicle | Households with two or more cars | Whether every car must be on one policy |
| Good student | Students with qualifying grades | Grade requirements and proof needed |
| Defensive driving | Drivers who complete an approved course | Which courses qualify and how long the discount lasts |
| Telematics | Careful, low-mileage drivers | Whether the program can raise your rate |
| Paid in full and autopay | Drivers who can pay upfront | How installment fees compare |
| Safety and anti-theft | Newer vehicles with safety features | Which features qualify |
Discount names, amounts, and availability vary by insurer and state.
After an accident in Texas
Because Texas is an at-fault state, the at-fault driver's insurer pays for others' injuries and damage. Gather the other driver's insurance information, photos, witness contacts, and the police report number. If you have PIP, file with your own insurer for medical bills right away. If the other driver is uninsured, your UM/UIM coverage applies. Texas uses modified comparative fault: you can recover only if you are 50% or less at fault, reduced by your share.
Payment plans and fees
How you pay can change your total cost. Many insurers charge installment fees for monthly payments, and some offer discounts for paying the full term upfront, enrolling in automatic payments, or going paperless. If paying in full is not possible, ask which payment plan has the lowest fees. Missing a payment can cancel your policy and create a lapse, which raises future rates, so set up reminders or autopay.
What to have ready for a Texas quote
These details help produce accurate quotes.
- Driver details. License numbers and dates of birth.
- Vehicle VINs. And annual mileage.
- Driving history. Accidents and violations.
- Current declarations page. Including PIP and UM/UIM selections.
- Garaging address. Where each vehicle is kept.
Texas auto insurance FAQs
What is the minimum car insurance in Texas?
30/60/25 liability.
Is PIP required in Texas?
It must be offered and is included unless you reject it in writing.
What is TexasSure?
The state's electronic insurance verification system.
Is Texas a no-fault state?
No. Texas is an at-fault state.
What is a county mutual insurer?
A Texas-specific type of insurer often used for nonstandard and newer auto programs.
Does comprehensive cover hail in Texas?
Yes, subject to the deductible.
Can I get an SR-22 in Texas?
Many insurers file SR-22s in Texas. Compare quotes after a violation.
How often should I compare?
Every year or two, and after major changes.
Does Texas use comparative fault?
Yes. You can recover if you are 50% or less at fault, reduced by your share of fault.
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Important information
Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16944666. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state. Mentioning a company on this page does not mean we represent it.
Legal requirements. State requirements summarized here are general information as of October 2026 and can change. This page is not legal advice; confirm current rules with your state's insurance regulator or motor vehicle agency.
Availability. Coverage, prices, discounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.
Your next step
Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare Texas options available to us using the coverage you choose.
