Texas Auto Insurance
If you live in the state of Texas, then you should be aware that the statewide minimum requirements for car insurance recently changed. Prior to January of 2011, drivers were only required to carry a minimum of $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in general property damage coverage however these auto insurance requirements have been raised where all drivers must now carry at least $30,000/$60,000 in bodily injury and $25,000 in general property damage coverage. The change is quite small however if have a policy which only complies with state minimum requirements its important to check your policy and purchase additional coverage otherwise you may be fined for driving with no insurance.
Are Texas Minimum Car Insurance Requirements enough?
No. Despite the change in requirements, even the new minimum levels of coverage are still not enough to adequately protect you in the event of an accident. To be truly protected, you should consider much higher limits of liability insurance and other types of coverage, such as collision, comprehensive and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, as well.
Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is very important to have in any state however Texas drivers need to pay particular attention to the facts. Its estimated that over 20% of ALL registered vehicles in Texas are uninsured or falsely uninsured which means you have a pretty high chance of getting into a car accident with someone who has no car insurance.
Drivers who take the risk of driving with no auto insurance are exposing themselves to great personal liability, fines and even driver’s license suspension. Texas is one of the few states with an advanced system where law enforcement officials can immediately check whether or not you have insurance and/or your auto insurance policy is valid.
Average Texas Auto Insurance Rates
Texas drivers pay an average of $1,334 in auto insurance premiums annually, which is slightly below the national average of $1,440. The important thing to keep in mind, however, is that the average auto insurance premium shouldn’t be looked at as what you can expect to pay. Instead, it should be thought of as a “marker” that lets you know when you’re getting a good deal or if the deal being offered to you isn’t really as great as it sounds. Also remember that you should always aim to pay below the statewide average and drivers with good driving records can often pay much less by comparing auto insurance quotes and taking advantage of discounts.
Texas Auto Insurance Companies
Texas is home to over 100 licensed auto insurance companies, and it’s easy just to choose the first one in the phone book and go about your business. However, this can cause you to overpay for car insurance significantly so you need to take your time and compare auto insurance quotes from multiple providers.
Your first step should be to make a list of all of the licensed providers in your area. Then, you can work from this list to research the providers and to learn more about them, their history and reputation, and the services they provide. Many people also find it very helpful to read online customer reviews written by past or current clients of the insurance provider. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends, family members, and co-workers for their experiences with various providers as well. Anything you can do to get an “inside look” into a company is a good idea. Some other factors you could use to evaluate Texas auto insurance companies include:
- Customer Service Hours
- Presence of Local Agents
- Claims Handling Process
- Online Account Management Tools
Finding the best Texas auto insurance company will highly depend on your unique needs and your unique profile but drivers do have a wealth of choices in the Great State of Texas. Start your Texas auto insurance comparison search today and compare Texas auto insurance quotes today – Simply enter your ZIP code above to find a list of Texas auto insurance companies near you.
