Compare Auto Insurance in Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, but your insurance rates don't have to be. We've compiled everything you need to know to find the best car insurance rates in the Lone Star State.
Learn how your rates stack up with state averages, how to save money on car insurance, and more.
Average Texas Car Insurance Rates
How much does car insurance in Texas cost? For many, car insurance in Texas is expensive. Average car insurance rates are higher than the national average. The average cost of auto insurance in Texas is $934.22 per year. The national average price is $889.01 per year.
Rates vary depending on your driving record, policy type, claim history, and more. The number of claims filed in your zip code could also be a factor.
| Coverage | Rates |
|---|---|
| Liability | $516.26 |
| Collision | $357.61 |
| Comprehensive | $192.33 |
| Total Cost Per Year | $934.22 |
| Price Per Month | $77.85 |
| Source: Facts + Statistics: Auto insurance | |
The graph below shows the change in average auto insurance rates in Texas from 2011 to 2015, the most recent year the data is available. According to the Insurance Information Institute, car insurance rates in Texas increased from $808 in 2011 to $934 in 2015, a jump of $125, or 15.48 percent.
If you're looking to get a good deal on car insurance in Texas, you're going to need to shop around.
Let QuoteWizard help. We’ll put you in touch with top insurance companies. You can compare insurance quotes and get the best rates.
Last year, 247,646 used QuoteWizard to compare car insurance quotes in Texas from multiple companies to get the cheapest rates.
Most Popular Auto Insurance Companies in Texas
These are the most common car insurance companies reported by QuoteWizard users living in Texas last year. Out of the 247,646 Texans that used QuoteWizard to request insurance quotes, 28,644 had no insurance.
What company suits your needs best? You can study them side by side on our compare companies page. We've compiled guidelines for the 30 biggest insurance companies in America. Getting educated is the first step to getting the right policy. What better way to compare Texas auto insurance quotes?
Top 10 Vehicles
These are the most common cars owned by QuoteWizard users in Texas:
- Ford F150
- Chevrolet C1500 Silverado
- Honda Accord EX/LX
- Ford Mustang
- GMC Sierra C1500
- Dodge Ram
- Nissan Altima 2.5 S
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Toyota Camry LE/XLE/SE
- Chevrolet Suburban
Texas Car Insurance Rate Factors
A standard car insurance policy in Texas is more expensive than the national average. Why is auto insurance in Texas so expensive? Great question.
First, 14 percent of Texas drivers are uninsured, the 16th highest rate in the country. Car insurance is more expensive in areas with lots of uninsured drivers because the cost of damages caused by uninsured drivers are passed onto insured drivers.
Also, living in a large state with many rural areas means Texans drive more miles than the average American. More time behind the wheel increases your chances of an accident or violation. That's part of the reason why Texas has the 11th highest DUI rates and the sixth highest number of crashes in the country.
These factors mean Texans pay more for insurance than the average American.
| City | Monthly Rates | Annual Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | $94 | $1,126 |
| McAllen | $94 | $1,125 |
| Pasadena | $88 | $1,058 |
| Dallas | $87 | $1,050 |
| Garland | $87 | $1,044 |
| Beaumont | $85 | $1,024 |
| Corpus Christi | $85 | $1,015 |
| Mesquite | $84 | $1,006 |
| Grand Prairie | $84 | $1,006 |
| Brownsville | $94 | $1,132 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. 1 | ||
| City | Monthly Rates | Annual Rates |
|---|---|---|
| San Angelo | $57 | $683 |
| Wichita Falls | $60 | $720 |
| Abilene | $62 | $745 |
| Midland | $64 | $763 |
| Waco | $64 | $766 |
| Killeen | $64 | $769 |
| Odessa | $67 | $801 |
| College Station | $68 | $813 |
| El Paso | $68 | $814 |
| Pasadena | $69 | $822 |
| Average rates are based on non-binding estimates provided by Quadrant Information Services. Your rates may vary. 1 | ||
Uninsured Drivers
14.1 percent of Texas drivers are uninsured. That puts Texas as #16 among US states. It's worse than the national average of 13 percent. High percentages of uninsured drivers raise rates for insured drivers.
Best and Worst Drivers in Texas
Our nationwide study found that Texas ranks #29 for worst drivers. We ranked Texas cities with data from our users to compare drivers in each city. We used accidents, speeding tickets, DUI's and citations to find the city with the best and worst drivers in Texas. These are the 11 worst driving cities in Texas:
- Pearland
- Irving
- Plano
- Round Rock
- Austin
- Killeen
- San Antonio
- Arlington
- Dallas
- Odessa
- Houston
Texas Car Insurance Laws
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Texas
In Texas, you must maintain a minimum coverage level of 30/60/25. This means that you must have a policy with at least the following coverages:
- Bodily injury liability per person: $30,000
- Bodily injury liability per incident: $60,000
- Property damage liability per incident: $25,000
Recommended Coverage Levels
Texas has the 16th highest rate of uninsured drivers. Over 14 percent of Texas’ drivers have no insurance. There are two down sides to this for Texas drivers. First off, insurance costs more in areas with a high rate of uninsured drivers. Second, it raises the chances of being in an accident where you have to cover all your costs. Uninsured/underinsured insurance is a sound solution to this problem. It covers your damages after a crash with an uninsured motorist.
If you only have state minimum insurance, you’re vulnerable in the event of an accident. While your minimum liability may take care of the other driver in the crash, it does nothing to cover your damages. And it’s all too easy for the total cost of an accident to surpass minimum coverage levels. To prevent this, we recommend:
- Individual Body Injury Liability: $100,000
- Total Bodily Injury Liability: $300,000
- Property Damage Liability: $100,000
Required Proof of Car Insurance
Drivers in Texas must have an insurance identification card at all times. You'll get this identification card from your car insurance company when you buy a policy. The card must include all the following:
- Name of the insurance company
- Policy number
- Effective date of the policy
- Expiration date of the policy
- Description of the year, make, or model of the insured vehicles, or the name of the insured driver
Failure to show proof of insurance at an accident or traffic stop may result in a fine of up to $350. And a surcharge of $250 will be added to your annual driver’s license fee the next three years. You may also have your license and registration suspended until you're able to show proof of insurance
SR-22 Requirements
After a license suspension, Texans need to file an SR-22 form. “SR” stands for safety responsibility. It certifies that a driver has the minimum amount of insurance required by state law.
Texas State law requires that an SR-22 be carried for two years from the date of the conviction. If a driver fails to renew their policy 15 days before expiration, the state suspends their license. Once renewed, the license will be reinstated, but this can be a time-consuming process.
Totaled Cars with Rebuilt or Salvage Titles
If your car is damaged and the cost to repair it exceeds its value, your insurer will deem it a total loss. A total loss vehicle comes with a salvage title. Once it's repaired, it gets a rebuilt title.
Each state has their own laws regarding totaled cars. In Texas, total loss is calculated by a percentage of the car's actual cash value. If the damage exceeds that percentage, the car is totaled. In Texas, it's 100 percent. If damages to your car meet or exceed 100 percent of the car's actual cash value, your insurer will consider it a total loss.
Buying insurance for a rebuilt or salvage vehicle in Texas is tricky. Some insurance companies won't cover such vehicles. Expect to pay higher rates if your car has a rebuilt or salvage title -- if you can get coverage.
State of Texas Traffic Safety Laws
Distracted Driving Laws
Distracted driving is increasingly common. Texas prohibits school bus drivers and novice drivers, under 18, from making or receiving cell phone calls. Texting while driving is also illegal.
DWI Law and Penalties
Drive in Texas with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you're guilty of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
The penalties for a first offense DWI conviction are:
- Between three and 180 days in jail
- A fine of up to $2,000
- Driver's license suspended up to one year
- Annual fee of $1,000 to $2,000 for three years to keep your driver's license
With each subsequent DWI, punishments increase. That can include a required ignition interlock device, lengthy license suspension, and jail time.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. Your insurance rates will climb each time you’re convicted of a DWI. Our research shows that drivers can expect to pay $830 more per year for car insurance after a DUI. But that's only if you can find a company willing to insure you.
Senior Drivers
Car insurance rates often increase around the time drivers turn 65. It's a small increase for drivers with clean records. But it goes up considerably as drivers continue to age.
All drivers are required to renew their driver’s licenses every 6 years. Beginning at age 79, you must renew your driver’s license in person. Beginning at age 85, renewal is required every two years.
Vehicles Registered in Another State
If you drive a car in Texas that is registered in another state, it must have the insurance coverage required by that state. You must also be able to provide proof of this insurance to law enforcement upon request.
Rate Methodology
1 Auto insurance rate data was provided by Quadrant Information Services. Rates are based on a driver profile of a 35-year-old, owning a 2015 Toyota Camry, drives less than 10,000 annual miles, good credit, clean record, and state minimum liability of 25/50/10. Rates are an average of the top 10 insurance companies in the state of Texas.
Texas Department of Insurance
- Website:
- Homepage
- Insurance Commissioner:
- Kent Sullivan
- Insurance Hotline:
- (800) 252 - 3439
- Office Hours:
- Monday - Friday
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- File a Consumer Insurance Complaint
- Complaint Page
Sources:
- Insurance Information Institute – Minimum Coverage Levels by State
- National Insurance Crime Bureau
- Governors Highway Safety Association
- Insurance Information Institute – Insurance Expenditures by State
- Texas Proof of Financial Responsibility
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