Why do you need Houston car insurance? Because it’s the law. In Houston, Texas, the car insurance minimum liability requirements are a lot like those in other states. Where the basic plan is often called 20/40/15 insurance, those numbers (in the thousands) fit respectively into one person injury, multiple people injury, and property damage liability. While that is all that is required, anybody who has ever heard of a weird lawsuit should know that a lot of the time, that is not enough to go around. In most cases, car insurance companies in Houston say that it’s better to go with 100/300/100.

As someone who has been ticketed for driving without car insurance in Houston (twice! I’ve learned my lesson), I can assure that the fines range from high to REALLY HIGH, depending on who you get pulled over by. The tickets alone are around $200. However, if you are guilty of not being covered when you were ticketed, then you will have to pay a certain amount of money over three years in order to keep your license. If you get pulled over by a police officer who deals with the Harris County Municipal Courts, then you will have to pay the fine plus three hundred dollars every year for three years. If you get pulled over by one from the city of Houston, you’re really out of luck. The amount you have to pay every year for three years with them is a thousand dollars. They call this a surchargeable violation.

In Houston, there is an exception to having to have an auto insurance policy. Instead, you can prove financial responsibility and become self insured. However, the cost of the bond that you have to post to be considered self insured is extreme, and most people who are searching online to find out about cheap auto insurance in Houston wouldn’t be able to afford it, if you know what I mean.

In Texas, unlike in many states, it is possible to drive without insurance and not get caught so long as you are never pulled over or get into an accident. It’s not advisable, but it can be done. However, car insurance is required in Houston whether you actually use your car or not. I have a car that’s broken down outside of my apartment, and it has been that way for over a month. Is it insured? You bet it is. If you are found to be without insurance even for a car you aren’t driving, you will face the same penalties. In fact, you even have to have car insurance if you want to sell your car. It is required in order to transfer the title. If you are without insurance for more than thirty days before the title transfer, then it can’t be done.

Some people may think that this is unreasonable, because they find it very hard to get insured. This can be the case if you have a drunk driving conviction, or a speeding ticket, or have had your policy cancelled by another car insurance company. In some cases, it can even happen if you have a bad credit report. However, if you find yourself in this position, then you can get insured through the state risk pool, which is called the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association. This is more expensive, but it’s better than nothing, considering how much more expensive being uninsured is.

Cheers,

Fashun Guadarrama.