What Are the Penalties for Not Having Car Insurance in Texas?
 The Lone Star State has laws in place that require anyone that drives in Texas to pay for bodily injuries or property damage that they may cause resulting from a traffic accident. The majority of consumers comply with this law by purchasing and maintaining a liability insurance policy. The consequences in TX can be quite severe for individuals that operate a car without valid coverage. The consequence for driving without a license in addition to being uninsured could lead to jail time.A first conviction for driving without Texas auto insurance will end in a fine ranging between of $175 and $350, plus court costs. Subsequent convictions of operating a motor vehicle while uninsured can result in fines ranging from $350 to $1,000, court costs, suspension of driving privileges for up to two years and impoundment of the automobile at the owner's expense. When convicted, motorists must pay a $250 annual surcharge to maintain a driver's license, and the surcharge will stay in effect for three years. Individuals that choose to operate an automobile without coverage and also lack a driver's license face much harsher consequences. The penalty can result in a fine of up to $2,000, 180 days in jail, or both. If the driver causes a traffic accident that results in serious injury or death the penalty can increase to a fine of up to $4,000, one year in jail, or both. From a non-legal aspect there are additional consequences that may arise from driving uninsured. If a driver causes an accident while operating without a valid liability policy, he or she could be held liable for all damages and injuries caused to the other party and may be subject to a lawsuit. This can result in being responsible for paying to repair or replace damaged property, medical expenses and legal fees in addition to any judgment that is made in court such as payment for pain and suffering, loss of wages, loss of consortium, etc.  Not only is it advisable to stay insured at all times while behind the wheel, Texans may also want to carry proof of insurance at all times. When an insurer issues an automobile policy, an identification card will also be issued showing the name of the insured, the vehicle year, make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN), policy number, insurer and the effective and expiration dates of the coverage. This document will be needed if requested by a law enforcement officer and in the event of an accident. Proof of financial responsibility is also needed in order to obtain or renew a driver's license or vehicle's registration and when getting an automobile inspected. The state has also developed a program, named TexasSure, aimed at eliminating the uninsured motorist problem. The program consists of a database that connects vehicles registered in the state by license plate, VIN and liability policy and allows law enforcement to instantly verify whether a vehicle is insured or not. The program was also developed to prevent motorists from carrying fraudulent identification cards and dropping coverage after registering an automobile. |