Texas insurance guide
Texas is an at-fault state. The driver who causes a crash is on the hook for the damage. The law makes you prove you can pay for crashes you cause. Most Texans do that by carrying auto liability insurance at the state minimum. This page covers what the rules require, what each coverage does, why your bill may run high, and how to shop smart. It all comes from the Texas Department of Insurance and Texas law.
The coverage the state requires. It pays the other people's medical bills and repair costs when you cause a crash. It does not pay to fix your own car. The 30/60/25 minimum is set in Texas statute (Transportation Code 601.072). It has applied since January 1, 2011.
Pays your bills if you're hit by a driver who had no insurance or not enough, including hit-and-runs. About 1 in 8 Texas drivers is uninsured, so this matters. Insurers must offer it. It's included unless you reject it in writing.
Both pay your and your passengers' medical bills no matter who caused the wreck. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) also covers lost wages and other costs. MedPay is medical-only. Every Texas policy includes PIP unless you turn it down in writing. Neither one makes Texas a no-fault state.
These cover your own car. Collision pays to repair or replace it after a wreck. Comprehensive pays for theft, fire, flood, hail, vandalism, or hitting an animal. Both are optional under Texas law. But a lender or leasing company will require them while your car is financed or leased.
The state runs an electronic check called TexasSure. It matches active policies to registered vehicles. Officers and county tax offices use it to confirm you're covered. Check that the VIN on your policy matches the VIN on your vehicle and registration. Ask your insurance company to fix a mismatch.
Much of your bill is about where you live, not just your record. Texas hail, hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes drive big catastrophe claims. Vehicle theft and dense city traffic add more. And a lot of uninsured drivers raise costs for everyone. You can shop and compare for free at HelpInsure.com.
Texas is an at-fault state, sometimes called a tort state. When there's a crash, the driver who caused it is responsible for the damage. Texas law puts it plainly: you have to be able to pay for the accidents you cause. Most people meet that rule by buying auto liability insurance. A few qualify another way, such as a surety bond, a deposit with the state or a county, or self-insurance. Texas is not a no-fault state. There is no system here where your own policy automatically covers your own injuries no matter who was at fault.
The minimum liability you must carry is known as 30/60/25. That means at least $30,000 for injuries to one person and up to $60,000 total for everyone hurt in one accident. It also means $25,000 for damage to other people's property. Those numbers come straight from Texas statute (Transportation Code 601.072). They have been in place since January 1, 2011, when they were raised from the older 25/50/25, so they're stable. The legislature can change them, though. So it's worth checking the current minimum with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).
Here's the part that surprises people: liability does not pay to fix your own car. It pays other people's repair and medical bills when you're at fault. To cover your own car, you'd add collision and comprehensive. Collision pays for repairs after a wreck. Comprehensive covers theft, fire, flood, hail, vandalism, or hitting an animal. Both are optional under state law. But if your car is financed or leased, your lender will almost always require them until it's paid off.
You need proof of coverage at two moments: when you drive and when you register. If an officer pulls you over, you must show proof of coverage on request. Texas law allows an image shown on your phone, so a card on your screen is fine. To register or renew at your county tax office, you bring proof of current liability insurance. Behind the scenes, the state runs TexasSure. It is a joint program of four agencies that matches active policies to registered vehicles. Check that the VIN on your policy matches the VIN on the vehicle and registration. If it does not, ask your insurance company to correct it.
If your Texas bill feels steep, a lot of it comes down to where you live. Texas is a big, busy, weather-battered state. Insurers price in the cost of paying claims across the whole market. Severe storms are a giant piece of it. Hail in North and West Texas, hurricanes and flooding along the coast, and tornadoes and winter storms all cause waves of damage. When insurers pay out for those catastrophe losses, the costs get spread into everyone's premiums over time. Comprehensive coverage is especially sensitive to Texas weather.
Other cost drivers stack on top. Vehicle theft is high in big metros like Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. Dense traffic means more fender-benders. And modern cars with cameras and sensors are costly to fix. Many Texas drivers also carry no insurance at all. TexasSure estimated about 11.87% were uninsured as of September 2025. Texas is at-fault, so when an uninsured driver hits you, there may be no insurer on the other side to pay. That is exactly why uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is worth keeping.
One lever you control is your deductible. That is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurer pays the rest on collision and comprehensive claims. TDI's example: on a $1,500 collision claim with a $500 deductible, the company subtracts your $500 and pays $1,000. Raising your deductible lowers your premium. But it means more out of pocket at claim time, so pick a number you could actually cover. An older car may not be worth much more than what you pay for the coverage. If so, TDI suggests thinking about whether collision and comprehensive still make sense.
The good news: Texas gives you a free, official way to shop. HelpInsure.com is run by TDI and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel. It lets you find and compare auto policies from companies selling in Texas. TDI's advice is practical. Get quotes from several companies. Compare the same coverage levels side by side, since a cheaper policy may simply cover less. Check a company's complaint record, and buy only from licensed companies. Don't cancel your old policy until the new one is actually in force. You can call the TDI Help Line at 800-252-3439 to confirm a company is licensed and review its complaint history. Also ask about discounts for fewer miles, a clean record, autopay, paperless billing, and pay-per-mile programs.
The minimum liability coverage Texas law requires: $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 total per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage.
If you cause a crash that injures two people, your policy pays up to $30,000 for each and $60,000 combined for their injuries.
The required part of your policy that pays other people's bills when you cause a crash. It does not pay to fix your own car.
You rear-end someone; your liability pays their repair bill and medical costs, but not your own bumper.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. It pays your bills when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough, including hit-and-runs.
A driver with no insurance hits you; your UM/UIM steps in to cover your repairs and medical bills.
Personal Injury Protection. It pays your and your passengers' medical bills, plus lost wages and other costs, no matter who was at fault. It's included on every Texas policy unless you reject it in writing.
After a crash, PIP can help cover your hospital bill and the paychecks you missed while recovering.
The amount you pay out of pocket before your insurer pays the rest. It applies to collision and comprehensive claims.
On a $1,500 collision claim with a $500 deductible, you pay $500 and the insurer pays $1,000.
A Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate for high-risk drivers, not a type of insurance. Your insurer files it electronically with Texas DPS to prove you carry liability coverage.
After a DWI, DPS may require you to keep a valid SR-22 on file for two years. If it lapses, your license can be suspended again.
The state's electronic insurance verification program. Insurers report active policies. The system matches them to registered vehicles so officers and county offices can confirm you're covered.
Check that the VIN on your insurance policy matches the VIN on the vehicle and registration. Ask the insurance company to fix a mismatch.
Quick answers
Yes. Texas law requires you to be able to pay for crashes you cause. Almost everyone meets that by carrying auto liability insurance. You must show proof of coverage when an officer asks at a traffic stop. You also show it when you register or renew your vehicle at the county tax office. A photo of your insurance card on your phone is accepted.
The minimum is known as 30/60/25. That means at least $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 total per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for damage to other people's property. These figures are set in Texas statute (Transportation Code 601.072). They have applied since January 1, 2011. Check the Texas Department of Insurance for the current minimum.
No. Texas is an at-fault (tort) state. That means the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the damage. Texas does have an optional coverage called PIP (Personal Injury Protection). It's included unless you reject it in writing. But it is an add-on, not a required no-fault system.
No. Collision and comprehensive are optional under Texas law. The state only requires liability. But if your car is financed or leased, your lender or leasing company will almost always require both until it's paid off. Liability alone never pays to fix your own car.
An SR-22 is a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate for high-risk drivers. It is not a type of insurance. Your insurer files it electronically with Texas DPS to prove you carry liability coverage. Drivers usually need one after serious violations like a DWI. DPS generally requires you to keep it valid for two years from the most recent conviction. If it lapses, your license and registration can be suspended again. Reinstatement costs a $100 fee plus a new SR-22.
A lot of it is about where you live, not just your driving record. Texas hail, hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes drive large catastrophe claims. Vehicle theft is high in the big metros. Modern cars are costly to repair. And roughly 1 in 8 Texas drivers is uninsured. You can compare policies for free at HelpInsure.com. You can also raise your deductible to lower your premium and ask about discounts.
TexasSure is the state's electronic insurance verification program. Four agencies run it together: Texas DPS, TxDMV, TDI, and the Department of Information Resources. Insurers report active policies. The system matches them to registered vehicles so officers and county tax offices can confirm coverage. Check that the VIN on your policy matches the VIN on the vehicle and registration. A $1 yearly registration fee helps fund the program.
You need proof of insurance to register. Estimate the registration cost.
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This guide is based on Texas Department of Insurance consumer guidance, TxDMV, Texas DPS, and the Texas Transportation Code.
Before you act: Insurance pages explain policy pieces and Texas-specific risks. They are not quotes, coverage recommendations, or a substitute for a licensed insurance professional. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
