Texas Car Insurance

REQUIREMENTS

Before you can register your car in Texas, you have to get it insured. Car insurance not only pays for damages to vehicles in an accident, but―more significantly―it also covers medical bills that result from any injuries.
Texas motor vehicle insurance requirements are relatively simple and straightforward. You must maintain an insurance policy for each vehicle you own; the policy must provide at least the following minimum amounts of coverage:
$25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person per accident
$50,000 for bodily injury or death to two or more persons per accident
$25,000 for damage or destruction to other property in an accident
This insurance is sometimes referred to as "25/50/25" insurance―everyone knows about the extra zeros.
Keep in mind that these minimum amounts may not be sufficient to fully protect you from direct financial liability and loss if you are found to be at fault in an accident. These are just the minimums that the state of Texas requires.
In reality, actual settlements could be far higher, and you might have to pay them out of pocket. Therefore, many insurance associations recommend policies with 100/300/100 coverage or more; in most cases, you'll find this doesn't raise the premiums much.
Comprehensive Insurance
In Texas, as in other states, if you don't own your car outright, the bank, finance company, or other lienholder will demand that you have full comprehensive and collision insurance. This is so that they can be fully reimbursed if you wreck what is legally still partly or mostly their car.
This type of coverage can dramatically increase the amount you must pay to be insured. If you own your car in full, you may choose to omit this type of coverage―if you are willing to absorb a total loss on your vehicle. If you are in an accident that is your fault, or if your car is stolen or broken into, you might not be compensated by the insurance company.
Penalty for Not Being Insured
All vehicles must be insured in Texas. The penalties for driving uninsured are substantial, starting with a fine between $175 and $350 for a first-time offense. Not a quick learner? The fines skyrocket on the second and third offenses, and that third offense can result in the suspension of your driver license and the impoundment of your vehicle.
It can also kick in a nasty little citation labeled "failure to maintain financial responsibility." This offense is in the category of "surchargeable violations."
A surchargeable violation means that you may pay the fine for the ticket―and then pay an additional penalty each year for up to three years. This penalty applies even if you maintain your insurance perfectly from that point on. For more information on this interesting twist in Texas law, read about the Texas point system.
Out-of-State Auto Insurance
If you have auto insurance issued from out of state, it must offer the above coverage to be considered minimally valid in Texas. All policies issued by insurance companies registered with the Texas Department of Insurance to do business in the state of Texas will provide at least this minimum amount of coverage.
Self-Bonding
No, this has nothing to do with superglue accidents. While technically an invididual is legally allowed to post a massive financial bond and become self-insured rather than acquire auto insurance, in reality this is not practical. No matter how uninsurable you might think you are, a myriad of Texas insurance companies are ready to insure you (for a price).
If It Exists, Insure It
In Texas, all cars must be insured constantly. This applies to non-working vehicles as well.
Vehicles must be insured in order to transfer title. If this process is completed within 30 days of the sale, preexisting insurance may be used. But after 30 days, a new policy must be written for the car.
High-Risk Drivers
Maybe you're the unluckiest driver in the world and have been in an unusual number of accidents, or maybe you have a terribledriving record. Either way, if you've been turned down by two or more insurance companies, you may be able to get insurance under the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA) program. TAIPA can be contacted at (866) 321-9154 or (512) 444-4441.
Filing Insurance Complaints
If you feel you have been treated unfairly, denied insurance without reason, or not handled appropriately by an insurance company after an accident, you can file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance using any of these methods:
Web: Consumer Complaints
E-mail: ConsumerProtection@tdi.state.tx.us
Fax: (512) 475-1771
Mail:
Texas Department of Insurance
Consumer Protection (111-1A)
P.O. Box 149091
Austin, TX 78714-9091
Include as many details as you can about the problem, what you think is wrong, and what action you want to be taken to help you resolve it.

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