Texas Minimum Car Insurance Requirements 2026: What the Law Requires

Quick Answer

Texas requires 30/60/25 minimum liability coverage (effective January 2025 update): $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident. This is the legal minimum under Tex. Transp. Code §601.051. Liability-only policies start from approximately $45–$120/month for standard drivers and $65–$200/month for non-standard drivers.

What Does 30/60/25 Mean?

The three numbers in 30/60/25 represent three separate liability coverage limits. Here is what each number covers:

$30,000

Bodily Injury Per Person

Maximum your insurance pays for injuries to one person in an accident you cause.

$60,000

Bodily Injury Per Accident

Maximum for all injuries combined in one accident you cause (all people total).

$25,000

Property Damage Per Accident

Maximum for property damage in one accident you cause (other vehicles, structures, etc.).

Important: These Are Maximums, Not Guarantees

If you cause an accident where the other person's medical bills exceed $30,000, your insurance pays only $30,000 — you are personally responsible for the rest. In DFW, average hospital stays cost $15,000–$50,000+, and serious injuries can exceed $100,000. The minimum limits may leave you financially exposed.

What Minimum Liability Does NOT Cover

Liability insurance only pays for damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not cover any of the following:

Your own medical bills:If you are injured in an accident you caused, liability does not pay for your treatment.

Damage to your own vehicle:If your car is damaged or totaled in an at-fault accident, liability does not cover repairs or replacement.

Theft or vandalism of your car:If your vehicle is stolen or vandalized, liability provides no coverage.

Weather and natural disaster damage:Hail, flooding, falling trees, and other natural events are NOT covered. This is significant in DFW where hail storms are common.

Single-vehicle accidents:If you hit a guardrail, pole, or tree, liability does not cover your vehicle damage.

Hit-and-run damage to your vehicle:If an uninsured or unknown driver damages your car, minimum liability does not cover your repairs.

When Should You Get Full Coverage?

Full coverage adds comprehensive (theft, weather, vandalism) and collision (accident damage to your car) on top of liability. You should strongly consider full coverage if:

Your Vehicle Is Financed or Leased

Lenders require full coverage to protect their investment. If you drop below full coverage, the lender may force-place expensive insurance on your loan.

Your Car Is Worth More Than $10,000

If you cannot afford to replace your vehicle out of pocket, comprehensive and collision coverage protects you.

You Drive in DFW

Dallas-Fort Worth has among the highest rates of hail damage, uninsured motorists (estimated 14% in Texas), and vehicle theft in the state. Full coverage protects against all three.

You Have Limited Savings

If a total loss or major repair would create financial hardship, the additional $30–$80/month for full coverage is worth the protection.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Texas

Under Tex. Transp. Code §601.191, driving without insurance in Texas carries significant consequences that escalate with repeat offenses:

Offense	Fine	Additional Consequences
1st Offense	$175 – $350	Possible license suspension, SR-22 requirement
2nd Offense	Up to $1,000	License suspension, SR-22 for 2 years, vehicle impoundment possible
3rd+ Offense	Up to $1,000	Extended suspension, SR-22 for 2 years, vehicle impoundment, reinstatement fee ($100)

FR-44 vs. SR-22 in Texas

A common question is whether Texas uses FR-44 filings. Texas does NOT use FR-44. FR-44 is a filing used only in Florida and Virginia that requires higher-than-minimum coverage limits after a DUI.

In Texas, the equivalent is the SR-22, which certifies that you carry at least the state minimum 30/60/25 liability coverage. There is no requirement to carry higher limits after a DUI or other violation in Texas — just the standard 30/60/25 minimum with an SR-22 certificate filed with TxDPS.

How Non-Standard Drivers Get Compliant

Non-standard drivers — those with DUI/DWI, suspended licenses, no prior insurance, foreign licenses, or multiple violations — may have difficulty getting coverage from standard carriers. However, Texas has a robust non-standard insurance market with carriers that specialize in these situations.

A-LA Auto Insurance works with 35+ carriers, including multiple non-standard carriers, to find the most affordable Texas-compliant policy for any driver. We offer same-day coverage with no credit check at all 13 DFW locations. Liability-only policies for non-standard drivers start from approximately $65/month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Texas requires 30/60/25 minimum liability: $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage. This is codified in Tex. Transp. Code §601.051 and was updated effective January 2025.

The three numbers represent three coverage limits: $30,000 maximum for one person's injuries, $60,000 maximum for all injuries in one accident, and $25,000 maximum for property damage. These are the minimums you must carry.

Minimum liability only covers damage to others. It does NOT cover your own medical bills, your vehicle damage, theft, vandalism, weather damage (hail, floods), single-vehicle accidents, or hit-and-run damage to your car.

First offense: $175–$350 fine. Subsequent: up to $1,000. Plus license suspension, vehicle impoundment, SR-22 requirement for 2 years, and $100 reinstatement fee.

Get full coverage if your vehicle is financed/leased (required by lenders), worth over $10,000, if you drive in DFW (high hail and uninsured motorist rates), or if you cannot afford to replace your vehicle out of pocket.

Texas does NOT use FR-44 — that is Florida and Virginia only. Texas uses SR-22, which certifies you carry at least 30/60/25 minimum liability. There is no requirement for higher-than-minimum limits after a DUI in Texas.

Approximately $45–$120/month for standard drivers and $65–$200/month for non-standard drivers. Rates vary by ZIP code, driving history, age, and vehicle. A-LA offers liability-only from $65/month for non-standard drivers.

Yes. Non-standard carriers specialize in drivers with DUI, suspended licenses, no prior insurance, foreign licenses, or multiple violations. A-LA works with 35+ carriers to find affordable coverage. No credit check required.

Get Compliant Today at the Best Rate

Whether you need minimum 30/60/25 liability or full coverage, A-LA Auto Insurance can help you get compliant at the best rate available. We work with 35+ carriers — including non-standard carriers for high-risk drivers — and never run a credit check.

Same-day coverage at all 13 DFW offices. Call (866) 252-6116 or walk into any location for a free quote.

Need Texas Minimum Insurance? Get Covered Today.

Liability from $65/mo. No credit check. 35+ carriers. Same-day coverage at 13 DFW locations.

(866) 252-6116 Get a Quote Online

Sean — A-LA Auto Insurance

Licensed Insurance Agent — A-LA Auto Insurance, Dallas-Fort Worth

Sean is a licensed insurance agent at A-LA Auto Insurance, a TDI-licensed independent agency with 13 offices across Dallas-Fort Worth. He specializes in helping Texas drivers find affordable coverage — including SR-22 filings, non-standard auto, no-credit-check options, and coverage for drivers without a US license. Call (866) 252-6116 to speak with the team directly.

A-LA Auto Insurance is a Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) licensed agency. For personalized advice, call (866) 252-6116.