Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Texas?

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Texas?

The Texas Insurance Code says insurers must provide uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in or with an automobile liability policy, and that this includes a policy written through the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA).¹ The same law says the coverage does not apply if any insured named in the policy rejects it in writing.¹ The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) addresses the coverage in its auto insurance guide. TDI writes:

Insurance companies must offer you this coverage. If you don’t want it, you must tell the company in writing.

What do the Texas sources say about uninsured motorist coverage?

Source	What it says
Texas Insurance Code	Insurers must provide the coverage in or with an auto liability policy.1
Texas Insurance Code	The coverage does not apply if any insured named in the policy rejects it in writing.1
TDI	Insurance companies must offer the coverage, and declining it requires telling the company in writing.2
TDI on TAIPA	TAIPA sells liability, personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.2

Can uninsured motorist coverage be declined in Texas?

Yes, in writing. The coverage required by the Insurance Code does not apply if any insured named in the policy rejects it in writing.¹ TDI states that declining it requires telling the company in writing.²

What the sources do not state

The sources used here do not state the coverage limits, what the coverage pays for, what it costs, or whether a driver must carry it.

Next step

The Texas Legislature publishes the rule in the Texas Insurance Code. The filing lookup tool is where to look up filing details for a situation.