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.
Average Car Insurance Costs in Texas
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 |
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 Driving Laws in Texas
- 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
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:
Dallas
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