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Car insurance in Texas: What are the requirements and what happens if you don’t have insurance?

By law, all drivers in Texas must be able to prove financial responsibility for any Texas car accidents they may cause.

There are several ways a driver can establish financial responsibility.

1. File a surety bond with your County Clerk. The bond must include people, both of which own real property in Texas. If you are in an accident, and you cannot pay for the damages you cause, your property can be used to cover the damages.

2. Make a deposit of $55,000 to your county comptroller.

3. Make a deposit of $55,000 in cash or cashier’s check to the county judge.

Of course, most of us don’t have an extra $55,000 to deposit just in case we cause a car crash. So for most people, the best option is :

4. A car insurance policy from a state-licensed insurance provider.

The minimum state requirements for liability coverage are 25/50/25. This means you must have coverage of at least:

• $25,000 bodily injury coverage for one person in a single accident
• $50,000 bodily injury coverage total per accident
• $25,000 property damage coverage per accident

In Texas, insurance coverage is verified electronically and can be accessed by TxDMV as well as state and local law enforcement agencies. However, you should still carry your license, registration and proof of insurance any time you operate a motor vehicle.

Law enforcement officials estimate that about 20 percent of Texas drivers are not carrying auto insurance. If you are in a Texas highway accident or are stopped by a police officer and you cannot financial responsibility, your license and registration will be suspended.To lift your suspension, you must prove insurance coverage and pay reinstatement fees. If this occurs twice, your car will be impounded for up to 180 days and the state will charge you an impound fee for every day your car is impounded. The fees will certainly be more than the cost of insurance.

If you are injured in a South Texas car crash and the responsible driver is not carrying car insurance, what can you do? Your best bet is to use your own insurance. As long as you did not cause the accident, the insurance company cannot raise your rates. Your company will go after the uninsured driver to try to get reimbursed.

If you have been seriously hurt in a Brownsville traffic accident and you have questions about insurance coverage, call The Cowen Law Group at 877-385-1282. Our San Antonio area traffic accident and personal injury attorneys have written a FREE book, The Insider’s Guide to Texas Accident Cases. This book discusses your rights after a Texas car crash. If you have questions about your situation, contact our office to schedule a FREE legal consultation.

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