Texas Car Insurance Laws

Texas car insurance laws require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance, summarized as 30/60/25.
Written by Jacoba Bood
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
background
Drivers in the state of Texas are legally required to purchase a minimum amount of car insurance that is summarized as 30/60/25. This stands for: $30,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $25,000 of property liability per accident.
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Here is all you need to know about Texas car insurance laws and how to find
cheap car insurance in Texas
.
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What car insurance is required by law in Texas?

Like most states, Texas requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of
liability insurance coverage
. Drivers will also be expected to be able to provide valid
proof of insurance
at the request of law enforcement or any other relevant authorities.
While the following details the minimum state requirements, keep in mind that people who loan or lease their vehicle may have to carry additional types of insurance. This will depend on the details of their lending contract.
Here is a brief summary of the minimum car insurance limits that are required in Texas.
Texas minimum car insurance
**Minimum liability coverage**
**30/60/25**
Bodily injury per person
$30,000
Bodily injury per accident
$60,000
Property damage per accident
$25,000
Key Takeaway Texas drivers must carry a certain amount of liability insurance and proof of insurance when behind the wheel.

Liability insurance in TX

The state of Texas requires drivers to carry two different types of liability insurance coverage that helps protect against legal action following an at-fault accident: bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance.
Just keep in mind that liability insurance will only cover the costs for the other party if you are at fault. It won’t cover your expenses.

What are the mandated car insurance limits in Texas?

Texas’s minimum liability insurance limits can be summarized as 30/60/25. This number stands for three different types of liability insurance coverage.
The following is an explanation of how it all breaks down:
$30,000 of
bodily injury liability coverage
per person: Your insurance provider will pay up to $30,000 per person to cover injuries to another party if you cause an accident.
$60,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident: Your insurance provider will pay up to $60,000 per at-fault accident to cover injuries to another party.
$25,000 in
property damage liability
per accident: $25,000 is the total amount per accident your insurance company will pay to cover property damage for another party involved if you cause an accident.
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Should I get more coverage than Texas’s required insurance minimum?

Although Texas’s minimum liability requirements are slightly above average, the limits could still fall short of covering all the expenses related to a major claim.
Since Texas only requires liability coverage, drivers will be on the hook for any of their own expenses relating to an at-fault accident and will have to purchase additional coverage options to ensure that their costs are covered. Full coverage options like comprehensive insurance and collision insurance will protect you against the costs of damage to your car.
If you are looking for an easy way to tailor your Texas car insurance to meet your needs,
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What is the penalty for not having car insurance in Texas?

Texas drivers who fail to provide valid proof of insurance could face serious consequences—including fines and possible suspensions.
Penalties for failing to provide proof of car insurance in Texas
  • Fines between $175-$350
  • Fines of up to $1000 for subsequent offenses
  • Having to pay an added $250 annually for three years if the number of offenses exceeds the "Texas Driver Responsibility Program" baseline
  • Possible
    SR-22
    filing requirements, impoundments, or vehicle registration suspension
Key Takeaway Texas drivers who are caught without valid proof of insurance could face a wide range of legal penalties, including fines and possible suspensions.

Additional coverage options

If Texas drivers want to upgrade their car insurance coverage beyond the minimum state liability, most providers offer plenty of great options to take advantage of—including the following:

Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance

Personal injury protection (PIP)
covers medical expenses for you and your passengers—regardless of who is at fault.

Comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance
will cover the cost of damage to your vehicle that is the result of some external event like theft, vandalism, or severe weather.

Collision insurance

Collision insurance
will cover the cost of damage to your car that is caused by a collision or rollover.

Loan/lease payoff insurance

Commonly referred to as
gap insurance
, this popular policy rider will cover the difference between what you owe on your totaled car and the settlement that you receive from your insurance provider following an accident.

Roadside assistance insurance

Otherwise known as
towing and labor coverage
, this popular policy option provides limited access to emergency roadside services like battery boosts and fuel delivery.

Rental car reimbursement insurance

Rental reimbursement insurance
helps protect drivers against the cost of securing alternative transportation if their car needs repairs after a claim.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance

Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance
helps protect you from the risk of ending up in an accident caused by a driver who doesn’t carry enough insurance to cover your costs.
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How to get cheap car insurance in Texas

Jerry
is a free car insurance shopping app that will help Texas drivers save money on the coverage they want to have—and fast!
If you’re hesitant to switch plans or insurance providers because you’re worried about the work involved, don’t be. As a
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"Jerry is a hidden gem. When I first saw this app, it seemed too good to be true. I was already paying a little over $200 a month for my car insurance and thought it wouldn’t hurt to see what Jerry could save me. To my shock, they found another reputable company that would save me $116-ish and was the same coverage I had on my previous policy!"—Satisfied Jerry user
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Texas requires drives to carry a minimum amount of
liability insurance
coverage, summarized as 30/60/25.

Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Texas?

In most cases, car insurance will follow the car and not the driver.
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