Missouri City Car Insurance
In Missouri City, Texas, you are required by law to abide by the Texas car insurance laws as described in the state's vehicle code.
Anyone who chooses to drive uninsured is subject to fines and penalties even when they are not caught by a law enforcement officer.
If you want to avoid the steep fines and stiff penalties that are assessed to uninsured drivers all throughout Texas, it is time learn about the insurance law and how it pertains to you as the owner of a private passenger vehicle.
Knowing what types of cover you must carry is important, but it is also helpful to learn how auto insurance as a financial product helps you as the policyholder paying the premiums.
As a consumer, knowing what gives you value is key to selecting the best product that will meet your personalized needs at a price that you can easily afford.
Instead of attending boring classes or reading wordy consumer handbooks to driving and car insurance, read this straightforward guide to Missouri City car insurance so that you can get the details on information that truly matters to you.
What does the state require of Texas residents?
You have probably heard of the saying "Driving is a privilege", but with that privilege comes responsibilities and obligations.
When you are driving a motor vehicle, you are not only driving machinery that is designed for transport, you are also driving a nearly three-ton weapon that can cause serious injuries and damage when mishandled.
The Texas Financial Responsibility law is in place to ensure that anyone who gets behind the wheel of a dangerous vehicle is able to pay for the damage that they cause.
While the law does state that you can meet the financial responsibility requirements in more than one way, a majority of people choose to comply by purchasing a minimal amount of liability insurance.
This is the option that does not involve placing a large department with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or risking getting into an accident where you will be obligated to pay for court costs, medical bills, and repair bills out-of-pocket.
How much liability insurance must you buy?
Buying insurance is not as difficult if you know that all insurers in Texas are required to offer anyone who is applying for coverage limits and options that will satisfy financial responsibility laws.
The only time you are at-risk of buying coverage that does not comply with the law is if you are buying your coverage in another state. This is not advised because the Texas Department of Insurance can only oversee carriers licensed to sell coverage within Lone Star State.
If your vehicle is titled in another state where you share dual residency, you should buy coverage in that state and comply with those laws.
If Missouri City is your primary city of residence and your cars are all licensed in Texas, you must have basic liability coverage that pays for expenses that a third-party incurs due to an accident that you have been deemed liable for.
The basic liability consists of both Bodily Injury, which covers medical expenses, and Property Damage, which covers damages to property that someone in your home does not own.
In Texas, you will need to show that you carry the following limits (or more) at all times:
- Bodily Injury - $30,000 for each injured individual, up to $60,000 for multiple injured parties in the accident that you are responsible for.
- Property Damage - $25,000 for all property damaged in an accident that you or a permissive driver causes.
When you review a quote or a car insurance declarations page, these limits will be written as 30/60/25.
What happens when you do not comply with the law?
State officials in Texas take the financial responsibility laws very seriously. In Missouri City, you can be caught driving uninsured even when you are not pulled over by officials. This is because the state has what is called
This is because the state has what is called TexasSure, a financial responsibility verification program that requires carriers to report when a policy is issued or canceled for any reason.
The Department of Public Safety, law enforcement, and registration offices can all use this system to verify if your coverage is active.
If the Department of Public Safety finds that your coverage has gone inactive while your vehicle is still licensed, you must provide proof of new coverage with no lapses.
If you cannot, your vehicle license will be suspended and you will be asked to pay reinstatement fees in addition to buying insurance before you will be given new plates.
Failing to promptly respond can lead to citations and vehicle impoundment. You may even face license suspension if you have been caught in the past.
If you are cited for driving without any type of liability insurance by a sheriff or local police officer in Missouri City, you must pay fines between $175 and $1000 depending on how many times you have been convicted of the same misdemeanor.
You must appear in court to plead, set up payment arrangements, face license suspensions, and vehicle impoundment as well. As you can see, choosing to avoid paying for insurance can get a lot more expensive than just complying in the first place.
It becomes even more serious if you cause damages and have no coverage.
What other types of protection can I buy?
A comprehensive auto insurance policy pays for more than just basic liability expenses. In addition to paying for damages and court costs, you can buy coverage that protects you in the event of an accident or another type of loss.
When you have adequate protection in Missouri City, you can be protected against the financial ruin that an accident can cause in an instant. Here are some coverages to consider:
- Comprehensive - Pays for repair bills or the replacement of the covered car when it is damaged in an other than collision loss like fire, theft, vandalism, lightning, hail, etc. Subject to a deductible.
- Collision - Pays for repairs and/or cost to buy a new vehicle when your car is damaged in a covered at-fault or not-at-fault accident. Also subject to a collision deductible.
- Rental Car - Pays for a daily rental rate for up to 30 days when you have a covered physical damage claim.
- Towing & Labor - Acts like roadside assistance plans.
- Uninsured Motorist - Pays for your medical bills and other expenses if you are injured or someone in your vehicle dies from injuries caused by a driver with no insurance.
- Medical Payments - Pays for medical bills, up to the limit you choose, no matter who causes the accident.
Quick Tips When Shopping for Missouri City Insurance
Car insurance is a major item that offers you valuable financial protection. This is why all consumers buying coverage need to take the time to comparison shop and compare carriers before they make their first payment and bind coverage.
Here are some tips that are useful for first-time shoppers:
- Only buy coverage from a company that is part of a guaranty association so that you know your claims will always be paid even upon bankruptcy.
- Consider more than just price. While price is important, it is more important to choose a company with a solid financial rating. Check the insurer's rating through companies like A.M. Best or Moody's so that you know the insurer will not try to skip out on claims.
- Always be truthful when you are requesting quotes. Failing to provide information on an accident or a driver in your home can lead to premium increases or denied claims.
- Decide if you need full coverage. The cost of full coverage may be more than what your vehicle is worth in some cases. If your car does not have a high value, you may want to consider taking the risk.
- If you must have full coverage, consider higher deductibles if you are a high-risk driver.
- If you want to switch insurers, buy a new policy before you cancel your old one to avoid gaps in coverage that can lead to fines.
- Check your credit score for errors before you apply for coverage.
- Do not buy more coverage than you realistically need. Assess your needs and your current portfolio so that you can decide what is appropriate.
- Always comparison shop to find the best rates. Insurance companies set their own rates and are competitive in only some niches.
Comparison shopping can be time-consuming if you do not have tools or resources to help you on your mission.
If you want to price the cost of Missouri City car insurance quickly, you can use an online tool that will direct you to quotes with multiple Texas carriers. These rate systems help you do your homework to find a company targeting drivers like you without spending the time.
Use our FREE tool below to get car insurance rates from companies in your area now!