Question 1

What is the minimum car insurance required in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Texas requires 30/60/25 liability coverage: $30,000 for injuries per person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. All policies include personal injury protection (PIP) unless you reject it in writing, and insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Alternatives to insurance include a surety bond or a $55,000 deposit of cash or securities with the comptroller.

Question 2

Is Texas a no-fault car insurance state?

Accepted Answer

Texas uses the at-fault (tort) system, with personal injury protection (PIP) available or required. The Alabama Department of Insurance's national table of state auto insurance laws lists Texas among the "Tort States Where Personal Injury Protection is Available/Required." Texas law requires drivers to show proof they can pay for the accidents they cause, and liability insurance pays other people's car repair and medical bills when you are at fault. All Texas auto policies include personal injury protection (PIP), which pays your and your passengers' medical bills and lost wages, unless you reject it in writing.

Question 3

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Must be offered; can be rejected in writing. Insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which pays if you are hit by someone with no insurance or not enough insurance, or in a hit-and-run. If you don't want it, you must tell the company in writing. UM/UIM claims carry a deductible.

Question 4

Can you show proof of car insurance on your phone in Texas?

Accepted Answer

On request, a driver must show a peace officer, or anyone involved in a collision, evidence of financial responsibility, such as the policy or a copy, the TDI standard proof-of-insurance card, an image on a phone or other wireless device provided by the insurer, a binder, a surety bond certificate, or a comptroller deposit certificate. Texas checks coverage through TexasSure, its electronic insurance verification program; a citation for driving uninsured must state that the officer could not verify coverage through the verification program. Proof of insurance is required to register a vehicle.

Question 5

What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Driving without required insurance is a misdemeanor with a fine of $175 to $350 for a first offense (the court may reduce it if the person cannot pay) and $350 to $1,000 for a later offense. After a second conviction, the Department of Public Safety suspends the driver's license unless the person files and maintains proof of financial responsibility until the second anniversary of that conviction, and the court must order an owner's vehicle impounded for 180 days. It is a defense to show the court a valid insurance document in effect at the time.

Question 6

When do you need an SR-22 in Texas, and for how long?

Accepted Answer

After a second conviction for driving uninsured, a person must file and maintain evidence of financial responsibility (commonly an SR-22 certificate) with the Department of Public Safety until the second anniversary of the conviction, or the license is suspended. To release a vehicle impounded after a second conviction, the owner must show financial responsibility covering the two-year period that follows.

Question 7

How much notice must an insurer give before canceling car insurance in Texas?

Accepted Answer

An insurer must give 10 days' notice before canceling. During the first 60 days it may cancel for any lawful reason; after that it may cancel only for nonpayment, a fraudulent claim, or suspension or revocation of the driver's license or registration of you or another household or regular driver. Nonrenewal requires 60 days' notice for policies bought or renewed in 2024 or later (30 days for 2023 or earlier), and an insurer can nonrenew only after the policy has been in effect 12 months. Insurers may not nonrenew because of age or for certain not-at-fault, flying-gravel or towing claims.

Question 8

Can car insurance companies use your credit score in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Insurers may not turn you down or charge more because of race, color, religion or national origin; may not do so because of age, gender, marital status, geographic location or disability unless they can show a greater risk of loss; and may not turn you down or charge more only because of your credit score. Insurers may use credit scores along with other factors, and rates can differ between ZIP codes.

Question 9

When is a car a total loss in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A salvage motor vehicle is one with damage to or missing major component parts where repair costs (excluding repainting and sales tax) exceed its actual cash value immediately before the damage. A nonrepairable vehicle is one whose only remaining value is as parts or scrap; it cannot be retitled or registered. An insurer that pays a claim and cannot get the title may obtain a salvage or nonrepairable title from TxDMV no earlier than 30 days after paying the claim.

Question 10

How do you transfer a car title in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A vehicle must be titled in the buyer's name within 30 days of the sale or delinquent transfer penalties may apply. The buyer files the properly signed title (with date of sale and odometer reading) and a signed Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U) showing the sales price at the county tax office, with proof of liability insurance (or applies for title only). Sellers should file a Vehicle Transfer Notification within 30 days and may keep, transfer or deface their license plates. Dealers file the title application for buyers.

Question 11

How long do you have to register your car after moving to Texas?

Accepted Answer

New residents have 30 days after moving to register their vehicle at the county tax assessor-collector's office, bringing proof of insurance, proof of ownership and Form 130-U. In 17 emissions counties (including Dallas, Harris, Tarrant and Travis), a passing emissions inspection is needed first; non-commercial vehicles pay an Inspection Replacement Fee, while commercial vehicles still need a safety inspection. New residents must get a Texas driver license from DPS within 90 days of moving.

Question 12

How do you file a complaint against a car insurance company in Texas?

Accepted Answer

File a written complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance through its Online Complaint Portal. Questions: 800-252-3439.

Minimum coverage required	Texas requires 30/60/25 liability coverage: $30,000 for injuries per person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. All policies include personal injury protection (PIP) unless you reject it in writing, and insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Alternatives to insurance include a surety bond or a $55,000 deposit of cash or securities with the comptroller. Deposit alternative: https://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/TN/htm/TN.601.htm Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide; Tex. Transp. Code § 601.122
At-fault or no-fault	Texas uses the at-fault (tort) system, with personal injury protection (PIP) available or required. The Alabama Department of Insurance's national table of state auto insurance laws lists Texas among the "Tort States Where Personal Injury Protection is Available/Required." Texas law requires drivers to show proof they can pay for the accidents they cause, and liability insurance pays other people's car repair and medical bills when you are at fault. All Texas auto policies include personal injury protection (PIP), which pays your and your passengers' medical bills and lost wages, unless you reject it in writing. National table: https://aldoi.gov/consumers/StateAutoLaws.aspx Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide
Uninsured motorist coverage	Must be offered; can be rejected in writing. Insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which pays if you are hit by someone with no insurance or not enough insurance, or in a hit-and-run. If you don't want it, you must tell the company in writing. UM/UIM claims carry a deductible. Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide
Proof of insurance	On request, a driver must show a peace officer, or anyone involved in a collision, evidence of financial responsibility, such as the policy or a copy, the TDI standard proof-of-insurance card, an image on a phone or other wireless device provided by the insurer, a binder, a surety bond certificate, or a comptroller deposit certificate. Texas checks coverage through TexasSure, its electronic insurance verification program; a citation for driving uninsured must state that the officer could not verify coverage through the verification program. Proof of insurance is required to register a vehicle. Source: Tex. Transp. Code §§ 601.053, 601.191(e); TxDMV, New to Texas

Cancellation and nonrenewal	An insurer must give 10 days' notice before canceling. During the first 60 days it may cancel for any lawful reason; after that it may cancel only for nonpayment, a fraudulent claim, or suspension or revocation of the driver's license or registration of you or another household or regular driver. Nonrenewal requires 60 days' notice for policies bought or renewed in 2024 or later (30 days for 2023 or earlier), and an insurer can nonrenew only after the policy has been in effect 12 months. Insurers may not nonrenew because of age or for certain not-at-fault, flying-gravel or towing claims. Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide
What insurers can use to set rates	Insurers may not turn you down or charge more because of race, color, religion or national origin; may not do so because of age, gender, marital status, geographic location or disability unless they can show a greater risk of loss; and may not turn you down or charge more only because of your credit score. Insurers may use credit scores along with other factors, and rates can differ between ZIP codes. Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide
Total loss rules	A salvage motor vehicle is one with damage to or missing major component parts where repair costs (excluding repainting and sales tax) exceed its actual cash value immediately before the damage. A nonrepairable vehicle is one whose only remaining value is as parts or scrap; it cannot be retitled or registered. An insurer that pays a claim and cannot get the title may obtain a salvage or nonrepairable title from TxDMV no earlier than 30 days after paying the claim. Source: Tex. Transp. Code §§ 501.091, 501.0925; Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide
Complaints about an insurer	File a written complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance through its Online Complaint Portal. Questions: 800-252-3439. Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide

Texas Car Insurance Laws: Minimum Coverage, Penalties and SR-22

Quick answers for Texas

Required coverage

Driving without insurance and SR-22

Your rights with insurers

Title and registration

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