Auto Insurance In Texas & What You Should Know

Posted by Tom Carolan on Fri, Jun 04, 2010 @ 10:44 AM

As with just about every other state in the country, Texas has required auto insurance coverage that all car owners must abide by. If you register a car in the Lone Star state you will need to comply with the state’s mandated minimum car insurance. If you are seeking details about the requirements and regulations for insurance there, contact the Texas Department of Insurance.

In order to operate a vehicle in Texas, you are required to carry liability coverage. This will cover medical expenses and repairs to the property of another party if you are at-fault in an accident. The amounts that are set as minimum amounts of liability coverage required by Texas include the following.

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person
• $50,000 for bodily injury per accident in total
• $25,000 for property damage per accident

Texas has some of the highest required amounts of auto insurance coverage in the country and are scheduled to rise again at the beginning of 2011. However, even as one of the high required amounts of insurance coverage does not mean it is sufficient. Many insurers will recommend that you carry $100,000 bodily injury per person, $300,000 bodily injury per accident and $100,000 property damage coverage to give you sufficient protection.

Texas does not require collision and comprehensive coverage, but if your vehicle still has a reasonable value and you would want to repair it if there were an accident you should carry these types of auto insurance coverage. In fact, if your car is financed, the finance company will typically insist you carry such coverage to protect their investment. If you were involved in an at-fault accident, collision the auto insurance coverage would pay for repairs to your vehicle. If you were to suffer another type of loss like fire, theft, vandalism or glass breakage, comprehensive car insurance coverage would pay the difference. Those with financed vehicles may also want to consider gap insurance which in the case of a car being totaled will pay the difference between the blue book value of the car and the amount remaining on the loan.

Another concern for Texas drivers is the high number of uninsured drivers on the roads there. For this reason, even though not mandatory, it is very important to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage. This will provide for medical expenses or vehicle repairs if you are in an accident with someone who is uninsured, underinsured or in the case of hit and run.

When looking for car insurance coverage, look no further than our online quote tool. It is a quick and easy way to get quotes from insurers offering coverage where you live. You can easily compare and contrast the results to find the best options available to you.