Posts Tagged ‘TX auto insurance’

Texas Laws Regarding Liability Auto Insurance Coverage

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

Under Texas state laws, drivers are required to have at least a minimum level of liability coverage in place. This is a tort state for car insurance purposes, and people who have been injured in an accident have the right to sue the at-fault driver to collect damages for their injuries.

Bodily injury and property damage liability coverage form part of a standard auto insurance policy. At least $30,000 in bodily injury liability insurance to pay for a personal injury claim made by one person and $60,000 to compensate all people injured in the same accident is required. Property damage liability coverage of at least $25,000 is also a legal requirement in the state.

Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance in Texas

Getting caught driving without auto insurance coverage in Texas means that a driver may be facing the following penalties:

  • Fine of $175-$350 for a first offense
  • Second or subsequent offenses carry a fine of $350-$1,000, suspension of the individual’s driver’s license and impounding of his or her car

Getting Caught Driving Without a License

A person who is caught driving without a valid license is liable for even more serious penalties. The person will be required to pay a $2,000 fine or spend 180 days in jail, or both. If an unlicensed driver is responsible for causing an accident resulting in serious injuries or the death of another person, the penalty is a $4,000 fine or one year in jail, or both.

 

What are the State of Texas Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements?

Monday, September 5th, 2011

The state of Texas has set minimum auto insurance coverage requirements for all drivers. To comply with state legislation, consumers are required to have the following level of protection in place:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage of at least $30,000 to pay for injuries and damages suffered by a single accident victim
  • At least $60,000 to compensate two or more people who have been injured in the same accident
  • $25,000 in property damage liability coverage to pay for the cost of repairs to the other driver’s vehicle and any public property damaged in the acciden

Physical Damage Insurance Coverage

Physical damage coverage is not required under state law, but it should be put in place to protect the driver’s own vehicle. Collision coverage pays for repairs to the vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or an inanimate object. The policyholder is responsible for paying a deductible before the insurance company will write a check for the repairs. If the car is totaled in the accident, the insurer will pay out based on the car’s cash value, not its replacement cost.

Comprehensive insurance coverage protects the vehicle from damage caused by an event other than a collision. It covers events like fire, flooding, vandalism, theft and broken windshields or windows. The vehicle owner is also required to pay a deductible before the insurance company will settle the claim.

 

Auto Insurance Liability: Texas Minimum Requirements

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

Texas drivers are required to have auto insurance liability protection in place. Under state law, drivers must buy bodily injury and property damage coverage.

At least $30,000 in bodily injury liability protection to compensate one person injured in an accident and $60,000 in coverage must be bought to pay for injuries and damages sustained by all occupants of the other vehicle when an at-fault accident occurs. Property damage coverage with a policy limit of at least $25,000 must be purchased to pay for repairs to the other vehicle and any public property damaged in the accident.

The three numbers indicating the level of liability coverage required by law can be expressed as 30/60/25. Drivers in this state can choose to buy a policy with a higher level of protection if they wish. This is a good idea, since limiting liability protection to the minimum required by law may not be high enough to protect a driver if a serious accident occurs.

If the level of protection is not high enough to pay for the damages caused in the accident, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying the difference personally.

Proof of Insurance

Texas drivers are required to carry proof of insurance coverage in their vehicles at all times. They may be asked to show their insurance card when:

  • an accident occurs
  • requested to do so by a police officer
  • obtaining or renewing a driver’s license
  • registering the vehicle
  • getting an inspection

 

 

 

 

How to Get an Auto Insurance Liability Quote in Texas

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Texas drivers who are looking for an auto insurance liability quote need to understand that the state requires all registered vehicles to carry at least a minimum level of coverage. Texas is a tort state for car insurance purposes, which means that people who have been injured in a car accident have the right to sue to collect damages. If the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for the damages, he or she is responsible for paying the difference personally.

The minimum level of bodily injury liability protection required under Texas state law is $30,000 for injuries or death of one person and $60,000 to compensate two or more victims of the same accident. At least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage must also be bought to comply with state laws. This is the part of the policy which pays for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle, as well as public property damaged in the accident.

Getting a quote for auto insurance liability coverage in TX is a relatively simple matter. The fastest way to find out how much it would cost to get coverage from different providers is to go online. Consumers can visit individual insurance company web sites to request quotes for the minimum level of coverage required by law or a higher amount if they wish. Another option is to find a web site which can generate pricing information from several providers at once.