How to Get the Best Texas Car Insurance Quotes: A Complete Guide
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If you live in Texas and drive a vehicle, you're required to carry liability car insurance. Your liability insurance helps compensate others if you cause an accident. You can purchase additional coverages to protect yourself and your vehicle, including comprehensive and collision insurance.
Auto insurance can be expensive, so comparing Texas car insurance quotes from several providers is a good idea. In this article, we'll explain the minimum coverage levels for Texas car insurance, how to choose the right policy, and the factors that impact your insurance premiums.
Research Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Texas
Texas laws require all drivers to carry liability coverage. Your policy must be at least these amounts:
- $30,000 for bodily injuries or death for one individual in a single accident
- $60,000 for bodily injuries or death for all individuals per collision
- $25,000 for property damage arising from an accident
Insurance companies commonly refer to the coverage levels as 30/60/25.
Texas law doesn't require you to carry other types of auto insurance. However, if you finance or lease a vehicle, your lender may include a provision requiring you to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage. Your lender may also request that you buy higher amounts of liability coverage.
Review the insurance requirements of your state:
Identify Your Insurance Needs
Everyone in Texas needs liability auto insurance, but what about additional coverages? It depends on your circumstances.
Vehicles under a loan or lease usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance pays for vehicle repairs if you're in an at-fault accident. Once you pay your deductible, the insurance company will pay the remainder.
Comprehensive coverage pays for car repairs if something happens to the vehicle outside your control. Some of the things comprehensive insurance policies may cover include vandalism, theft, fire, or flooding.
Other types of insurance you may consider include:
- Medical payments: Pays medical expenses if you're hurt in an accident or riding in someone else's vehicle. Medical payments insurance may also reimburse your passengers for any injuries they sustain. This type of insurance is similar to personal injury protection (PIP).
- Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage: Pays for vehicle repair costs and bodily injuries if you're in a collision with someone who doesn't have insurance or whose policy doesn't cover the entirety of your losses
- Gap coverage: Pays off the remaining balance of a car loan or lease if you total your vehicle in an accident
Additional coverage can protect you financially if you're in a collision, but it usually results in higher insurance premiums.
Understand the Texas Car Insurance Landscape
To get car insurance, you'll need to request a Texas car insurance quote from an insurance company that does business in the state. It's a good idea to do some comparison shopping among providers. Getting multiple car insurance quotes in Texas can help you find the best rates.
The average cost of a full coverage Texas policy, including liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance, is $3,156 annually. A liability-only policy is $960 annually. That works out to approximately $263 monthly for full coverage and $80 monthly for a liability policy.
Keep in mind that those rates are averages, and your rates may be higher or lower based on your circumstances. When you request a car insurance quote in Texas, ask about the provider's discounts. Insurance companies may discount their rates if you meet specific eligibility criteria, such as:
- Bundling auto insurance in Texas with a homeowner's or rental insurance policy
- Buying your policy in full or signing up for auto-pay
- Enrolling in an app that tracks your driving behaviors and mileage
- Having safety features on your car
- Being an employee of specific organizations
Analyze Factors Affecting Premium Costs
Insurance companies look at multiple elements to determine your insurance premiums.
Age and Its Impact on Rates
Being a younger driver means you have less experience behind the wheel. Car insurance companies in Texas may see you as a risk and charge you a higher premium to compensate. However, some providers offer age-related discounts to young drivers if they meet certain requirements, like maintaining good grades or enrolling in a defensive driver course. Rates usually start to drop by the age of 25.
Driving Record and Insurance Premiums
Most insurance companies retain a three-year lookback period on their customer's driving history. You may receive a higher rate if you've received a speeding ticket, been in an accident, or filed an auto insurance claim within that period. While there's nothing you can do to change the past, maintaining a clean driving record in the future can qualify you for the lowest rates.
Vehicle Type and Value Considerations
The vehicle you drive and its worth impact your insurance rate. Generally, insurers charge more to provide coverage on luxury or sports cars. Luxury cars cost more to fix or replace, and sports cars may be at a higher risk of accidents.
If keeping insurance costs low is important to you and you're shopping for a new car, consider comparing quotes on different types of vehicles you're interested in. That way, you can estimate your insurance premiums before signing off on your new ride.
Vehicle Location
Where you live can dramatically impact your insurance rates. In fact, simply moving from one zip code to another in the same city may influence your rates. When considering location, insurers look at car theft rates, population size, and accident frequency to determine how to price your policy.
Credit History
Your credit score may impact your insurance premiums. If you have a history of missed payments or collections, the insurer may charge you a higher rate.
Use Online Comparison Tools Effectively
Insurance isn't just a nice-to-have. It's a must if you plan on driving Texas roads. At minimum, you need liability coverage that meets state requirements, and you may require collision and comprehensive insurance if you finance your vehicle. It's worth checking out an online comparison tool like EverQuote to find an affordable policy.
EverQuote can help you find the cheapest car insurance policy that suits your needs. When you sign up for our services, we'll survey providers for car insurance Texas quotes. It's free, and you can compare provider quotes to find a rate that works for you. Get started today with EverQuote!