Can you get car insurance with a bad driving record in Texas?
Yes. A bad driving record narrows your carrier options and raises your rate, but it does not lock you out of coverage. Standard carriers may decline you or surcharge heavily; non-standard carriers price for exactly this situation. A-LA compares 35+ Texas carriers — including high-risk specialists — so liability starts at $28/month for qualifying drivers even after tickets, at-fault accidents, or a lapse (after a DUI, liability-only SR-22 typically runs about $125–$175/month). Same-day, bilingual, at 21+ offices across Texas.
How much a bad record raises your Texas rate
Insurers price your risk from your Texas DPS driving record, and the size of the surcharge depends heavily on the violation. Here is how the most common serious violations typically move a premium, relative to each other (actual increases vary by carrier and record):
| Violation | Typical rate increase | SR-22 required? |
|---|---|---|
| First-offense DUI / DWI | Very high | Yes |
| Multiple at-fault accidents | High | Sometimes |
| Driving uninsured | Moderate | If DPS orders it |
| Reckless driving | High | If DPS orders it |
| Hit-and-run | Very high | If DPS orders it |
A single minor speeding ticket has a much smaller effect than the violations above and is often absorbed with little or no increase at a non-standard carrier. Texas ended its Driver Responsibility Program (the old state surcharge system) in 2019, so the state no longer bills annual surcharge fees — but your insurer still rates the underlying record.
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How long a violation affects your Texas rate
Most moving violations affect your Texas insurance rate for about 3 years from the conviction date, after which standard carriers may reconsider you for better rates. A violation can stay on your motor vehicle record longer than it actually affects your premium. DUI convictions are more serious — they can affect your insurance for 3–5 years and typically require continuous SR-22 filing for 2 years from the conviction date under Texas law. The fastest way back to lower rates is continuous coverage with no new violations while that window runs out.
A-LA tracks those record milestones for you and proactively re-shops your rate across 35+ carriers at each renewal, so you move back toward standard pricing as soon as your history allows instead of overpaying for years.
When a bad record means an SR-22
An SR-22 is not triggered by every violation — only specific ones, such as a DUI/DWI, driving uninsured (when DPS orders it), driving while license suspended, or a court order. Many drivers with a rough record (several speeding tickets, for example) need no SR-22 at all. When one is required, A-LA files it electronically the same day, and the SR-22 filing fee your carrier charges is just $15–$25 per filing — Texas DPS charges no fee to receive the filing. See our Texas SR-22 insurance and high-risk auto insurance pages for the full breakdown.
How to get covered — and lower it over time
- Use a non-standard carrier through A-LA that prices your full record instead of declining you.
- Keep continuous coverage — a lapse is itself a surcharge, and a second conviction for driving uninsured can lead to a DPS-ordered SR-22.
- Wait out the 3-year window on moving violations with no new incidents.
- Take a state-approved defensive driving course to offset an eligible ticket.
- Choose liability-only ($28/month floor) on an older car to keep the base rate low.
- Let A-LA re-shop 35+ carriers at every renewal as your record improves.
For how carriers look at a Texas record, how to order your record from TxDPS and more ways to cut the cost, see our page on car insurance with a bad driving record in Texas.
Bad record? We still say yes.
A-LA specializes in high-risk drivers. Get a same-day, bilingual quote across 35+ Texas carriers — liability from $28/month at 21+ offices in Texas.
Call (866) 252-6116Bad-driving-record insurance FAQ
Licensed Insurance Agent, Texas
Published · Updated
Ray is a licensed insurance agent at A-LA Auto Insurance, a Texas-licensed independent agency with 21 offices across Texas — 18 in Dallas-Fort Worth and three in San Antonio. With 5+ years of experience in the non-standard auto insurance market, he specializes in SR-22 filings, high-risk auto, DUI insurance, no-credit-check options, and coverage for drivers without a US license. Ray works with 35+ carriers to find the lowest available rate. Call (866) 252-6116 to speak with the team directly.
Licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance. A-LA Auto Insurance is an independent agency serving DFW since 2021. For personalized advice, call (866) 252-6116.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized insurance advice. Coverage options, terms, and pricing vary by individual circumstances. Contact a licensed agent for specific recommendations. A-LA Auto Insurance is licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance.