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The Texas Department of Insurance requires that you have liability insurance. This is one way that you can show proof that you can pay for any accidents that are your fault. In the event that you still owe money on your car in Texas, your lender will require that you have comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to liability coverage. You can add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect yourself if you’re hit by someone without insurance or with insufficient insurance to pay your car repair and medical bills.
Minimum Acceptable Auto Insurance in Texas
As far as liability coverage goes, you must have at least $30,000 of coverage for injuries to another person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 of coverage for property damage. You can refer to this sort of coverage as 30/60/25 coverage. Liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, and collision coverage are three common types of basic auto insurance coverage. The other five types of basic auto insurance coverage in Texas are:
- Medical payments coverage
- Personal injury protection coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Towing and labor coverage
- Rental reimbursement coverage
Required Insurance Documents
You should always carry your auto insurance card on you. This auto insurance card should contain the policy number, insurance company’s phone number, insurance company’s physical address, and your own name and phone number. It should also contain the heading “State of Texas- Insurance Identification Card”.
This card should also list the make and models of all vehicles it covers as well as the policy’s effective and expiration dates. All Texas drivers are legally required to carry liability insurance. If they don’t, they can face a $1,000 fine, suspension of their driver’s license and registration in addition to impoundment of their vehicle for a maximum of 180 days.
Insurance Cards in Texas
You must show your insurance card in Texas when you apply for or renew your motor vehicle registration. You also have to show your insurance card if you are applying for or renewing your driver’s license or motor vehicle safety inspection sticker. If you have an accident or an officer asks to see your insurance card, you will have to show it then, as well.
Insurance cards in Texas may be in either English or Spanish. If it is only in English, you must include a section in Spanish with instructions for the reader and the insurance agent’s contact information. It is optional to include the insurance agent’s email address.
Reporting Insurance Fraud in Texas
Insurance fraud is a significant issue in Texas like in many other states. In addition to all of its other negative effects, insurance fraud increases insurance rates in the state of Texas. You can report anyone committing insurance fraud to the Texas Department of Insurance Fraud Unit. You can report insurance fraud online or call the TDI’s Help Line at 800-252-3439. If the insurance fraud involves Medicare, Medicaid, or health care discount programs, report it to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hot Line at 800-621-0508.