Texas requires every driver to carry at least 30/60/25 liability insurance. That means $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage. Anything below these limits does not meet state law.
Texas is the second most populous state, with major hubs like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Millions of vehicles are registered statewide, which makes insurance verification a routine part of traffic stops.
Drivers who skip coverage often want to know, “How much is a ticket for no insurance in Texas?” since the penalties go well beyond the base fine. The breakdown below covers what the law requires and what happens when it isn’t followed.
What Does 30/60/25 Actually Mean?
The three numbers represent separate coverage caps under Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072. $30,000 covers one injured person’s medical costs. $60,000 covers all injuries combined in a single accident, and $25,000 covers property damage such as another vehicle or a fence.
These figures set the ceiling on what your insurer will pay for a claim. They have not changed since 2011, even as medical bills and vehicle repair costs have risen sharply.
What Minimum Liability Does Not Cover
State-minimum insurance only pays for damage you cause to someone else. It does not protect you or your own vehicle.
- Your own medical bills
- Repairs to your own car
- Theft, vandalism, or weather damage
- Injuries from a hit-and-run driver
Drivers who want protection for these situations need additional coverage beyond the state minimum.
Is Personal Injury Protection Required?
Texas insurers must offer personal injury protection, or PIP, on every policy. Drivers can decline it, but only in writing. PIP pays your own medical bills and lost wages after an accident, regardless of fault. Insurers must also offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for the same reason.
How Does Texas Confirm Coverage?
Texas uses an electronic system called TexasSure to track active policies. Insurers report coverage status directly to the state.
If a policy lapses, the system flags the vehicle. This can trigger a citation even if the driver has since purchased new coverage, so lapses should be reported and corrected quickly.
What Counts as Proof of Insurance?
Texas accepts a few forms of proof during a traffic stop. Any of the following will work.
- A physical insurance card
- A digital insurance card on your phone
- Electronic verification through your insurer’s app
Officers can also check TexasSure directly during the stop, so proof of insurance is really about confirming what the state already sees on file in real time.
Do Financed or Leased Vehicles Need More Coverage?
State law only requires liability insurance, but lenders often require more. If your car is financed or leased, the lender usually requires collision and comprehensive coverage as well.
That’s because the lender has a financial interest in the vehicle until it’s paid off. Liability-only coverage protects other people, not the car itself, so it doesn’t satisfy most loan agreements.
First Offense vs. Repeat Offense Penalties
Driving without insurance is a Class C misdemeanor under Tex. Transp. Code § 601.191. The penalties scale up quickly for repeat violations.
First offense:
- Fine between $175 and $350
- Plus court costs
- No automatic license suspension
Second or later offense:
- Fine between $350 and $1,000
- Possible driver’s license and registration suspension
- Often requires an SR-22 filing for two years
A no-insurance citation tied to an accident is treated more like a repeat offense, even on a first violation. Vehicle impoundment is also more likely when the citation accompanies another offense, such as driving on a suspended license or expired registration.
Key Takeaways
- Texas requires 30/60/25 liability coverage under Tex. Transp. Code § 601.072.
- Minimum coverage only pays for damage or injuries you cause to others.
- PIP and uninsured motorist coverage must be offered but can be declined in writing.
- TexasSure lets the state verify insurance electronically during a stop.
- A first no-insurance offense typically costs $175 to $350.
- A second or later offense can reach $1,000 and may suspend your license.
- Accidents involving an uninsured driver often bring harsher penalties, even on a first offense.
