Quick Answer
Texas minimum auto liability is 30/60/25 under Tex. Transp. Code §601.072: $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident. It pays only the OTHER driver's injuries and property — never your own car. A-LA Auto Insurance writes 30/60/25 liability policies from $28/month at 21+ offices across Texas, same-day binding, bilingual, no credit check. Texas-licensed agency.
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Texas Car Insurance Requirements at a Glance
Yes, car insurance is required in Texas. Here is what the state requires of a Texas driver, in one checklist:
- Liability of at least 30/60/25:$30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident (Tex. Transp. Code §601.072).
- Proof of insurance:Keep proof of your policy with you. Texas accepts it on paper or electronically, such as on your phone.
- TexasSure verification:The state's TexasSure database matches vehicle registrations to insurer data, and insurers report to it weekly.
- PIP and UM/UIM offers:Insurers must offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP, at least $2,500) and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. You can reject either one, but only in writing.
- Insurance to register or renew:You need insurance to register a vehicle or renew its registration. Safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles ended January 1, 2025; emissions testing continues in emissions counties.
- SR-22 only if DPS orders it:An SR-22 is a certificate, not a policy, and you need one only when DPS orders it. A ticket or a lapse does not require one by itself.
- Penalty for no insurance:Driving without insurance is a Class C misdemeanor under Tex. Transp. Code §601.191: $175–$350 for a first offense and $350–$1,000 for a subsequent offense. See the full breakdown of penalties for driving without insurance in Texas.
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:
When Should You Get Full Coverage?
Full coverage adds comprehensive (theft, weather, vandalism) and collision (accident damage to your car) on top of liability. Compare liability-only vs full auto insurance options in your free quote. 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.
Texas Minimum Limits Table (2026)
These are the exact 2026 statutory minimums every registered Texas vehicle must carry under Tex. Transp. Code §601.072:
| Coverage | 2026 Minimum Limit | What It Pays For | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury, per person | $30,000 | Injuries to any one person you hurt in an at-fault accident | Tex. Transp. Code §601.072 |
| Bodily injury, per accident | $60,000 | All injuries combined, all people, in one at-fault accident | Tex. Transp. Code §601.072 |
| Property damage, per accident | $25,000 | The other party's vehicle, structures, and property | Tex. Transp. Code §601.072 |
A-LA Auto Insurance binds Texas 30/60/25 minimum liability from $28/month — non-standard drivers typically pay an estimated $65–$200/month — and issues same-day proof of insurance at 21+ offices across Texas.
What 30/60/25 Actually Pays in a Real Crash
The three limits do not stack into one pot of money. Each one caps a different part of the claim, and all three can bind in the same accident. Here is a worked example on a 30/60/25 policy — the figures below are an illustration, not a quote.
The scenario
You are found at fault in a two-car crash. The other car is carrying two people. One is hospitalized and runs up $52,000 in medical bills; the passenger runs up $18,000. Their vehicle is a total loss valued at $34,000.
| Limit | Cap | Claim | Policy pays | You still owe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 — bodily injury, per person (driver) | $30,000 | $52,000 | $30,000 | $22,000 |
| 30 — bodily injury, per person (passenger) | $30,000 | $18,000 | $18,000 | $0 |
| 60 — bodily injury, per accident | $60,000 | $48,000 paid in total | Within the cap | $0 from this limit |
| 25 — property damage, per accident | $25,000 | $34,000 | $25,000 | $9,000 |
The policy pays $73,000 and you are personally exposed for the remaining $31,000 — $22,000 of bodily injury above the per-person cap and $9,000 of property damage above the per-accident cap. Note that the $60,000 per-accident figure never became the binding limit here: the per-person cap ran out first. That is the most commonly misread part of 30/60/25.
Two Coverages Texas Insurers Must Offer You (PIP and UM/UIM) — and How to Reject Them in Writing
The 30/60/25 requirement is not the whole of Texas law on an auto policy. Two further coverages are optional for you but not optional for the carrier to put in front of you. Neither is part of the minimum, and neither can quietly disappear — declining either one takes a signature.
| Coverage | Statute | What the carrier must do | How you decline it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | Tex. Ins. Code §1952.152 | Offer PIP at a minimum limit of $2,500 per person | Signed written rejection at application |
| Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) | Tex. Ins. Code §1952.101 | Offer UM and UIM coverage to every applicant | Signed, dated written rejection on a TDI-prescribed form |
PIP pays your side of the car
Personal Injury Protection pays medical bills, roughly 80% of lost wages, and essential services for you and your passengers regardless of who caused the crash, with no deductible. Under Tex. Ins. Code §1952.152 every Texas carrier must offer it at a minimum limit of $2,500, and a driver who does not want it must reject it in writing. That is why PIP never goes missing by accident — if it is not on your declarations page, a rejection was signed at some point, often years earlier and long forgotten.
UM/UIM pays when the other driver cannot
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no policy, or not enough of one. Under Tex. Ins. Code §1952.101 insurers must offer it, and rejection must be in writing on a form prescribed by the Texas Department of Insurance — signed and dated. A verbal refusal is not valid, and courts have applied UM/UIM by default to policies with no signed rejection on file.
Check your declarations page for both line items before you renew. If either is missing, ask your agent to re-quote it: UM/UIM at $30,000 limits typically runs $8–$25 per month, and PIP at the $2,500 statutory floor is usually a similarly small addition.
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 | Usually fine only; SR-22 may be required if DPS orders it |
| 2nd Offense | $350 – $1,000 | License suspension, SR-22 for 2 years, vehicle impoundment possible |
| 3rd+ Offense | $350 – $1,000 | Extended suspension, SR-22 for 2 years, vehicle impoundment, reinstatement fee ($100) |
Proof of Insurance Texas Accepts
Carrying the coverage is only half of the requirement. Under Tex. Transp. Code §601.053 you must also be able to present evidence of it on request — at a traffic stop and at the county tax assessor-collector office when you register. Texas recognizes three forms.
Paper ID card
The wallet-size card your carrier mails after you bind. It is the traditional proof and is always accepted.
Electronic proof on your phone
Legal since 2013 under §601.053 — the insurer's app, a PDF, an emailed card, or a screenshot all count, provided the policy is active. An officer handed your phone may view the insurance document only, not the rest of the device.
TexasSure electronic verification
The state database cross-checks your vehicle registration against an active policy on that specific vehicle. It runs in the background — you present nothing — but a lapse it detects triggers DMV notices.
Whichever form you present, it has to show the insurer name, the policy number, the effective and expiration dates, the covered vehicle, and the named insured. For how the state database works, when it flags you, and what to do about a false lapse notice, see our Texas insurance verification (TexasSure) guide.
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 filing, 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 Texas auto insurance with no credit check at all 21+ locations across Texas. Liability-only policies start from $28/month, with non-standard drivers typically paying an estimated $65–$200/month.
What does 30/60/25 actually mean in Texas?
The three numbers in Texas's 30/60/25 minimum liability requirement represent the three liability limits that every registered vehicle must carry under Texas Transportation Code §601.072 before being driven on a public road. The first number, $30,000, is the most an insurer will pay for any single person's bodily injury in an at-fault accident. The second, $60,000, is the total bodily-injury cap per accident across all injured people combined. The third, $25,000, is the maximum payout for damage to the other party's vehicle or property. These limits apply to the at-fault driver's policy only — they do not cover the policyholder's own medical bills or vehicle damage. Medical bills from a serious crash can run well past the $30,000 per-person limit, so many drivers choose 50/100/50 or 100/300/100. Liability starts at $28/month. Ray H., Texas-licensed insurance agent — call (866) 252-6116.
What are the penalties for driving without minimum coverage?
Under Texas Transportation Code §601.191, driving without the required 30/60/25 minimum liability insurance carries escalating penalties. A first offense is a fine of $175–$350 (the Texas Driver Responsibility surcharge that previously added ~$250/year was repealed in 2019 and no longer applies). A repeat offense raises the fine cap to $1,000 and can trigger license suspension, vehicle registration suspension, and possible vehicle impoundment. Causing an at-fault accident while uninsured exposes the driver to full personal civil liability for the other party's medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, with potential wage garnishment and asset liens following a civil judgment. A-LA Auto Insurance writes 30/60/25 liability from $28/month with same-day binding at 21+ offices across Texas. A-LA is a Texas-licensed agency. Call (866) 252-6116.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 21+ offices across Texas. Call (866) 252-6116 or walk into any location for a free quote.
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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.