Texas Car Insurance Laws
The state of Texas has car insurance laws that are specific to the state. For example, Texas is considered an “at-fault” state with regards to car insurance laws. This means that one of the drivers in an accident is deemed to be “at fault” for the accident. The car insurance carrier for the driver who is found to be at fault is required to pay damages to other drivers and passengers.
“At Fault” insurance states may be compared and contrasted with “no fault” car insurance states, such as Florida, North Dakota, Utah and several others. In no-fault states, each driver’s car insurance companies pays for damages to the car of the policy holder only. To be insured in Texas, enter your ZIP code into our FREE car insurance comparison tool to find great rates.
Texas Car Insurance Coverage Requirements
Texas requires all drivers to get a quote carry some type of car insurance coverage. Drivers must at least carry liability coverage in order to drive legally on Texas roads. However, if the driver’s car is financed or leased, the finance company, bank or leasing agent requires a full coverage car insurance policy to maintain the loan or lease.
Full coverage car insurance usually includes two types of coverage: Collision coverage and Comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage pays for damages to the non-faulted driver due to an accident. Comprehensive coverage will pay for other unforeseen issues, such as theft, vandalism and weather damage.
Liability insurance may be sufficient for drivers who own older cars and those who own their cars outright. However, liability insurance only covers other drivers, property, and passengers. Liability insurance does not cover any damages to the driver’s person or property in the event of an accident.
Texas Minimum Limits for Liability Coverage
Texas requires liability coverage to include the minimum limits established according to state law. These limits are:
- Bodily Injury Per Person – $25,000
- Bodily Injury Per Accident – $50,000
- Property Damage – $25,000
These limits are expressed in minimum guidelines by car insurance companies, stated as “25/50/25.” Though Texas state law does not require drivers to carry “Uninsured Motorist” coverage, this coverage is often included in car insurance policies sold to Texans, and is available should the policy holder so desire this type of coverage.
TexasSure Program
The TexasSure Program went into effect on October 1, 2008 throughout the state. This program allows police officers to query a database with a vehicle’s license plate number from an on-board computer to see if the vehicle is covered under a valid insurance policy. This law was intended to deter individuals from using fake or invalid insurance cards.
The TexasSure program is extremely effective and those drivers who are stopped without required coverage are ticketed. Though the court system will usually drop the charges as long as the driver is able to provide proof of insurance prior to the court date, it is the option of the court to do so.
Drivers may pay significant fines, and may even have their drivers licenses suspended for driving without proper insurance if they do not promptly acquire adequate coverage for their vehicle.
The phrase “Don’t Mess with Texas” certainly applies when it comes to auto insurance coverage. Be sure that you have adequate coverage should you be fortunate enough to reside in Texas.
Shopping for Car Insurance in Texas
To find the best Texas car insurance company, as well as the best policy and rates for your needs, use an online car insurance comparison tool. These web-based comparison applications are available free of charge and are easy to use. Online comparison applications provide side-by-side comparisons of car insurance companies that sell coverage to Texans. These tools are easy to use and assist you to compare different companies and policies at one time.
To use our FREE online comparison application, first type your ZIP code into the input box. A list of car insurance companies that provide coverage in your area are returned in the results. Select the type of policy you are shopping for and compare rates of several companies that provide policies for drivers in your area.
Online comparison tools make the process of shopping for car insurance a streamlined one. In the past, shopping for car insurance would require an individual to call each company and request a quote for a particular type of coverage.
Through the magic of the Internet, no longer must drivers step through the time-consuming process of obtaining quotes from each insurance company over the phone – or even in person.
Most car insurance companies will provide free quotes over the Internet. Several companies will even allow drivers to purchase their policies online. In fact, some auto insurance companies specialize in Internet-based policy provision. Gone are the days of spending hours obtaining quotes and comparing rates from various car insurance companies.
Shopping for car insurance using an online comparison tool dramatically simplifies the process. Using our FREE online comparison application, you will be able to quickly identify the car insurance company and the policy that is right for you using your ZIP code. Use our online comparison tool and simplify the process of getting the right auto insurance policy for you!