Driving Without Insurance in Texas

If you’re caught driving without insurance in Texas, you could face fines, surcharges, license/registration suspensions, and even impoundments of your vehicle for second and subsequent offenses.¹

Driving without Texas car insurance is a misdemeanor offense that could incur thousands of dollars in fees. However, if you’re unable to pay the initial fine, the court can reduce it to a $175 maximum.

If you’ve been convicted of driving without insurance in Texas for a second time or more, the state will require that your insurance company file an SR-22, which is proof of minimum coverage. An SR-22 is also required if you’ve had your driving privileges suspended due to a car crash or if you have a civil judgment filed against you.

You must maintain the SR-22 for two years following the date of your conviction. You’ll need to pay a $100 reinstatement fee as well.²

After you have an SR-22 on file, request quotes from high-risk car insurance companies that cater to substandard drivers. Many companies do not want to cover people with bad driving records because they are more likely to have claims and cost more to insure.

If you’ve requested quotes from at least two companies and they’ve rejected you within the past 60 days, you might be eligible for the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association (TAIPA). Other eligibility requirements include the following:

• You have a valid license, or you’ve requested an SR-22 to obtain a valid license.
• You’re a resident of Texas, or your vehicle is registered in Texas.³

Note that TAIPA won’t necessarily be cheaper than other companies, especially if you have a bad driving record with tickets or accidents. However, rates should go down if your incidents occurred over a year ago. After three years, you can probably find cheaper Texas car insurance in the private marketplace. To learn more about TAIPA, talk to your insurance agent.

The appeals process in Texas looks different depending on whether a reporter’s record was requested or not. A reporter’s record is a statement of facts that the court reporter compiled at the municipal court trial.

If the state requested a reporter’s record and denied a new trial, here are your next steps:

• File the appeal bond with the municipal court clerk within 10 days. You can get the appeal bond from your municipal court clerk’s office.
• File the reporter’s record in up to 60 days or sooner.
• File the brief within 15 days. The brief will explain the reason you think the trial court decision was a mistake, citing any relevant legal authorities.

If the state did not request a reporter’s record and denied a new trial, here are the next steps to take:

• File the appeal bond within 10 days.
• File the brief within 15 days from the day the clerk created the record.

While you have the right to an attorney, you do not have the right to present an oral argument, although the court may grant it to you. The appellate court will not rehear evidence; rather, they’ll determine whether the trial judge applied the law correctly. From there, the judge can make one of three decisions:

• Affirm the decision of the trial court: You’ll pay any fines or court costs.
• Reverse the decision and have a new trial: You’ll get a new trial at the level of trial courts.
• Reverse the decision in your favor: The trial court will acquit the judgment and you won’t have to pay the fines.

You’ll receive a copy of the decision in the mail, and the decision becomes final after 15 days.⁴

So you need to have insurance in Texas. What other car insurance Texas laws should you know?

Insurance Requirements in Texas

The minimum car insurance in Texas is as follows:

• Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $30,000
• Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $60,000
• Property damage liability coverage per accident: $25,000⁵

You can receive a ticket for not having proof of financial responsibility (insurance coverage). This ticket can result in fines and penalties, plus an impoundment fee for second-time offenders and subsequent offenders. Insurance is also required for vehicle registration, as we’ll see below.

Registration

You’ll need insurance to register a car in Texas. First, you’ll need to get your vehicle inspected, which also requires proof of insurance. Then, you’ll get your Texas plate and registration sticker in your county’s tax-assessor collector office. Aside from proof of insurance, bring the inspection report and proof of ownership.

You’ll also have to pay a fee depending on your vehicle type and weight. See fees below.⁶

Car insurance rates in Texas are 4 percent higher than the national average cost of car insurance. But if you’ve been convicted of driving without insurance, your premiums will rise even higher, not to mention the fees that the state imposes. It’s no wonder that 92 percent of Texas drivers follow the minimum liability law.