Texas Auto Insurance: What the Law Requires and How to Compare Quotes
Car insurance quotes Texas drivers receive must include at least 30/60/25 liability coverage: $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident for injuries and $25,000 for property damage, as the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) lists it. Full coverage averages $2,458 a year, per Bankrate data cited by Mercury Insurance.
Covr does not sell car insurance. You request quotes in the Covr app with your ZIP code and phone number, and partner insurance companies call or message you with their offers. The sections below cover the legal minimum, typical premiums and the proof rules to check before you pick an auto insurance offer.
Last reviewed: October 9, 2026 · Covr editorial team
At a glance
- Legal minimum: 30/60/25 bodily injury and property damage liability on every auto insurance policy, per TDI.
- Included unless you refuse: insurers must offer personal injury protection (PIP) and uninsured motorist coverage, and you can drop them only in writing.
- Fault system: at-fault (tort), so the driver who causes a crash pays through their liability coverage.
- Typical cost: $2,458 a year for full coverage and $713 for minimum coverage (Bankrate, cited by Mercury Insurance).
- Cheapest in one study: Texas Farm Bureau at $940 a year in U.S. News rate data refreshed October 2026; membership is required.
- Proof: the state checks coverage electronically through TexasSure, and a digital ID card on your phone is accepted.
The 30/60/25 Liability Rule
Texas liability insurance minimums are 30/60/25, so every Texas auto policy needs bodily injury liability of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident, and property damage liability of $25,000 per accident.
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Limits
Bodily injury liability coverage pays medical bills, lost wages and legal costs of people you injure in a crash you cause. Property damage liability coverage pays to repair another driver's car, a fence or a building you damage.
TDI's auto insurance guide, dated December 11, 2025 in the search results, states these limits as the minimum proof that you can pay for accidents you cause. A liability-only car insurance policy does not pay for your own car or your own injuries; collision, comprehensive and PIP coverage do that. U.S. News reports that insurance professionals generally recommend at least 100/300/100 liability limits, because 30/60/25 can run out in a serious accident. Our car insurance overview explains each coverage type.
PIP and Uninsured Motorist: Included Unless Rejected in Writing
Texas auto insurance policies include personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage by law unless you submit a written request to remove them, U.S. News explains, citing TDI.
Progressive and Liberty Mutual describe the same rule: insurers have to offer both coverages, and you decline with a signed form. GEICO lists the default amounts as $2,500 of PIP, uninsured motorist bodily injury of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident, and uninsured motorist property damage of $25,000 with a $250 deductible.
Covr Requirement Check: How Sources State the Minimum
According to Covr's review on October 9, 2026 of 8 car insurance sources in the search results for this query (the TDI guide snippet and the pages or snippets of GEICO, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Mercury Insurance, Progressive, U.S. News and Nationwide), 7 of 8 state the 30/60/25 minimum, and 1 snippet still shows lower bodily injury limits.
| Requirement | Amount | Sources that state it (of 8) | What it means for your quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $30,000 / $60,000 | 7 of 8 | Mandatory; one snippet shows $25,000/$50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident | 8 of 8 | Mandatory |
| PIP | $2,500 | 4 of 8; 1 gives the amount | Stays unless rejected in writing |
| Uninsured motorist | Must be offered; $250 property damage deductible | 4 of 8; 1 gives limits | Stays unless rejected in writing |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required | 5 of 8 | Often required by a lender |
Our method for this car insurance check: we read the requirement section of each source on the capture date, counted which sources state each amount, and followed TDI where sources disagree. Limits change by statute, so confirm current figures in the TDI auto insurance guide before you buy a policy.
At-Fault Claims and Uninsured Drivers
Texas is an at-fault state for auto insurance, not a no-fault state: under the Texas tort system, the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and property damage, Mercury Insurance and U.S. News explain.
How a Claim Works Without No-Fault Rules
Car insurance claims under an at-fault system go to the at-fault driver's insurer: you file for your medical bills and car repairs there, Allstate notes. If you caused the crash, your liability coverage pays the other side up to your policy limits, and you are personally responsible for anything above them.
Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Matters Here
Uninsured motorist coverage pays your own costs when the driver who hits you has no car insurance or too little. GEICO reports that about 12% of drivers in the state had no car insurance in 2023, and cites Texas Department of Transportation data showing a reportable crash every 57 seconds in 2022.
Those two figures are why most insurer pages advise keeping PIP and uninsured motorist coverage instead of signing them away. The U.S. News full-coverage benchmark carries $100,000/$300,000 of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, well above the 30/60 default.
Average Car Insurance Cost: Full vs Minimum Coverage
Car insurance quotes Texas drivers see track premiums that average $2,458 a year for full coverage and $713 a year for minimum coverage, according to Bankrate data cited by Mercury Insurance, close to the $2,508 national full-coverage average from U.S. News.
| Source (as cited) | Full coverage | Minimum or liability-only |
|---|---|---|
| Bankrate, cited by Mercury Insurance | $2,458 a year | $713 a year |
| U.S. News (rates refreshed October 2026) | $2,466 a year | Not stated |
| Liberty Mutual ("2026 data") | $2,498 a year | Not stated |
| Freeway Insurance (search snippet) | Not stated | $665 a year ($55 a month) |
| Allstate, its own online customers | Not stated | $87 a month, one driver and one vehicle |
| Experian and Insurify ranges, as summarized by Google's AI answer | $2,447 to $2,891 a year | $1,321 to $1,690 a year (liability coverage) |
| U.S. national average, U.S. News (September 2026) | $2,508 a year | About $648 a year (2026 national estimates) |
Published averages for car insurance policies differ because each study uses its own driver profile, coverage tier and period; the liability ranges in the AI summary run higher than Bankrate's minimum-coverage figure because they include higher liability limits. U.S. News, for example, prices a 40-year-old driver with good credit, a clean record, 14,000 miles a year and 100/300/100 limits with a $500 deductible.
Monthly Premiums and What Moves Them
Texas car insurance costs about $205 a month for full coverage ($2,458 a year) and about $59 a month for minimum coverage ($713 a year), based on the Bankrate figures. Insurers price your driving record, age, vehicle, credit history and ZIP code, Mercury Insurance and Progressive list. National figures on typical auto insurance costs give a wider baseline.
A 40-year-old woman with a clean record and good credit saw auto insurance quotes from $56 to $235 a month across 33 companies in Compare.com's October 1, 2026 example, so the gap between offers matters more than any average. Our guide on how to shop for car insurance covers how to compare those offers.
Hail and Metro Traffic
Hail is the main regional cost driver for the comprehensive part of a car insurance premium: GEICO notes a high incidence of hailstorms and frequent comprehensive claims for hail damage. Liberty Mutual and Mercury Insurance add that drivers in large, congested metros pay more than rural drivers. City-level pricing will be covered on separate city guides.
Low-Cost Options on a Tight Budget
Low-income car insurance shoppers in Texas pay least with a 30/60/25 liability-only policy, which averages $713 a year in the Bankrate data and $665 in Freeway Insurance's estimate. A higher deductible, a paid-in-full discount and a regional insurer can lower the price further, but liability-only coverage leaves your own car unprotected.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Texas by Insurer
Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, a Texas insurer that requires membership, had the lowest average full-coverage car insurance rate, $940 a year, in the U.S. News rate data refreshed October 2026, against a statewide average of $2,466 in the same study.
| Insurer | Average annual rate | Compared with state average | U.S. News rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Farm Bureau | $940 | -$1,526 | 4.5 |
| USAA (military families only) | $1,873 | -$593 | 4.9 |
| State Farm | $1,948 | -$518 | Not in top-rated list |
| GEICO | $2,650 | +$184 | 4.8 |
| Progressive | $3,069 | +$603 | Not in top-rated list |
| Farmers | $3,377 | +$911 | 4.6 |
| Allstate | $5,419 | +$2,953 | Not in top-rated list |
Best Insurance Companies by Rating
Car insurance companies rated best in Texas by U.S. News are USAA (4.9), GEICO (4.8), Farmers (4.6) and Texas Farm Bureau (4.5).
The U.S. News rating weighs average premium at 40%, survey responses at 20% and NAIC complaint data at 40%, and includes only companies in the top 10 by market share in the 2024 NAIC report. Farm Bureau requires a membership fee, according to Google's answer summary, and USAA sells only to current and former military members and their families.
New Drivers and High-Risk Drivers
The cheapest car insurance in Texas for new drivers often comes from a different company than for experienced drivers. For the U.S. News profile, GEICO averaged $419 less than Progressive;
Google's answer summary adds that GEICO tends to price clean-record and younger drivers lower, while Progressive is often cheaper after tickets, at-fault accidents or a lapse. New drivers pay more, Mercury Insurance notes, and GEICO's good student discount requires full-time enrollment and a B average or a 3.0 GPA.
Check an Insurer Before You Buy
Insurer complaint records are public: TDI helps consumers with questions and complaints about companies, and its HelpInsure site compares car insurance policies from companies selling in the state, including those in the nation's top 25 insurance groups. TDI's auto insurance page lists 512-676-6000 and 800-578-4677 for questions.
Proof of Insurance and TexasSure
Car insurance quotes Texas insurers issue turn into a policy that is checked electronically through TexasSure, the verification program Progressive describes and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) lists among its vehicle services.
When You Must Show Proof
Proof of coverage is needed when you register a vehicle, get a car inspection, complete certain driver's license transactions and when police stop you, GEICO lists. TxDMV also asks for proof of 30/60/25 liability for its temporary permits, such as the 30-day plate. An electronic ID card on your phone is accepted, Allstate and Mercury confirm.
Why the Card Says "Liability Insurance Card"
Proof-of-coverage cards in the state carry the heading "Texas Liability Insurance Card" because Texas Administrative Code Title 28, Section 5.204 requires that title, according to Google's answer summary. The heading does not mean your plan is liability-only; your declarations page lists collision, comprehensive and any add-ons.
New Residents and Out-of-State Plans
Car insurance policies written in another state cannot be kept by residents, Mercury states. New residents with a valid license from another state have 90 days to get a state driver's license, and the application asks for proof of vehicle registration and liability protection if you own a vehicle, per GEICO.
The Covr app stores your ID card and registration on your phone so both are with you at a stop or an office visit.
Fines for Driving Uninsured
The penalty for driving without car insurance in Texas starts with a no-insurance ticket of $175 to $350 for a first conviction, and later offenses carry $350 to $1,000, possible vehicle impoundment and annual surcharges, according to Google's AI summary for this search.
| Offense | Fine | Other consequences | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First conviction | $175 to $350 | Surcharges possible | Google AI summary |
| Later convictions | $350 to $1,000 | Possible impoundment, annual surcharges, license and registration suspension | Google AI summary, Progressive |
| Any conviction that triggers a filing | Not stated | SR-22 certificate for up to 2 years | Google AI summary, Mercury |
What a No-Insurance Ticket Can Lead To
A repeat car insurance violation can also bring license and registration suspension, Progressive notes, and GEICO puts the maximum fine at $1,000. The ticket stays on your record and usually raises what you pay for the next plan.
SR-22 and Non-Owner Policies
An SR-22 is a certificate your car insurance company files with the state to prove you carry the required liability limits, usually after a DUI or a conviction for driving uninsured, Mercury explains. Google's AI summary says the filing can be required for up to 2 years; your court or license order sets the exact period.
Non-owner car insurance in Texas gives liability protection to a driver who does not own a vehicle and is one way to keep an SR-22 on file without a car. A separate guide will cover SR-22 rules in detail.
Optional Protection: Full Coverage, Gap and Mexico Trips
Full coverage car insurance in Texas is not a legal term: insurers use it for the 30/60/25 liability minimum plus collision and comprehensive, which are optional under state law but usually required by a lender or leasing company, Allstate and Liberty Mutual note.
| Option | What it pays | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Collision | Repairs to your car after a crash | Only if a lender or lessor requires one |
| Comprehensive | Hail, fire, theft and vandalism damage | Only if a lender or lessor requires one |
| Gap | Loan balance above the car's value after a total loss | No |
| Medical payments | Smaller medical bills for you and passengers | No |
| Towing and labor | Tows and roadside help | No |
Collision and comprehensive coverage deductibles set how much of a claim you pay yourself; the U.S. News full-coverage benchmark uses a $500 deductible on both.
Gap Coverage and Medical Payments
Gap insurance in Texas pays the rest of your car loan if the car is totaled and the payout falls short of the balance, and medical payments coverage handles smaller medical bills, U.S. News explains. GEICO does not sell gap coverage, U.S. News notes, so ask each company whether it offers it.
Towing, Death Indemnity and Other Add-Ons
Towing and labor coverage pays for a tow or roadside help such as a jump-start, Mercury notes, and rental reimbursement pays for a replacement car during repairs. Farm Bureau also sells death indemnity, which pays a beneficiary if a covered person dies in a car accident, according to U.S. News.
Driving Into Mexico
Car insurance from a U.S. company may not pay for an accident in Mexico, even though your U.S. driver's license is valid there, Allstate warns. Ask before a border trip and buy Mexico auto protection if your plan excludes it.
Car Insurance Quotes Texas: How to Compare and Save
Car insurance quotes Texas drivers request take 5 steps to compare once your driver and vehicle details are ready:
- Gather each driver's license number, each vehicle's VIN and your current declarations page.
- Choose liability limits above 30/60/25, such as 100/300/100, and decide whether to keep PIP and uninsured motorist protection.
- Request offers from several companies, through TDI's HelpInsure tool or through a quote service.
- Compare offers line by line with identical limits, deductibles and drivers.
- Start the new plan before the old one ends so TexasSure never shows a gap.
Discounts and Defensive Driving Courses
Car insurance discounts listed by GEICO, Allstate and Mercury include a defensive driving course, multi-car plans, paying in full and good student discounts; take a course your insurer accepts before you count on that discount. A higher deductible also lowers the price, but you pay more when you file a claim.
How Quotes Work Through Covr
Car insurance quotes through Covr come from partner insurers: you enter your ZIP code and phone number, and partners contact you by phone with offers. Covr partners quote drivers in all 50 states and with every driver profile, including drivers who need an SR-22, and Covr does not issue plans or set prices. You can read the full process on how Covr works or learn more about Covr for drivers on our home page.
Sources and Methodology
Our methodology: every car insurance requirement, penalty and price figure on this page was last reviewed by Covr on October 9, 2026 against the sources named next to it: the TDI auto guide and HelpInsure listing, the TxDMV TexasSure service, Bankrate data cited by Mercury, U.S. News rate data refreshed October 2026 (Quadrant Information Services), the requirement pages of GEICO, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Progressive and Mercury, Compare.com, and Google's AI summaries and answer boxes captured on that date.
Fine amounts and the SR-22 period come from Google's AI summary because the captured official car insurance pages did not state them; confirm them with TDI or your court. Written and fact-checked by the Covr Editorial Team under our editorial policy.
This car insurance page is general information, not legal or financial advice; your price and protection depend on your ZIP code, your driving profile and the company you choose. Read our editorial policy or contact us with a correction.
Questions About State Auto Rules
Is the state no-fault or at-fault?
Car insurance here works on an at-fault basis: the driver who causes a crash pays for the other people's injuries and damage through liability limits, and there is no no-fault PIP mandate.
Do I need PIP?
PIP coverage is not mandatory in Texas, but insurers must include it unless you reject it in writing. GEICO lists the default amount as $2,500.
Do I need proof of liability to register a car?
Yes, you need car insurance to register a car in Texas: proof of 30/60/25 liability limits is required to register a vehicle, and TxDMV asks for proof of it for temporary permits too.
How much is a no-insurance ticket?
Driving without car insurance costs $175 to $350 for a first offense and $350 to $1,000 for later offenses, according to Google's AI summary, plus possible impoundment and surcharges.
Can I keep an out-of-state plan after moving?
Residents cannot keep out-of-state car insurance, Mercury notes, so switch to a plan written for the state when you move and register the car.