Texas car insurance: a map of the situations

This page maps the situations the site covers in Texas and gives the headline fact for each. Every situation has its own page with the sources in full.

Statewide basics

Texas sets a minimum of $30,000¹ for bodily injury to or death of one person in one collision. It sets $60,000¹ for two or more persons in one collision, subject to the per-person amount. For damage to or destruction of property of others in one collision, the minimum is $25,000¹.

A person may not operate a motor vehicle in Texas unless financial responsibility is established. Texas law lists 5 options² for doing so: an insurance policy, a surety bond, a deposit with the comptroller, a deposit with a county judge, or self-insurance. Texas law also directs the Texas Department of Insurance to establish a program to verify whether vehicle owners have established financial responsibility.³

The situations

Each paragraph below gives one verified fact and links to the page that covers the situation. The fact is a way into the topic, not a summary of it. The page for each situation sets out the sequence of events and links to the individual questions, each with its sources.

Requirements. TDI states that insurance companies must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and that declining it requires telling the company in writing.⁴ The requirements page covers the minimum limits, ways to establish financial responsibility and proof of insurance.

SR-22. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) says coverage must be maintained for 2 years⁵ from the conviction that requires an SR-22, or from the date a crash judgment was rendered. The SR-22 page follows the filing from trigger to reinstatement.

DWI. A DWI offense is a Class B misdemeanor. The statute sets 72 hours minimum confinement⁶, subject to the enhancements elsewhere in the statute. The DWI page covers what follows an arrest.

Coverage lapse. A first offense of operating a vehicle without financial responsibility is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $175 to $350⁷. The coverage lapse page follows a roadside proof check and what can come after it.

Suspended license. DPS lists the reinstatement fee for departmental suspensions, such as Driving While License Invalid, as $100⁸. The suspended license page covers suspensions, policies and occupational licenses.

Down payment. The Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA) states that the producer mails the completed, signed application to TAIPA within one business day, along with the down payment.⁹ The payments page covers TAIPA, premium financing and refunds.

After a crash. The Insurance Code says an insurer must notify a claimant in writing that a claim is accepted or rejected not later than the fifteenth business day after the insurer receives all the items, statements and forms it requires, subject to the exceptions in the statute.¹⁰ The after a crash page covers duties at the scene, claim deadlines and a totaled car.

Complaints. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says it cannot make a company pay more than the policy allows.¹¹ The complaints page covers how a complaint to TDI works and the notice rules for cancellation and non-renewal.