How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Texas
The Lone Star state is synonymous with the American Wild West. The Alamo, Hell’s Acre, the Stockyards, the Austin TX capitol and a host of other uniquely “cowboy” treasures are packed in America’s second largest state. Drivers on one border could drive all day and still be in Texas when the sun goes down. Cheap Car Insurance helps Texans find the cheapest car insurance in their city without skimping on any coverage. You might be surprised at how cheap you can find auto insurance in your area by comparing quotes.
Texas average auto insurance premiums have been rising during the last 20 years as population grows. NAIC.org placed the state’s average auto insurance premiums compared to percentage of income above the national average, but you can still find affordable auto premiums.
Cheapest Car Insurance Providers in TX
The cheapest car insurance providers in Texas are USAA (military only), AAA, and Progressive for the a middle-aged, single person, who drives a used 4 door vehicle and has a clean driving record.
See the average costs below for state minimum liability and a full coverage policy by insurance provider for a used vehicle below:
| Insurance Provider | State Minimum | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $568 | $1,910 |
| AAA | $763 | $2,284 |
| Progressive | $782 | $2,472 |
| GEICO | $908 | $2,424 |
| State Farm | $942 | $2,610 |
Cheapest Car Insurance for New Vehicles
Finding the cheapest car insurance for your new vehicle is important as newer vehicles often cost more to insure but also reap the benefits of newer security features that help lower costs overall. The average cost to insure a new vehicle with a full coverage policy is $2,656.
USAA and GEICO offer the cheapest rates between $2,280 and $2,588 a year.
| Insurance Provider: | State Minimum: | Full Coverage: |
|---|---|---|
| USAA: | $530 | $2,280 |
| GEICO: | $838 | $2,588 |
| AAA: | $763 | $2,672 |
| Progressive: | $720 | $2,766 |
| State Farm: | $838 | $2,974 |
Average Car Insurance Costs in Texas by County
The average cost of car insurance in Texas is $2,056 per year for full coverage. If you need state minimum coverage you can expect to pay around $582 per year or around $49 per month. The amount you pay will depend on a few factors such as your age, the city you live in, previous driving record and other applicable factors. Here is the average cost for car insurance based on TX counties below to give you an idea on prices for coverage by vehicle type:
| Auto Insurance Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $1,283 | $1,090 | $1,212 | $1,291 | $1,363 |
| Andrews | $1,069 | $915 | $1,015 | $1,072 | $1,130 |
| Angelina | $1,308 | $1,113 | $1,245 | $1,306 | $1,379 |
| Aransas | $1,099 | $945 | $1,046 | $1,099 | $1,154 |
| Archer | $1,154 | $984 | $1,096 | $1,159 | $1,223 |
| Armstrong | $1,124 | $956 | $1,059 | $1,138 | $1,201 |
| Atascosa | $1,129 | $966 | $1,069 | $1,138 | $1,199 |
| Austin | $1,185 | $1,012 | $1,123 | $1,195 | $1,260 |
| Bailey | $1,124 | $956 | $1,059 | $1,138 | $1,201 |
| Bandera | $1,202 | $1,026 | $1,133 | $1,216 | $1,281 |
| Bastrop | $1,291 | $1,102 | $1,225 | $1,296 | $1,366 |
| Baylor | $1,134 | $963 | $1,065 | $1,149 | $1,214 |
| Bee | $1,108 | $948 | $1,047 | $1,118 | $1,177 |
| Bell | $1,158 | $990 | $1,104 | $1,159 | $1,222 |
| Bexar | $1,331 | $1,148 | $1,274 | $1,320 | $1,385 |
Does Age Affect Your Insurance Rates?
Age is a significant factor that affects auto insurance rates in TX. Generally, younger and older drivers tend to pay higher premiums compared to drivers in their middle age. Here’s how age can influence car insurance costs:
- Young drivers (under 25): Statistically, young and inexperienced drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents. They are also prone to riskier driving behaviors, such as speeding or distracted driving. As a result, insurance companies consider them higher risk, and their premiums are typically more expensive.
- Middle-aged drivers (25-65): This age group is generally considered to be more experienced and responsible behind the wheel. They are statistically involved in fewer accidents and tend to have lower insurance premiums compared to younger and older drivers.
- Senior drivers (65 and older): As drivers get older, their risk profile may change due to factors such as declining vision, slower reflexes, and potential health issues. Insurance companies may increase premiums for older drivers to reflect these factors and the increased likelihood of accidents.
You can see in the chart below that the average premiums are highest for teen drivers and lessens as you age with a big decrease in price at age 29.
| Driver’s Age: | State Minimum Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | $2,686 | $7,193 |
| 18 | $2,346 | $6,376 |
| 20 | $1,664 | $4,752 |
| 22 | $1,248 | $3,659 |
| 24 | $1,068 | $3,172 |
| 29 | $865 | $2,654 |
| 34 | $833 | $2,530 |
| 39 | $829 | $2,496 |
| 44 | $825 | $2,460 |
| 49 | $813 | $2,425 |
| 54 | $791 | $2,329 |
| 64 | $807 | $2,270 |
| 74 | $982 | $2,622 |
| 76 | $1,049 | $2,761 |
How Much Car Insurance Do I Need in Texas?
- All vehicles in Texas must be covered by liability insurance, according to the state’s Insurance Division. Comprehensive and collision are not required by law, but may be required by your lender. As you’re looking for cheap auto insurance in Texas, make sure it offers sufficient coverage to keep you in line with the law.
- Liability minimums in Texas:
- $30,000 includes injury to an individual from an accident.
- $60,000 includes multiple injuries in an accident.
- $25,000 includes property damage in an accident.
Failure to maintain insurance results in:
- First Offense: a fine of $175 to $350
- Second or subsequent offense(s): a fine of $350 to $1,000, suspension of driving privileges and possible impounding of the vehicle.
New Driver License Requirements
- By law, every driver operating a vehicle in the state of Texas must hold a valid state driver’s license. The state’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) is a licensing program to give minors valuable driving training prior to allowing them to drive unsupervised. The GDL has three stages:
- The Learner License
- Minor Restricted Driver License
- Provisional License
- The Learner License. This license permits an applicant who is 15 years old (and under 18) to drive only with a licensed adult who is 21 or older and who has had at least 1 year of driving experience. To apply for the license, the applicant must:
- Complete a driver education course
- Submit a verification of enrollment and attendance for school.
- Minor Restricted Driver License. This license, also known as a hardship license, is available for minors who establish the necessity to drive. With this license, the applicant may become fully licensed at age 15. For an explanation of the requirements and restrictions, refer to the Texas Driver’s Handbook.
- Provisional License. This is a regular driver license with restrictions for drivers under the age of 18. At this point, the applicant must have held the Learner License for at least 6 months and fulfilled all the requirements associated with it. The restrictions include:
- The applicant is permitted only one unrelated passenger under 21.
- The applicant is restricted from driving between midnight and 5am unless driving to/from employment, school activity or medical emergency.
- Once these requirements are fulfilled and the driver turns 18, the Provisional License will become an unrestricted Driver License.
- Vision Screening. 140 degree peripheral vision and at least a 20/40 visual acuity with or without corrective lenses is required to obtain an unrestricted license.
- Knowledge Test. The knowledge test evaluates the driver’s understanding of basic traffic concepts included in the Texas Driver’s Handbook. A passing score of 70 percent is needed.
- Road Test. The test consists of four skill areas:
- Vehicle control
- Observation
- Positioning
- Signaling
- The driver’s handbook details each skill area with specific required actions that the test administrator will include in the test.
- Fees:
- Learner License (under 18): $16
- Driver License (under 18): $16
- Driver License (Ages 18-84): $25
- Driver License (Ages 85 and up)D: $9
DUI Laws & Violation Costs
- BAC limit: .08 The Texas Department of Transportation defines the state’s DUI laws (§ 49.04).
- First Offense:
- Jail: 3 to 180 days
- License revocation: maximum 1 year
- Fine: maximum $2,000
- License retention fee: $1,000 to $2,000 per year for 3 years
- Second Offense:
- Jail: 1 month to 1 year
- License revocation: maximum 2 years
- Fine: maximum $4,000
- Ignition Interlock Device must be installed
- License retention fee: $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000 per year for 3 years
- Third Offense:
- Jail: 2 to 10 years
- License revocation: maximum 2 years
- Fine: $10,000
- Ignition Interlock Device must be installed
- License retention fee: $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000 per year for 3 years
How Much Does Insurance Cost with a DUI Violation?
If you have a DUI violation on your record you will see that your average cost for car insurance raises significantly and will cost around $4,867 a year for full coverage and $1,781 for state minimum coverage. Progressive, USAA and State Farm offer the cheapest rates for drivers with a DUI on their driving record as seen below:
| Insurance Provider | State Minimum: | Full Coverage: |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $1,299 | $4,613 |
| USAA | $1,404 | $4,264 |
| State Farm | $1,822 | $4,805 |
| AAA | $1,985 | $5,589 |
| GEICO | $2,018 | $5,066 |
Driver Resources
State Department of Insurance
Texas Department Insurance
333 Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-6169
1-800-578-4677
www.tdi.texas.gov
Get Directions
Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th St.
Austin, Texas 78701
(800) 558-9368
(512) 463-8588
www.txdot.gov
Get Directions
Department of Motor Vehicles
Texas Department Motor Vehicles
4000 Jackson Ave.
Austin, TX 78731
1-888-368-4689
www.txdmv.gov
Get Directions
The Texas Department of Public Safety handles all driver’s license issues.
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Largest Cities:
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