Securing a car insurance policy doesn’t just help keep you legal as a Texas driver—though that’s obviously very important. It can also help protect you financially if you’re involved in an accident or your vehicle is otherwise damaged. Here’s some important information you should know about purchasing car insurance in Texas.
The Texas Driver Handbook provides detailed information on traffic laws, licensing and registration requirements, and more. To help ensure you’re up to date on the state’s laws—from right-of-way to roundabouts—we encourage you to review the handbook. In the meantime, here are a few key points:
To legally drive in Texas, you’re required to carry the minimum required limits of the following car insurance coverages:
In Texas, insurance providers are required to add UM/UIM coverages to your auto insurance policy unless you specifically reject them in writing.
Get a free quote: Start saving on your Texas car insurance.
Yes. While carrying the required coverages listed above can help keep you legal while driving in Texas, those coverages alone don’t offer the kinds of protection these optional coverages can. You can choose to add the following coverages to your policy:
Collision insurance helps pay for repairs to your vehicle if it’s damaged in a collision with another vehicle, or a stationary object like a fire hydrant or tree. It applies regardless of who was at fault in the accident.
We know collisions aren’t the only incidents that can damage your car. Let’s say your car is vandalized, stolen, or damaged by hail or other natural disaster. Comprehensive coverage can help pay for your vehicle repairs or other covered losses.
Personal injury protection (PIP) can help pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses if you and/or your passengers are injured in an accident. It may also help pay for lost wages, lost services, and even funeral expenses. This coverage is added to your policy unless you specifically reject it.
Hospital bills aren’t getting any cheaper these days, even for minor procedures. Now consider the additional costs if you need an ambulance ride following an accident. With medical payments coverage, you can get some help paying for medical expenses if you and/or your passengers are injured in an accident, regardless of who was at fault. You can purchase this coverage instead of PIP.
Adding custom equipment or features to your vehicle can help make it unique. But what happens if those customizations are damaged in an accident? Special equipment coverage can help pay for those repairs; just be aware there are limitations. Talk to your agent for more information.
If your vehicle needs to spend some time in the shop for repairs due to a covered loss, you may need to rent a vehicle to get around in the meantime. Rental reimbursement coverage can help you pay your temporary rental costs.
Non-owner car insurance can help protect you by providing liability coverage if you cause an accident while driving a covered vehicle you don’t actually own. Just keep in mind it doesn’t apply to vehicles owned by people you live with.
This coverage endorsement extends your coverage when you make infrequent trips (five trips or fewer during a 30-day period, for no more than 10 total days during that period) in which you travel 25 miles or less into Mexico.
This coverage can help you with 24-hour towing and roadside service if you’re stuck or stranded due to a mechanical or electrical breakdown, battery failure, flat tire, or other covered situation.
Regardless of your driving history, you can still be insured. Get your quick nonstandard auto insurance quote now.
How can you get the most value out of your car insurance? Start by talking to your Dairyland® agent to see if you qualify for one or more of the following car insurance discounts available to Texas drivers:
We get it. Life can be complicated, and sometimes car insurance is no exception. That’s why we make getting a quote with Dairyland easy—and free. To request your auto insurance quote online, simply enter your ZIP code and click Get a quote below. If you’d rather do it over the phone, give us a call at 888-344-4357.
We can help insure your vehicle, and other agencies and organizations can help you with the other important steps that come with living in Texas. Start with these three:
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can help you receive or renew your driver’s license, register your vehicle, and even buy or sell a car.
Checking the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) website before traveling can help you stay safe and informed—review maps and traffic cameras, discover rest areas, and more.
Whether you need to insure your home or apartment, purchase health insurance, or file an insurance-related question or complaint, the Texas Department of Insurance has the resources you need.