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Texas is an at-fault state with one of the highest uninsured-driver rates in the country, and that single fact should shape how you shop for coverage more than almost anything else. Roughly one in eight drivers on Texas roads carries no insurance at all, which makes certain optional coverages far more important here than in many other states.
This guide covers what Texas actually requires, what pushes your quote up or down, and the coverage gaps that catch new Texas drivers off guard.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Texas
Texas rates sit close to the national average overall, though pricing varies widely by region. Based on 2026 rate surveys, minimum liability coverage typically runs between $55 and $75 a month for a driver with a clean record, while full coverage tends to fall between $130 and $170 a month.
Weather plays a real role in Texas pricing. Hail damage, flooding near the Gulf Coast, and a comparatively high vehicle theft rate all push comprehensive coverage costs above what you would see in drier, lower-theft states.
Texas Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
Texas law, under Transportation Code Section 601.072, requires drivers to carry liability coverage of at least:
- ● Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident
- ● Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident
These limits are commonly written as 30/60/25 and have been in effect since 2011, when the state raised them from lower historical minimums. Texas's limits are actually higher than those in several neighboring states, though still low compared to real accident costs.
Texas insurers are required to offer both Personal Injury Protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, but Texas is one of the few states where you can reject both in writing. Many drivers do exactly that without fully understanding what they are giving up.
Why Optional PIP and UM/UIM Matter More in Texas
Because Texas is an at-fault state, your liability coverage only pays for damage and injuries to other people, never your own. If you are hurt in an accident you caused, your own liability policy pays nothing toward your medical bills.
PIP fills that gap. It pays your medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, and it typically pays quickly, often before fault is even determined. Texas insurers must offer it by default, but you can decline it in writing.
UM/UIM coverage protects you when the other driver either has no insurance or not enough to cover your losses. Given that close to one in eight Texas drivers is uninsured, and unofficial estimates in some years have run even higher, this coverage carries more real-world weight in Texas than in many lower-uninsured-rate states.
Declining both PIP and UM/UIM can lower your monthly premium slightly, but it leaves you financially exposed in two of the most common accident scenarios: getting hurt in a crash you caused, and getting hit by a driver with no coverage at all.
This optional structure sets Texas apart from Massachusetts and Michigan, where PIP is mandatory, and even from Indiana, where UM/UIM is required by default.
What Actually Affects Your Car Insurance Quote in Texas
Driving record. As in every state, accidents and violations raise your premium, often significantly on renewal.
Location. Major metro areas including Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio typically post higher rates than smaller Texas cities and rural counties, driven by traffic density and theft rates.
Weather exposure. Comprehensive coverage costs more in hail-prone regions of North Texas and flood-prone areas near the Gulf Coast, since insurers price in the higher likelihood of a weather-related claim.
Vehicle theft risk. Texas has one of the higher vehicle theft rates in the country, which affects comprehensive coverage pricing statewide.
Coverage selections. Whether you carry PIP and UM/UIM, along with your liability limits and deductible choices, all shape your final quote.
Credit-based insurance score. Texas permits insurers to factor in credit-based scores, so maintaining good credit can help lower your premium.
Types of Car Insurance Coverage in Texas
Bodily injury liability pays for injuries you cause to others when you are at fault. It never covers your own medical bills.
Property damage liability pays to repair or replace another person's vehicle or property after an at-fault accident.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays your own medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault. It is optional in Texas, and you must reject it in writing if you do not want it.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage. This is optional in Texas but strongly recommended given the state's uninsured-driver rate.
Collision coverage pays for damage to your own vehicle after a crash, regardless of fault. Lenders require this if you finance or lease your vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage pays for non-collision damage such as hail, flooding, theft, or vandalism. Given Texas's weather patterns and theft statistics, this coverage carries more weight here than in many other states.
Rental reimbursement covers a rental car while yours is being repaired, useful in a state where roughly 11 percent of drivers own more than one vehicle, meaning most households have no backup car available.
Car Insurance Costs by City in Texas
Rates vary noticeably across Texas's major metro areas and regions.
| City / Region | Typical Rate Tier vs. State Average |
|---|---|
| Houston | Above average |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Above average |
| San Antonio | Near or slightly above average |
| Austin | Near average |
| Rural West and Panhandle Texas | Below average |
Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth see higher rates partly due to traffic density and theft rates, and partly due to elevated flood and hail exposure that raises comprehensive coverage pricing. Rural areas across West Texas generally post the most affordable rates statewide.
Car Insurance After a Ticket, Accident, or DUI in Texas
- ● Speeding ticket: average increase in the 20 to 30 percent range
- ● At-fault accident: average increase in the 40 to 55 percent range
- ● DUI conviction: average increase in the 60 to 90 percent range
Texas also ended its old Driver Responsibility Program surcharge system, which previously added a flat annual fee on top of standard insurance increases for certain violations. Current increases now come entirely through your insurer's own pricing rather than a separate state surcharge.
SR-22 Insurance in Texas
Texas drivers may need to file an SR-22 after a coverage lapse, a DUI, or certain other serious violations. This filing is typically required for two years and confirms to the state that you carry the required minimum coverage. SR-22 policies generally cost more than standard coverage, so avoiding a lapse in the first place is almost always the cheaper path.
Common Mistakes Texas Drivers Make When Shopping for Quotes
● Rejecting PIP and UM/UIM without understanding the exposure. These are the two most commonly declined coverages in Texas, and also the two most likely to matter given the state's at-fault system and high uninsured rate.
● Skipping comprehensive coverage in flood or hail zones. A single hailstorm in North Texas can total a windshield or roof, and comprehensive coverage is the only piece of a policy that responds to that kind of damage.
● Comparing quotes with different coverage selections. A quote without PIP or UM/UIM will always look cheaper than one that includes them. Make sure you are comparing identical coverage before deciding.
● Assuming state minimums are enough after a serious accident. With rising medical and repair costs, 30/60/25 can be exhausted quickly in a moderate multi-vehicle accident.
● Letting a policy lapse, even briefly. A lapse in Texas can trigger fines, an SR-22 requirement, and higher future premiums, often costing far more than the insurance itself would have.
How to Get a Cheaper Car Insurance Quote in Texas
Compare quotes from at least three insurers, since Texas pricing varies significantly by company.
Keep PIP and UM/UIM in your comparison, even if you ultimately decide to decline them, so you understand the real cost of that protection.
Ask about weather-related discounts, such as savings for garaging your car or installing anti-theft devices.
Maintain good credit, since Texas allows credit-based insurance scoring.
Bundle policies where possible, since multi-policy discounts can meaningfully lower your total cost.
How to Switch Car Insurance Companies in Texas
Gather your current policy details, including whether you carry PIP and UM/UIM, so new quotes can match your existing coverage.
Request quotes from several companies with identical coverage selections, including PIP and UM/UIM if you carry them.
Confirm your new policy's effective date before canceling the old one, since even a brief lapse in Texas can trigger fines and an SR-22 requirement.
Cancel your old policy in writing and keep a copy of the cancellation confirmation.
Update your proof of insurance, since Texas law requires you to show current proof at any traffic stop or accident scene.
Glossary of Texas Auto Insurance Terms
30/60/25: Shorthand for Texas's minimum liability limits: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage.
PIP (Personal Injury Protection): Optional coverage in Texas that pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. Insurers must offer it, but you can reject it in writing.
UM/UIM (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage): Optional coverage that protects you if the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, particularly relevant given Texas's uninsured-driver rate.
SR-22: A certificate your insurer files with the state confirming you carry the minimum required coverage, typically required for two years after a lapse or serious violation.
Driver Responsibility Program: A former Texas surcharge system for certain violations that has since been discontinued, though standard insurer-based rate increases still apply after tickets and accidents.
Filing a Claim After an Accident in Texas
Texas's at-fault system means the steps you take after a crash directly affect how smoothly your claim moves.
Call the police and get a report, which Texas law requires for accidents involving injury, death, or significant property damage.
Photograph the vehicles, the scene, and any visible damage before vehicles are moved, if it is safe to do so.
Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver and gather witness details if available.
File a claim with the at-fault driver's insurer, and also notify your own insurer even if you were not at fault, since your policy may need to coordinate benefits.
Document weather conditions if the accident involved hail, flooding, or another weather event, since this can matter for a comprehensive claim.
If the other driver is uninsured and you carry UM/UIM coverage, file that claim with your own insurer directly, since it functions similarly to a liability claim but pays from your own policy.
Insurance for Teen and New Drivers in Texas
Adding a teen driver in Texas often raises a household's premium significantly, partly because of the driver's inexperience and partly because Texas's already-elevated uninsured-driver rate makes strong UM/UIM coverage even more relevant for a newly licensed driver.
Ways Texas families manage this cost include:
- ● Good student discounts, widely available among Texas insurers for students who maintain strong grades.
- ● Driver education course completion, which can qualify for a discount and is required for drivers under 18 to obtain a license in Texas.
- ● Telematics or usage-based insurance programs, which several major Texas insurers offer to reward safe driving habits with a data-tracked discount.
- ● Keeping the teen driver on a newer, safety-rated vehicle rather than assuming an older car is automatically cheaper to insure, since modern safety features can sometimes offset a portion of the added risk.
Online Quotes vs. Local Agents in Texas
Online tools work well for comparing base rates quickly across Texas's competitive insurer market. A local agent adds value if you want help weighing whether to keep PIP and UM/UIM, or if your situation involves a recent lapse, an SR-22, or unusual vehicle-use circumstances such as rideshare driving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas a no-fault state for car insurance?
No. Texas is an at-fault state. The driver who causes an accident is financially responsible for the resulting damages.
Is PIP required in Texas?
No. Texas insurers must offer it, but you can reject it in writing. Many drivers do so without realizing it leaves them without coverage for their own medical bills after an at-fault accident.
What is the minimum car insurance required in Texas?
Drivers need 30/60/25 in liability coverage: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage.
Is UM/UIM coverage required in Texas?
No, it is optional, though Texas has one of the higher uninsured-driver rates in the country, which makes this coverage particularly relevant here.
How much does car insurance go up after an accident in Texas?
Most drivers see an increase in the 40 to 55 percent range after an at-fault accident, with the impact typically lasting three to five years.
Why does comprehensive coverage cost more in parts of Texas?
Hail damage in North Texas, flooding near the Gulf Coast, and a comparatively high statewide vehicle theft rate all raise the likelihood of a comprehensive claim, which increases pricing for that coverage.
Can I insure a teen driver without raising my premium significantly in Texas?
Not entirely, since new drivers carry more statistical risk, but good student discounts, driver education credits, and telematics programs can meaningfully offset the increase.
What should I do if I am hit by an uninsured driver in Texas?
File a claim under your own UM/UIM coverage if you carry it. Without that coverage, you would need to pursue the at-fault driver directly, which can be difficult if they have no assets or insurance.
Compare Car Insurance Requirements in Other States
See the full Car Insurance Quotes by State hub for a side-by-side comparison table of every state covered on this site.
Rules and pricing change significantly once you cross state lines. These guides cover the other states in our library:
- ● Car Insurance Quotes Massachusetts — a no-fault state with a managed competition pricing system
- ● Car Insurance Quotes Ohio — an at-fault state with no PIP requirement
- ● Car Insurance Quotes Michigan — a no-fault state with a unique PIP tier system
- ● Car Insurance Quotes Indiana — an at-fault state with mandatory UM/UIM coverage
- ● Car Insurance Quotes Maryland — an at-fault state with a strict contributory negligence rule
Editorial Disclosure: Last reviewed: July 2026. Written by Hammad, a content writer at FinSureRes with a background in content writing and personal finance, focused on U.S. auto insurance requirements and state-by-state regulations. Reviewed for accuracy against Texas state insurance regulations.
Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Texas Transportation Code Section 601.072, and published 2026 rate analyses from major auto insurance comparison platforms.
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